My parents recently visited Northern Ireland. They know that I’m a bit of an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) obsessive. On their return, they gifted me a bottle of Natural Umber Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with mother. Since then their organic ACV has quickly become my most favourite pure vinegar on the market and is my go to drink on an evening after work, mixed in with sparkling water, ice and a slice of lemon – the most refreshing summer drink around and a great replacement to a G&T. It was with great excitement that I discovered they had launched a new product – their Umber Plus, enriched with Vitamin D. Upon learning this I just knew that it had to be my next product review. Before I continue with this Natural Umber Apple Cider Vinegar Review of their enriched Vitamin D drink, like with all of my reviews, I must stress that in no way am I benefitting financially or otherwise from this review.
First up, who is Natural Umber?
Before I go on to review their ACV with Vitamin D, let’s get to know a bit more about the team!
Born from a profound love of apples and the fruit’s health properties, Natural Umber was developed by the Mackle family with more than 50 years of experience in apple cultivation. With over 350 acres of apple orchards spanning the UK and Ireland, they’re amongst the largest apple growers in the region.
Their journey began with the pursuit to create a naturally sweet apple cider vinegar, a venture that took them through multiple trials and refinements. The culmination of their efforts resulted in the creation of Natural Umber, a richly coloured, premium organic apple cider vinegar with mother. Named after its umber hue, it pays homage to the earthy tones and natural pigment of umber.
And their hard work and dedication to quality have paid off. Natural Umber has won taste tests and received several awards, including the esteemed honour of three Great Taste stars.
But they didn’t stop there. Natural Umber, headed by the seasoned Mackle family, honed a unique fermentation process that not only preserves the sweet and fruity taste of apples but also incorporates the beneficial “Mother” of vinegar into their product. The vinegar’s delicious flavor can be enjoyed straight up as a refreshing drink or incorporated into a multitude of recipes, adding a tangy and fruity flavor to dressings, soups, sauces, and marinades.
Today, Natural Umber’s apple cider vinegar can be found at over 150 stockists in the UK and Ireland, promising a taste of their long-standing passion and commitment to quality in every bottle[4]. So next time you find yourself looking for a top-notch apple cider vinegar, consider giving Natural Umber a try!
How long does their Apple Cider Vinegar Last?
Let’s talk about the shelf life of apple cider vinegar. The good news? Apple cider vinegar is a bit of a shelf superhero. Stored correctly, it can last for an impressively long time, we’re talking years here, not just weeks or months.
But before you get too excited, it’s important to keep your eyes open. When I say it lasts ‘indefinitely’, I’m talking about a good quality vinegar, like Natural Umber’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother. The kind where you can trace back to the apples it was made from, and where there’s a ‘mother’ floating in the bottle. This cloudy sediment is a sign of all the beneficial bacteria and enzymes.
Remember, store your apple cider vinegar in a cool, dark place and always ensure the lid is tightly closed after use. Do this, and your bottle of Natural Umber’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother will be ready and waiting for you, filled with gut-health promoting goodness, for a long time to come.
What do I love about their products?
What makes me love this product? Allow me to break it down for you.
- Traceable Organic Apples: Natural Umber sources their apples locally from their own orchards in the UK and Ireland. This ensures quality control and traceability. Having over 50 years of experience, they are among the largest growers in the region. The apples are grown in smaller batches and picked at peak ripeness. This lends the cider vinegar a rich, complex flavour and high nutrient content.
- Benefits to Gut Health: The organic apples used by Natural Umber provide nutrition, fiber, and minerals that promote good gut health. Their apple cider vinegar, in particular, is packed with vitamins and gut-boosting benefits from fermentation, making it an excellent choice for anyone seeking to improve their gut health.
- Minimal Ingredients: Natural Umber’s apple cider vinegar is simple and pure, made with just apple juice and bacteria culture. No hidden ingredients, no preservatives, no added sugar. This transparency and simplicity resonates with my philosophy of clean eating.
- Superior to Competing Brands: Unlike alternatives, Natural Umber keeps it natural without concentrates or ambiguous ‘natural flavourings’.
- Incredible Flavour: The taste of Natural Umber’s apple cider vinegar is truly exceptional. It’s hard to describe, but once you’ve tried it, you’ll understand the hype.
How to make Apple Cider Vinegar Taste Good?
How to make ACV taste good is certainly a question that gets asked regularly. On many health forums, pages like reddit and online. The answer isn’t do something like add it to fruit juice or mix some honey or sugar in.
No you don’t need to make apple cider vinegar taste good. You need to get an apple cider vinegar that tastes good. On top of that, you want to get an ACV that tastes good. Nor one with lots of added rubbish like fruit juice concentrates to it to make it taste good.
What you need, is Natural Umber’s Apple Cider Vinegar.
It’s really hard to describe exactly what the taste of Natural Umber’s ACV is. The closest that I can think of is Balsamic Vinegar. I truly don’t know what they do to get the colour, or the taste. But I can guess it is along the lines of how Balsamic Vinegar is made. This involves boiling down the juice to a concentrate and then fermenting that which further concentrates the flavours.
If you’ve not tried Natural Umber yet and are left on a daily basis buying expensive and sugar filled gummies, because you can’t stand the taste. Then go ahead – grab a bottle!
The Review of Natural Umber’s ACV with Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for our bodies. It plays a vital role in maintaining strong bones by aiding the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Beyond bone health, Vitamin D also bolsters our immune system and could potentially help prevent certain diseases.
We primarily obtain Vitamin D from sun exposure and some specific foods like fatty fish and egg yolks. However, achieving adequate levels through these sources alone can be challenging. This is due to factors like geographical location, time of year, age, and certain medical conditions.
That’s where Vitamin D supplements come in. They provide a consistent, controlled source of this vital nutrient, ensuring we meet our daily requirements regardless of external factors. So, in essence, Vitamin D supplements are a handy tool to support our overall health.
Like its flavour and colour, this too is where Natural Umber’s ACV with Mother, Enriched with Vitamin D is unique. At the time of writing, there’s no other ACV on the market that has Vitamin D added to it.
On top of it, one 5ml dose of their ACV provides you with your RDI for Vitamin D!
And how does their ACV with Vitamin D compare on Cost?
So, on to the final question. Cost!
One 500ml bottle on its own comes in at £9.25. This does make it slightly pricier than their regular offering at £8.25. You can set up a subscription and get decent savings. Alternatively, buying additional bottles gives you decent savings and buying a pack of 4 bottles works out at £7.25. This is actually less than the artisanal brands currently available in supermarkets!
So seriously, what’s not to like?!
Highlights
- Natural Umber, developed by the Mackle family with over 50 years of apple cultivation experience, is a celebrated producer of premium organic ACV. They have recently introduced a product enriched with Vitamin D.
- The company’s apple cider vinegar is appreciated for its traceable organic apples, minimal ingredients and benefits to gut health. Along with superiority over competitors, and exceptional flavour.
- The newly introduced enriched ACV with Vitamin D offers a unique solution for meeting the recommended daily intake of Vitamin D in a convenient and enjoyable way. It is available at a competitive price.