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The 6 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Brands That Come with The Mother
Apple cider vinegar is produced from crushed, aged apples. Acetic acid is the key substance present in apple cider vinegar which is the result of a conversion process from the fruit’s sugar, to alcohol, and finally to acetic acid. It is responsible for giving vinegar its distinct smell and taste. (1)
Apple cider vinegar is believed to have many health benefits. It may also contain the B-vitamins B1, B2, and B6, as well as vitamin C, folic acid, biotin and niacin. It also contains trace minerals such as iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous.
The health benefits you expect from apple cider vinegar will be influenced by the quality of the vinegar you are using. It is therefore imperative to ensure that you are using a top-quality organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar that comes with ‘the Mother‘.
What Is the Mother?
Simply put, the Mother is a cobweb-like substance in apple cider vinegar that gives it a cloudy look.
When the vinegar appears clear, this is a sign that it has been pasteurized. When the vinegar is pasteurized, the Mother culture has been removed and so have a lot of the nutritional benefits. The Mother culture consists of good bacteria, enzymes, pectin, proteins and minerals. (2)
How to Choose Apple Cider Vinegar
1. Do not shop at the supermarket for your vinegar.
When you are at the supermarket, you are likely only going to find vinegars that are pasteurized, because they are clear and more visually-appealing to customers. You may wish to check out a health food store in your area for a selection of vinegars that are not refined.
2. Always choose apple cider vinegar that is both organic and raw.
By selecting vinegar that is both organic and raw, you are avoiding any genetically-modified organism (aka GMO) being in your food and ensuring that the vinegar has not gone through any filtration or chemical processing.
3. Choose an apple cider vinegar that is unpasteurized and contains the Mother.
The presence of the Mother will mean a murky vinegar mixture in the bottle, but do not be alarmed. A cloudy mixture assures you that the Mother is doing its job to keep the nutrients intact.
Pasteurized vinegar, which is heated to a high temperature, would appear clear and have killed off much of the good bacteria and most of its health benefits.
6 of the Best Apple Cider Vinegar Brands
There are a number of good quality options for apple cider vinegar. It is best to buy them in glass bottles rather than in plastic as the acid may cause a chemical reaction in plastic ones.
1. BRAGG Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the most widely known apple cider vinegars is BRAGG Apple Cider Vinegar. Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is made from organically grown apples. The product is certified organic by the Organic Certifiers and Oregon Tilth. In addition, it is Kosher Certified and Non-GMO Certified. It is produced in compliance with USDA guidelines. (3)
BRAGG Apple Cider Vinegar is the oldest brand available and is family-owned, which explains why it is one of the most trusted brands on the market for an organic, raw, and unfiltered apple cider vinegar that comes with the Mother. It comes in 16 0z, 32 oz. and 128 oz. bottles. (4)
2. Vitacost Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother
Another popular brand is Vitacost Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother. While Vitacost is more well-known for making general health products, their apple cider vinegar has a lot to offer. It is made from organic apples and is both kosher and vegan approved.
Vitacost does not pasteurize their apple cider vinegar nor add any sugar or flavorings. One advantage that Vitacost offers over BRAGG is that their apple cider vinegar is a little bit cheaper in price. It comes in 32 oz. and 16 oz. bottles. (4)
3. EDEN Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Another excellent choice for apple cider vinegar is Eden Foods Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Eden Foods makes their apple cider vinegar from naturally fermented apple juice that is gently aged with the use of vinegar in a wood barrel.
This option is both raw and unpasteurized, and of course, comes with the Mother. EDEN Vinegar uses amber glass as a way to protect its flavor and nutrients. It comes in a 16 oz. bottle. (5)
4. Dynamic Health Apple Cider Vinegar
If you are someone who cannot stand the harsh taste of apple cider vinegar, then Dynamic Health Apple Cider Vinegar is probably the brand for you. Dynamic Health offers a vinegar that is kosher and halal-certified. It is also unpasteurized, organic, and unfiltered.
As a bonus, Dynamic Health offers their apple cider vinegar in both liquid form. and a capsule. (6) The capsule is equal to one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. It is distributed in bottles with 90 capsules.
5. Viva Naturals Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Another healthy choice is Viva Naturals Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. The product is made from organic apples and fermented naturally. The natural fermentation makes for a distinct flavor. The vinegar is raw, unfiltered, raw and unpasteurized, with the Mother in very bottle. It has no preservatives and is Kosher-certified and non GMO.. It is available in a 32 oz. bottle.(7)
If you wish to try other products other than the above, you may opt for other excellent vinegar products such as the Vermont Village Organic Raw and Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, which is fermented in small batches in an artisan’s cannery. The vinegar is unfiltered and raw, is non-GMO and USDA organic. It is also BPA-free and gluten-free.
6. Fleischmann’s Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
Another option is Fleischmann’s Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar which is made from organic apples. Fleischmann’s has been making vinegar for the past 100 years.
Fleischmann’s vinegars are unfiltered, raw and unpasteurized preserving their unique flavor and are bottled with the Mother ensuring healthy and nutritious benefits. (8)
Deciding Which Apple Cider Vinegar to Buy
When you are narrowing down your choices of apple cider vinegars, it is easy to make a good choice.
Try to choose raw, unfiltered, organic products that have their nutrients and enzymes intact. These are usually with the Mother. With so many brands to choose from, it will be up to you to choose the best product suited to your needs and your aspirations for good health.