New Northern Irish cider vinegar set for BBC Good Food

Natural Umber, a new organic cider vinegar from Northern Ireland, is being introduced to Britain for the first time later this week.

The organic vinegar has been developed in Dungannon, county Tyrone by Mackle Apple, one of the leading growers and processors of apple products in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

The Northern Irish company has orchards covering over 350 acres in the UK and Ireland and is among the most successful processors of apples as ingredient for bakeries and other food manufacturers. Natural Umber is being introduced at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham.

Named after its distinctive colour, Natural Umber is raw, organic, unfiltered and contains Mother of vinegar, good bacteria and enzymes said to have positive health benefits.

"Due to our unique fermentation process, Natural Umber retains the natural sweetness of apples and tastes absolutely delicious," Michael Mackle, managing director of Mackle Apple, says. "We are keen to develop opportunities that we've identified in Britain, a target market for us, for the new cider vinegar," he adds.

"Our unique organic apple cider vinegar is bursting with a naturally sweet, fruity flavour and can be used to compliment a healthy lifestyle. There's no need for honey to sweeten, Natural Umber apple cider vinegar can be taken regularly with just water, or add it to salads and sauces for a delicious apple-flavoured kick."

Natural Umber is one of just three Northern Ireland food businesses exhibiting at the show in Birmingham.

The other Northern Ireland exhibitors are both from Derry - Niche Drinks, a producer of Irish cream liqueurs including Saint Brendan's, among the most successful, and The Quiet Man Irish whiskey distillery, the producer of multi-award-winning single malt and blended whiskey.

Both companies are now owned by Luxco, the US drinks business. Luxco, headquartered at St Louis, Missouri, is currently completing the development of a new distillery in Derry, which will be the Northern Ireland's fourth whiskey distillery.

BBC Good Food in Birmingham, which runs from 14-17 June at the NEC, is the biggest food expo in the Midlands this year and among the most important in the UK.