ezzich Organic Aronia Vinegar 250 ml. Organic fruit vinegar with aronia berries – at least 5% acidity, naturally fermented, from Middle Franconia.

ezzich Organic Aronia Vinegar 250 ml is a fruit vinegar made from organic fermentation vinegar, freeze-dried organic aronia berries, apple juice, and spirits, fermented at the ezzich vinegar manufactory in Großhaslach in the Ansbach district, Middle Franconia. The berries ferment from the very beginning, and the acidity level is at least 5%. No added sugar, no concentrate, no added flavorings – a dark red, delicately tart berry vinegar in a 250 ml bottle for dressings, cheese, and summer drinks.

Organic Aronia Vinegar from ezzich is a vinegar made from the chokeberry, as aronia is known in German. The small, almost black berry is tart and rich in tannins; raw, it makes your mouth pucker, but in vinegar, it shows its true colors. At ezzich, this variety is classified as a fruit vinegar: the freeze-dried berries are already in the reactor when the vinegar bacteria begin to convert the alcohol from the spirits and apple juice into acid. Color and flavor are extracted from the fruit during fermentation; there is no need for sugar or coloring. The producer calls it "Golden Autumn in a glass": delicately tart, sweet-fruity, and sour-fresh.

Dark red, tart, and fruity all at once

The aronia vinegar is a rich dark red in the glass and smells of dark berries and a hint of apple. On the palate, the fruit hits first, then the tartness of the aronia, reminiscent of elderberry or black currant, underpinned by a fresh acidity of at least 5%. The light sweetness from the berry rounds it all off. The finish is long and dry, with a slight pull from the tannins.

Compared to Organic Raspberry Vinegar, it seems more serious and less sweet, and compared to Organic Fig Vinegar, it is leaner and fresher. Those who previously knew fruit vinegar only as sweet will discover its tart side here.

Fruity dressings, cheese, fruit salad, and switchel

The producer recommends aronia vinegar for fruity salad dressings, cheese specialties, and summer drinks like switchel. In a dressing, it pairs well with walnut oil and a little honey, over lamb's lettuce, beetroot, or a bean salad with red onions. On a cheese board, it goes perfectly with blue cheese and aged mountain cheese; add a teaspoon right next to the piece.

It works just as well with sweet dishes: a few drops over fresh strawberries or a fruit salad make the fruit taste more intense. For a switchel, stir two tablespoons of vinegar with one tablespoon of honey and grated ginger into half a liter of cold water. The producer also drinks it simply diluted: one to two tablespoons in a glass of water as a tart refreshment at lunchtime.

Our tip: For game or duck breast, deglaze the roasting pan with a splash of vinegar and bind with a little butter – the tart berry pairs with dark meat just like cranberries.

From Großhaslach, with the berry in fermentation

The ezzich vinegar manufactory is located in Großhaslach near Petersaurach in the Ansbach district, southwest of Nuremberg. Roberto Rotella makes the vinegars, Daniela Rotella checks every batch before sale and handles distribution. The idea was born in 2016 after a vinegar seminar in Austria. The manufactory launched in October 2021 with eight varieties; today there are over 20. The name comes from Middle High German and simply means vinegar.

All of the manufactory's fruit vinegars are created using the trickling process. The vinegar bacteria are attached to packing material in reactors with plenty of oxygen; the liquid is sprayed over them at intervals and rests in between. The vinegar mother forms naturally in this rhythm. The finished vinegar is not heated afterwards; it remains active. If a vinegar mother settles in the bottle, it is a sign of quality: just pour it off or strain it through a tea strainer. Each batch is bottled and labeled by hand, so the color may vary slightly. Store in a cool, dark place.

For the tart, for cheese, and a glass of water at noon

This variety is for anyone who finds raspberry too sweet and for anyone who likes to combine cheese with fruit. The 250 ml bottle is the right size for getting to know it and a great gift for people who love to cook. You can find all varieties from Großhaslach on the ezzich vinegar manufactory page, and other vinegars in the Vinegar category.

It is not suitable for light sauces and potato salad, as it stains too much and tastes too tart. And if you are expecting a sweet berry note like that of raspberry, you are better off choosing its red sister.

An organic fruit vinegar with aronia berries from Middle Franconia – tart, dark red, and naturally fermented, for dressings, cheese, and a glass of water with ginger.