We use only local Kentish apples, pressed in season to avoid long cold-storage. Our In-the-bottle pasteurisation process preserves flavour and particularly aroma. We use no additives except for a tiny amount Vitamin C as an antioxidant and we use minimal packaging – we like to keep everything simple.
Duskin Apple Juice is a small, family business run by Andrew Helbling and his daughter Susan which emerged from a diversification of the family farm. Back in the seventies, the farm had many delicious apples which were being turned down by the supermarkets for not being ‘perfect’; these were fed to our sheep to stop them going to waste. The sheep were, of course, delighted but Andrew would sit on the tractor and wonder why they got all the luck. What else could we do with all this lovely produce that the supermarkets so foolishly rejected? So, ingenuity and welding irons were put to good use and the first apple press emerged. This was back in the 1980s, when the high tech, ‘loads’a’money’ society was in full swing. Luckily, there were also a number of small farm shops and health food stores who were more than happy to take something so unusual for the time.
The process has changed very little in the intervening years. It is low-tech and low-volume which allows single varieties to be kept separate, allows the natural flavour to remain largely unchanged and ‘in the bottle pasteurisation’ preserves this flavour and aroma. A process initially used because it did not need expensive high-tech equipment has been continued because it gives a high quality product.
The process has changed very little in the intervening years. It is low-tech and low-volume which allows single varieties to be kept separate, allows the natural flavour to remain largely unchanged and ‘in the bottle pasteurisation’ preserves this flavour and aroma. A process initially used because it did not need expensive high-tech equipment has been continued because it gives a high quality product.
A very common comment made by first time tasters is ‘Oh, it tastes of apples!’. Of course to us it was obvious that it would taste this way but many people were so used to apple FLAVOUR products that it had not occurred to them that you could have a drink with an apple TASTE. That is the key with Duskin; It is the taste of a specific variety, just as you remember it.
The celebration of nature’s variety goes further than just selling lots of individual varieties of apples as juice. The old orchards are left for all kinds of wildlife to enjoy with the different varieties of apple ripening through the year giving a longer time for them to feast on the fruit. Other fields are in the Countryside Stewardship scheme, planted with 23 different species of wildflowers and grasses to encourage all the different insects, birds and mammals which feed on them. Our woodland is full of life, including species like Butchers Broom which are indicators of ancient woodland. And in fact the woodland is ancient, still with the same boundaries that can be seen on maps going back hundreds of years. We have all sorts of nesting boxes up for Swallows, Swifts, Owls and Kestrels to name the more unusual birds, not to mention bats and dormice. I often think that one day I should do a species count on the farm – but it would take more than one day to do.
Our labels are also made using apple pomace along with FSC certified pulp to make the paper. They have changed a little over the years – they now have a band of colour on them and no longer show volume in fluid ounces (if anyone remembers that, you must be of pre-decimal vintage).
Duskin Apple Juice is a small, family business run by Andrew Helbling and his daughter Susan which emerged from a diversification of the family farm. Back in the seventies, the farm had many delicious apples which were being turned down by the supermarkets for not being ‘perfect’; these were fed to our sheep to stop them going to waste. The sheep were, of course, delighted but Andrew would sit on the tractor and wonder why they got all the luck.
What else could we do with all this lovely produce that the supermarkets so foolishly rejected? So, ingenuity and welding irons were put to good use and the first apple press emerged. This was back in the 1980s, when the high tech, ‘loads’a’money’ society was in full swing. Luckily, there were also a number of small farm shops and health food stores who were more than happy to take something so unusual for the time.
The Russet is my favourite apple anyway but this drink is simply superb so well done! My lips are puckering up as I type, thinking of going to Allanhill to get some more juice.
Dale (Scotland)
