Heritage Variety Apple Juice: Why Our Traditional English Apples Make All the Difference
- donnadruce
- Dec 1, 2025
- 6 min read
Table of Contents
Introduction: What Makes Heritage Variety Apple Juice Special?
The Story Behind Druce’s Juices
What Is Heritage Variety Apple Juice?
Our Single Variety Range: Celebrating English Apple Heritage
Why Heritage Variety Apple Juice Tastes Better
The Health Benefits of Apple Juice
Sustainable Orcharding: How We Protect Our Land, Wildlife & Community
How We Make Our Heritage Variety Apple Juice
Delicious Recipes Using Heritage Variety Apple Juice
Where to Buy Druce’s Juices
FAQ
Key Takeaway & How to Contact Us
Introduction: What Makes Heritage Variety Apple Juice Special?
At Druce’s Juices, we believe heritage variety apple juice is more than a drink — it’s a celebration of traditional English orchards, unique flavours and responsible farming. Every bottle of our handcrafted apple juice tells the story of apples grown locally in the South West of England, pressed at peak ripeness and treated with the utmost respect for the land.
The Story Behind Druce’s Juices
Druce’s Juices was founded on a passion for traditional English apple varieties and sustainable farming. Our training came directly from Keith Goverd — formerly of the Long Ashton Research Centre, where modern pasteurisation for apple juice was developed.
Keith investigated over 200 single varieties of apple juice, the largest known collection worldwide, and generously shared his expertise. His influence shapes our commitment to excellence and authenticity in every bottle of heritage variety apple juice.
What Is Heritage Variety Apple Juice?
Heritage variety apple juice comes from traditional English apple cultivars — often centuries old — grown not for supermarket conformity but for true flavour, character and aroma.
These apples offer:
Richer, more layered flavour profiles
Natural variation based on weather and season
Distinctive colours, textures and cloudiness
A direct link to English food heritage
Our single-variety approach allows the personality of each apple to shine in every bottle of apple juice.
Our Single Variety Range: Celebrating English Apple Heritage
Lord Lambourne – Crisp & Fragrant
A classic English cultivar from 1907 with refreshing acidity and natural sweetness. A wonderfully well-balanced juice for all palates.
American Mother – Aromatic & Musky
Despite its name, this variety has long been grown across English orchards. Expect pink-tinted flesh and a full, aromatic profile.
Devonshire Quarrendon – Deep, Fruity & Bold
A historic Devon apple known for its rich, almost berry-like flavour and striking ruby hue.
Newton Wonder – Warm & Mildly Spiced
Originating in the 1800s, this cooking apple delivers a softer, mellow juice with comforting autumnal undertones.
Ribston Pippin – Complex & Historic
The aromatic parent of the Cox, known for its layered flavour and distinctive, refined character.
All available through our online shop.
Why Heritage Variety Apple Juice Tastes Better
Real complexity in aroma and taste
Heritage apples develop naturally varied sugars, acids and aromatic compounds, creating juices with deep, multi-layered flavour. Rather than the standard sweetness of commercial varieties, heritage apples offer distinctive taste signatures — from spicy undertones to fruity richness — producing a juice with true personality.
Seasonal differences depending on weather conditions
Our unsprayed orchards are shaped by nature, not chemicals. Sunshine, rain and temperature patterns influence each apple’s sweetness, acidity and cloudiness, meaning every year’s heritage variety apple juice has a unique flavour profile — much like a vintage wine.
Natural cloudiness from unfiltered blending
We don’t over-filter. The gentle cloud in our juice comes from tiny natural fruit particles that carry flavour, aroma and depth. This cloudiness reflects the true identity of each heritage variety and adds to its authenticity.
A connection to English food history
Many of our apples have grown in English orchards for over a century. Drinking heritage variety apple juice helps preserve culinary heritage, supporting rare cultivars that might otherwise vanish from the landscape.
The Health Benefits of Apple Juice
Science supports several nutritional benefits of apples and apple juice.
Natural Polyphenols
Apples contain polyphenols, antioxidants associated with supporting cardiovascular health and helping protect cells from oxidative stress — a general benefit linked to antioxidants in many fruits.
Vitamin C for wellness
Apple juice provides vitamin C, essential for immune function and general wellbeing.
Digestive-friendly properties
While juice contains less fibre than whole apples, the natural compounds and pectins present in apples have been linked to digestive comfort and gut health.
For additional natural wellness options, many customers also enjoy our raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, which contains acetic acid and natural “mother” cultures.
Sustainable Orcharding: At the Heart of Our Heritage Variety Apple Juice
Sustainability is central to everything we do at Druce’s Juices.
No chemicals for over 30 years
Our orchards have been free of chemical sprays, pesticides and synthetic fertilisers for more than three decades. This long-term commitment results in healthier soil, more resilient trees and thriving wildlife.
Biodiversity-supporting orchard management
We leave nettle patches to support beneficial insects, space trees carefully for natural airflow and are exploring the addition of bird and bat boxes, which help control pests without chemicals.
Zero waste through productive pomace use
After pressing, the leftover apple pulp is delivered to our neighbour’s farm, where pigs enjoy it as part of their feed. Nothing is wasted.
Bottle return and reuse system
We encourage customers to return their glass bottles. Each one is thoroughly cleaned and reused, significantly reducing our environmental impact.
Cardboard labels to reduce plastic waste
Our cardboard labels eliminate the need for plastic-backed stickers entirely, enabling easier bottle reuse and dramatically cutting plastic waste.
Recyclable metal lids
Every bottle is sealed with a recyclable metal cap — another small but important step towards responsible packaging.
Local-only sales to minimise food miles
We focus on selling locally — at the Bath Farmers Market, Zero Waste shops and other nearby stockists. Local delivery is completed by us whenever possible, keeping carbon emissions low.
50-year-old wooden crates still in service
We store all bottled juice in original wooden apple crates dating back to before 1971. Lovingly maintained and repaired over the decades, they prove that simple materials can last generations when cared for.
How We Make Our Heritage Variety Apple Juice
Hand-grading apples for perfection
Every apple is individually inspected to ensure only high-quality fruit is pressed. This guarantees the purity, clarity and flavour of our final juice.
Pressing varieties separately to retain identity
Each heritage apple type is pressed independently. This allows Lord Lambourne, Ribston Pippin, American Mother and others to express their full, authentic flavour — resulting in truly distinct single-variety juices.
Gentle pasteurisation informed by decades of expertise
Our pasteurisation method follows the approach developed by experts at the Long Ashton Research Centre. This protects natural flavour while ensuring safety and shelf stability.
Bottling in reusable, durable glass
Glass protects flavour integrity better than plastic and fits our sustainability values. Through our bottle return scheme, each bottle may enjoy several lives.
Low-impact cardboard labelling
Our cardboard labels are easy to remove, reusable when intact, and do not rely on plastic backing — reducing waste significantly.
Local delivery that keeps our footprint small
All deliveries remain within our local area to ensure the lowest possible food miles and preserve our commitment to sustainability. Please remember to check the delivery area before ordering.
We also offer an apple pressing service for customers who want their homegrown apples turned into delicious juice.
Delicious Recipes Using Heritage Variety Apple Juice
1. Apple Juice Glazed Roast Chicken
Use Newton Wonder juice for a mellow, warming glaze. Its subtle acidity works beautifully in savoury cooking.Inspired by recipes from BBC Good Food.
2. Spiced Apple Juice Winter Warmer
Heat Ribston Pippin juice with cinnamon, cloves and a curl of orange peel for a cosy winter drink.
3. Sweet Apple Juice Porridge
Use Lord Lambourne for a naturally sweet porridge base without added sugar.
4. Berry Smoothies
Blend our berry juices with a splash of apple juice for a refreshing breakfast smoothie.
5. Apple Juice Jelly
American Mother juice makes a wonderfully fragrant jelly thanks to its distinctive aroma.
Suggested recipe sites for inspiration:
BBC Good Food
Delicious Magazine
Riverford Organic Recipe Hub
Where to Buy Druce’s Juices
You can order our full range of heritage variety apple juices online.
Please check the delivery area before placing your order — we keep deliveries local to maintain low food miles.
You can also find our drinks at regional stockists, Zero Waste shops and the Bath Farmers Market.
FAQ
Q: What makes your juice different from supermarket brands?
A: We specialise in true heritage variety apple juice, made from traditional English apples grown without chemicals and pressed individually to preserve their unique character.
Q: Why does the flavour change each year?
A: Because our apples are grown naturally, seasonal weather creates subtle variations. This is part of the charm of authentic heritage juice.
Q: Can I return bottles?
A: Yes — and we encourage it! Returned bottles are cleaned and reused to reduce waste.
Q: Do you offer delivery?
A: Yes, but we keep delivery local to minimise food miles. Please check your postcode before ordering.
Q: Can you press my own apples?
A: Absolutely. Book our apple pressing service to turn your homegrown apples into delicious juice.
Key Takeaway
Our heritage variety apple juice embodies everything we value — exceptional flavour, sustainable orcharding, traditional English apple varieties and local community support.
If you’d like to order, ask a question or book apple pressing, please visit our contact page and we’ll be delighted to help.
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