Is PICKLE JUICE the next wellness craze? Celebrities and sports stars are drinking vinegars to curb cravings, boost digestion and prevent cramp - but you need to be brave to try it
- Pickle juice is full of electrolytes to rehydrate the body and even aid weight loss
- The Pickle House Original Pickle Juice Mix, £9.99, is sold in Selfridges and bars
- Jennifer Aniston and Victoria Beckham are fans of drinking vinegars, too
- They take apple cider vinegar - said to help digestion and curb sugar cravings
Top athletes have recently been spotted knocking back pickle juice to recover from cramp on the pitch, but despite sounding less than glamorous the drink is also making waves among wellness buffs and A-listers alike.
Just last week, Arsenal player Lucas Torreira was seen drinking from a small bottle labelled 'pickle juice' as he received medical attention during a match against Chelsea.
While it may not have agreed with Torreira, who immediately spat it out, American tennis star Frances Tiafoe also swears by the concoction, saying it helped him overcome Grigor Dimitrov in their Australian Open clash.
Meanwhile, fashionistas favour a sweeter, fruit-infused vinegar blend known as 'shrubs' is causing a buzz in trendy cocktail bars and juice hotspots.
Salts in the crushed pickle drink are said to help prevent muscle cramps. But according to Florence Cherruault, author of a new book Pickle Juice, the elixir is a great cure for hangovers as it's full of electrolytes for rehydration.
Those who aren't quite brave enough for pure pickle juice have embraced a slightly tamer version with the likes of Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston downing shots of straight apple cider vinegar, which is said to curb cravings and boost immunity.
Sports stars have been using pickle juice to ease muscle cramps but now it's making waves among wellness buffs, too, promising to help digestion and even aid weight loss. Pictured: The Pickle House Original Pickle Juice - a boutique brand, sold in Selfridges and plush bars
Sports stars have been spotted swigging pickle juice to help ease muscle cramps. Pictured: Arsenal player Lucas Torreira sipped from a small labelled bottle during the Chelsea match last week
A cocktail from The Pickle House made with green Tabsco sauce and pickle juice
From the Arabic word 'sharab,' vinegar-based concoctions have been popular for centuries as a way of preserving berries and fruits.
They're easy to conjure up at home by leaving your chosen fruits soaked in a cup of sugar for a couple of days in the fridge. The leftover syrup can be drained then mixed with apple cider vinegar and drunk alone or added to a cocktail.
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The mixture even makes for a great mocktail, according to Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society that has over 17,000 followers on Instagram.
'It's a great alternative to sickly sweet non-alcoholic mixes - the vinegar element is akin to some spirits and works perfectly mixed with soda water,' she told FEMAIL.
In addition to writing her book, devotee Florence is behind swanky pickle juice brand The Pickle House. She first delved into the world of drinking vinegars on holiday in New York in 2013 when she ordered a pickleback.
The old-fashioned drink incorporates a shot of whiskey chased with a shot of pickle. Intrigued, Florence decided to go about creating her own pickle juice - 'one that would go way beyond the leftover brine found at the bottom of a jar of pickles.'
It resulted in The Pickle House Original Pickle Juice - brewed for 18 weeks with sliced cucumbers and spices. Designed to be enjoyed with cocktails and smoothies, the flavour promises to be 'both sweet and savoury.'
Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston are both fans of apple cider vinegar that, like pickle juice, is thought to help with digestion, boost the immune system and curb sugar cravings
Victoria shared a picture of her apple cider vinegar of choice on Instagram in 2017, encouraging her followers to take two tablespoons each morning
There's also a Bloody Mary Mix version incorporating the same juice along with tomato juice and spices - to be served over ice on its own or with a shot of vodka.
And while an ordinary jar of pickles would set you back less then £2, the label's 500ml bottles come with a £9.99 price tag in Selfridges. They're also available in swanky bars and restaurants or at ThePickleHouse.com for a slightly cheaper £6.95 sum.
For stars like Miranda Kerr, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston, straight apple cider vinegar (known as ACV) is the vinegar du jour.
Fans claim just one tablespoon each morning helps improve digestion, strengthen the immune system and can even help with weight loss by reducing sugar cravings.
'Be brave! Two tbsp first thing on an empty tummy! x' Victoria previously wrote on Instagram with a picture of her ACV of choice - Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, £6.99, that's available from Holland & Barrett.
Founder of The Pickle House Florence Cherruault says pickle juice can also be used in cocktails and mocktails. Her new book Pickle Juice shares over 40 recipes
