BUFFERED VINEGAR PRODUCTS WITH REDUCED COLOR, ODOR, AND FLAVOR AND METHODS OF PRODUCING THE SAME

1 . A method of treating a vinegar product, comprising:

combining the vinegar product with one or more types of activated carbon, wherein the vinegar product comprises a concentrated buffered vinegar or a simple buffered vinegar, and wherein the activated carbon comprises powdered activated carbon (PAC) or granular activated carbon (GAC); and

separating the activated carbon from the vinegar product after a specified time, yielding a treated vinegar product,

wherein the treated vinegar product is substantially clear and colorless as measured by absorbance at 260 nm, and

wherein the treated vinegar product has a mild vinegar flavor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentrated buffered vinegar comprises 300 grain vinegar neutralized by a neutralizing agent, concentrated by heat, and adjusted to pH 5.6.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the simple buffered vinegar comprises 300 grain vinegar neutralized by a neutralizing agent and adjusted to pH 6.0.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activated carbon is sourced from at least one of coal, coconut, and wood.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining comprises pumping the vinegar product through one or more columns each comprising a bed of GAC.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the vinegar product is pumped through the column at a flow rate sufficient to provide an empty bed contact time (EBCT) of at least about 70 minutes.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said combining comprises pumping the vinegar product through two or more columns plumbed in a series.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said separating comprises collecting an effluent and filtering the effluent using a filter having a pore size of about 0.45 microns.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining comprises mixing the vinegar product with the activated carbon in a batch process.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the vinegar product and the activated carbon are mixed with intermittent or constant agitation for about one to ten days.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said separating comprises passing the mixture through one or more filters.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the filters each have a pore size of about one micron or less.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the GAC is pulverized to a powder form.

14 . A treated vinegar product having reduced color, odor, and flavor, produced by a process comprising:

providing a vinegar product to be treated;

combining the vinegar product with one or more types of activated carbon, wherein the vinegar product comprises a concentrated buffered vinegar or a simple buffered vinegar, and wherein the activated carbon comprises powdered activated carbon (PAC) or granular activated carbon (GAC); and

separating the activated carbon from the vinegar product after a specified time, yielding the treated vinegar product,

wherein the treated vinegar product is substantially clear and colorless as measured by absorbance at 260 nm, and

wherein the treated vinegar product has a mild vinegar flavor.