ALL ABOUT VINEGAR

It's pretty safe to safe to say that the average person knows very little about what vinegar is and where it came from, aside from being one of the main ingredients in a Balsamic Vinaigrette; but there's so much more to this powerful fermented elixir! The beginning of vinegar—basically just an already fermented beverage combined with an additional bacteria—may date all the way back to ancient Egyptian times, where it was first cultured as an energizing drink. Hippocrates (The Father of Modern Medicine) was later recorded using vinegar for health purposes, prescribing vinegar with honey for colds and coughs. Still used for that same purpose today, vinegar is also said to:

•  keep spring/summer allergies at bay

•  balance pH levels in the body and regulates blood sugar levels

•  boosts your immune system and improves skin health

•  works as a powerful alkalizing agent and combats symptoms of acid reflux

•  aid with digestion because of it's malic acid content

Pro Tip: When adding apple cider vinegar to your morning routine, dilute 1 to 2 tablespoons with 8 ounces of water. 

—COOKING WITH VINEGAR

Vinegar is an incredibly versatile ingredient in the kitchen! You can use it to make your own salad dressings, top soup recipes for a touch of acidity, or to create marinades for dishes. A few of the most common kinds of vinegar include red wine, distilled white, balsamic, apple cider, white wine, malt, sherry, white wine, and fruit-infused vinegar. 

Wild vinegar is commonly developed by some of the elite restaurants of the world, using ingredients which celebrate their local terroir.

Chef Ed tip: Add a splash of fruit vinegar to your summer cocktails to brighten the flavors!