There is an amazing amount of vinegars out there in the open market. This is not surprising as we have been making them since 2000 B.C or even earlier! Vinegars can be made from fruit juices, beers, wines and other drinks. They can also have herbs, flowers or spices added to them during to create an endless variety of tastes – subtle of poignant. Here is a list of the more commonly used vinegars around the world.
Malt Vinegar
A very popular vinegar in Western Europe, malt vinegar can be found as a condiment (along with salt) in every fish’n'chip shop in the U.K. Made from barley ale, malt vinegar is one of the cheapest kinds of vinegars available. Vinegars made from other kinds of ales and beers are also popular in Western Europe.
Rice Vinegar
A staple vinegar in China and Japan, rice vinegar comes in three different colors – black, red or white – depending on the kind of rice used. White rice vinegar is the vinegar of choice in Japan, used for sushi dishes and for salad dressings. In China, black rice vinegar is by far the most popular.
Wine Vinegar
Whereas rice vinegar is the staple in Asia, and malt vinegar is the staple in the U.K, wine vinegar is the biggy in the Mediterranean. It is used generously in many of the culinary dishes there and is a very popular ingredient for salad dressings. Because wine vinegar is made by fermenting wine, it is available in a multitude of red and white varieties.
One of the most popular wine vinegars is balsamic. Originally a vinegar that could only be afforded by the Italian upper class, balsamic is now mass produced and available in any major supermarket chain.
Apple cider Vinegar
An age old healing vinegar, apple cider vinegar benefits a variety of health issues. Hippocrates, the godfather of medicine, is reported to be the first person to administer apple cider vinegar for its health benefits. He used it treat people with coughs and other infections. Today its health benefits are famed for helping relief arthritis pain, stabilizing blood sugar and helping generate all around good health.
