Raspberry vinaigrette garnished by pomegranate arils. Photo courtesy Pom Wonderful.
 
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

This glossary was developed by KAREN HOCHMAN, Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE.

 

 

June 2005
Last Updated September 2023

Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Oils, Vinegars & Salad Dressings

Types Of Vinegar

Page 4: Vinegar Glossary ~ Types Of Vinegar D To P

 

This is page 4 of a five-page article; here, the types of vinegar from D to P. Click on the black links below to visit other pages. Check out our more than 100 food glossaries, likely including all of your favorites.

 

DESSERT VINEGAR & DRINKING VINEGAR

Drinking vinegar, also called sipping vinegar, is a flavorful vinegar used as a digestíf. Drinking vinegar for health reasons is an ancient practice in many world cultures. The Roman Legions drank it and in Colonial America, “shrubs” made with vinegar were a common tonic. Mixed with club soda or full strength, drinking vinegar is a pleasantly tart drink with concentrated flavors of the fruit (and/or vegetables) and aromatics used in the vinegar. Some are sweetened and called dessert vinegar.

  Plum Vinegar
Raspberry-infused drinking vinegar (photo by Melody Lan | THE NIBBLE).

DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR
Distilled vinegar, also known as spirit vinegar, is made from distilled alcohol. Colorless and strong in scent and astringency, it should not be used as a table vinegar, but for pickling and canning; or as a household cleaner (it’s great for cleaning non-porous surfaces such as glass, and for removing calcium deposits from the coffee maker). Distilled vinegar also can be used as a detergent and a disinfectant. Heloise has many household hints for it—in fact, vinegar has even more uses than baking soda. People who use it as an all-purpose vinegar on food either have an iron palate or a strong preference for things sour.

  distilled white vinegarDistilled white vinegar (photo by Melody Lan | THE NIBBLE).
 

FRUIT, HERB & SPICE VINEGARS
Fruit (raspberry, maple, plum, e.g.), herb (tarragon, herbs de Provence, e.g.), and spice (ginger, garlic, vanilla, e.g.) vinegars are made by adding these elements to either wine or cider vinegars. The bottled mixture is allowed to stand for some time before it is released in order for the flavors to blend. (Some fruit vinegars are made by the fermentation of fresh fruit juice.) This is a category in which vinegar continues to evolve for foodies, as new flavors—yuzu and ancho chile, e.g.—enter our culinary repertoire and become incorporated into vinegars we can use to flavor everyday foods. These vinegars are popular in vinaigrettes and add a special flavor to sauces, soups, and marinades.

  champagne vinegar
Tarragon vinegar (photo by Melody Lan | THE NIBBLE).

GOLDEN BALSAMIC VINEGAR
Golden balsamic vinegar is another term for white balsamic vinegar. Read all about it here.

  Golden Balsamic Vinegar
Malt vinegar (photo by Melody Lan | THE NIBBLE).
MALT VINEGAR
A key ingredient used in the brewing of beer, malt can be used as the base of vinegar, which is made in the same manner as mass-produced wine vinegars. The resulting flavor is distinctive and the vinegar can be strong. As such, malt vinegar is used most often for pickling or as condiment. The British and Canadians use it instead of ketchup to complement French fries and other vegetables.
  malt vinegar
Malt vinegar (photo by Melody Lan | THE NIBBLE).

PLUM VINEGAR
Plum vinegar (umeboshi) is not a true vinegar, but the brine is drawn off from pickled plums that are used as a substitute for vinegar and salt in recipes. It has a tasty sour fruit flavor that is delicious in salad dressings and can be used as a “fusion” flavor in marinades and reductions.

  Plum Vinegar
Plum vinegar (photo by Melody Lan | THE NIBBLE).
 

Continue To Page 5: Types Of Vinegar ~ R To Z

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