History of vinegar

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Yesterday, Dave and I were talking of a gentleman he used to work for. The man was a chemist with the laboratories in Oak Ridge. After retiring he and his wife bought a gourmet market and he then proceeded to apply his interest in chemistry towards food. Particuarly, vinegars. He told Dave that if it were not for vinegar, mankind might not have made it. It was used as a disinfectant, food preserver, tonic, medicinal and a host of other things. It was used extensively during the Plague. Vinegar has also been around from at least 4 b.c.

All of this got me to thinking and looking up web sites on vinegar. I knew about some of vinegars' attributes, but just the tip of the iceberg. I found out that if you use vinegar in a spray bottle and peroxide in another bottle and sprayed them each on an area to be disinfected, it works better than bleach. This technique was thouroughly tested and killed more dangerous bacteria than the bleach. Pretty neat, huh? If your thinking of stocking the pantry, go for buying the vinegar.

Also, the average American only spends about 3.00 on vinegar each year. Not much considering all that one can use it for. Which then also got me to thinking....I wonder if some of our ills today could be linked to forgetting much of what people throughout history relied on so heavily. Something so simple and basic. People used to consume alot of vinegar. The Romans dunked their bread in it between meals. The armies drank it with water as well as cleaned wounds with it. We, the "advanced" civilizations, don't consume near as much. Have we become so "sophisticated" that the lowly foods of our forefathers are now relagated to the back of the row? Funny, in a strange way to think about, that modern society thinks they know so much, isn't it?

When searching I ran across a couple of books out about vinegar and it's history and uses and also about salt, and the history and uses of it. Learning how the ancient people used these 2 basic ingredients, especially as food preservatives, amazes me. One day, it might be unmeasurable knowledge for us homesteaders to know. Ya just never know about the future. Next time I'm at a book store, I'm lookin em up.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002

Answers

Had to go put a load of laundry in, but the jist of the post above was that....since reading homesteading posts and ones about preparing, one of the first things people mention is to have bleach on hand in case of shortages. Bleach is a limited supply. One cannot reproduce it, well the majority of us can't, and isn't the full measure of being self sufficient, being able to make what we use? And if we ever must get by with what we have, why not look way back to what the other generations used and learn from them. Ancient ones at that. Bleach can most assuredly NOT be used on salads either. :) Bleaches' purposes are not multy. It takes alot of room to store something that can be used for only one purpose and one that is toxic, to boot.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002.

Annie, that is MARVELOUS! I especially like your theory about using vinegar in everyday life - didn't I read sometime that (maybe it was with farm wives of German heritage) no noon or evening meal was complete without seven sweet and "sours" on the table? Vinegar would surely come under the "sours" heading, in pickles and relishes, etc. And the farmers out in the hayfield were brought "switchel" (sp?) to drink, consisting, I believe, of a little vinegar and molasses mixed in with cold water. I love the old ways!

-- Bonnie (51940@aeroinc.net), May 25, 2002.

Romans soldiers would each carry their own wine, basicaly it was a weak vinegar, which they would "slice" a peice of their bronze sheild, ( copper alloy), mix with the "wine", this is a VERY good antibacterial. Then honey would be aplied as a topical ointment, (another antibacterial). Another interesting point, when homesteders where given land, a major requirment was that they had an established apple orchard within 10 years, since this was the easiest way to make vinegar, (at least in the "new world"). Thats how Johney AppleSeed started,, he came early and planted apple trees, (basically the first nursery), to sell to the homesteaders

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), May 25, 2002.

Bonnie, I bet us homesteading women use more vinegar than about anybody! Pickles, relishes, chow chows...I'm going have to look up how they made switchel. Never heard of it and will have to try it. I love molasses! Thanks. It seems most of the interest in vinegar lately has been for cleaning, when there are so many other uses. Hey Stan, I didn't find anything on the Roman soldiers using it that way. Thanks. Very interesting, especially adding the metal to it. The only thing I saw when searching was that when the soldiers ran out of potable water, they would add vinegar to other water for them to drink Ever heard of this? I'll have to search and see if vinegar added to say, water from a creek, would make it potable. Also, never knew about the orchards. Those old homesteaders were smart cookies. And well prepared. Thanks y'all for the info. Still learning here!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002.

Bonnie, I checked out some web sites on switchel and found quite a few variations for it. I'm gonna make some and try it. One lady uses it instead of gatorade when she goes hiking. One web site said people use to drink it in the summer as lemons weren't very available for lemonade and soft drinks weren't even invented. Switchel, they say, quenches the thirst. Also I didn't know that the apple cider vinegar used in the drink has quite a bit of potassium. Must have been how the old timers got their daily amount of it, as bananas also weren't easy to come by. Interesting.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002.


In one of the Little House books Laura volunteers to help her father gather hay. When her sister brings water for them to drink she is pleasantly surprised to find ginger water in the jug. I did some checking and found that pioneers made a drink using vinegar, water, honey or molassas and ginger. I really like it. There isnt a set recipe. I just make a combination to suit my taste. To a quart of water add 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon powder ginger and honey to taste. You have to stir or shake it every time you pour it. My dh has a chronic infection on his legs. It was coming back every 1 to 2 months. Since he wont drink my vinegar concoction I got vinegar pills. He also takes large doses of garlic. About 3 months after taking this his infection flare-ups are around every 6 months now. The infection is internal, caused by poor circulation. I didnt know about the combination of vinegar and peroxide but we spray the exzema thats on the outside of his leg with peroxide. I'll start adding vinegar to the water I bathe his legs in. Blessings Peggy

-- peggy (peggyan2@msn.com), May 26, 2002.

I maintain a vinegar generator from my wine dregs.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 26, 2002.

That's great, Annie, and I also believe I read where molasses has lots of B-vitamins in it, so it is really a healthy drink!

-- Bonnie (51940@aeroinc.net), May 26, 2002.

I have an interest in vinegar, been making my own for several month now. One website that you might look at, if you haven't already, is Vinegarman, http://www.vinegarman.com/, there is a lot of info. on this site.

As vinegar is a dilute solution of glacial acetic acid, Stan's comment on it being used by soldiers for wound treatment after dissolving a portion of a copper shield, would appear to be right on. Generally an acid will dissolve a metal and many heavy metal solutions will kill certain bacteria. Not my first choice for wound care, but an option that it is good to be aware of.

Am currently using vinegar to dissolve the egg shell from my boiled quail eggs and pickle them, beats shelling the little critters.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), May 27, 2002.


i've alway wondered is vinegar really natural? i ask my wife that after i see some comercials.

-- randy in central missouri (rwybrant@coin.org), May 27, 2002.


Ah yes, the VinegarMan! From Roslyn South Dakota, yes he is, which is about 50 miles away from me. Someday I plan to visit the vinegar museum. One thing the old Germans did was dip liver sausage in vinegar for an extra bite! I've tried it, being a descendant, and it is a different, but good, taste. I remember hearing stories of how drinking vinegar every day was good for your health (another old German use). Some who didn't like the taste would drink the leftover pickle juice instead. Now that sounds good, especially juice from homemade pickles with lots of garlic (also good for you) and dill and red peppers.

-- JoAnn in SD (jnehls@nvc.net), May 27, 2002.

Hi , JUST WANTED TO SAY WE'VE BEEN USING VINEGAR FOR YEARS.wE USE IT FOR THE FAMILY AND THE LIVESTOCK. God Bless

-- Gary and Pris (MTASHEACRES@AOL.COM), May 28, 2002.

Thanks BC for the link. I remember an article some time ago in CS on how to make vinegar, I'm going to have to look for it and give it a try. Is it very hard to do? Jo Ann, my hubby says that the Germans still make some of the worlds best vinegars, guess they knew what was good for them! I always liked the pickle juice, too. My mom didn't use much vinegar when I was growing up, so I'm trying to learn more ways of cooking with it. Dave brought home a bottle of vinegar that the above mentioned man had given to him. It was made in China from a company that has been making the same kind vinegar since the time of Christ. It's really good, but different from what I've been used to. Seems like the types and variations are almost endless!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 28, 2002.

Jay aah and ive ben dumping it down the septic dang how about a little mo info? do you strain your wine? im sure your talking a bout the dregs in bottom? Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), May 28, 2002.

Annie,

Look at CS July/Aug 1999, Vol 84 No. 4, pages 44-50, a lot of info. there. The hardest part is getting it started, as far as I am concerned. Probably the next step, which I have not conquered yet, is making sure that I can keep it going, like a sour dough starter, always some ready for use. Been working on making apple cider vinegar, we will see.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), May 28, 2002.



Annie, one of my favorite threads! Just a week or so ago, I had a question about vinegar, and was thinking of starting a thread to ask members the various different ways they use vinegar. I've always wondered, what's more effective. . . . cider or white, and why?

Does anyone use vinegar for "health" purposes?

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), May 28, 2002.


BC, thanks! Looked in my stack of cs and found it. Looks to be a really good article. After I read it, I'll probably have more questions! :)

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 29, 2002.

Granny Hen, I'm taking vinegar for bone spurs. It's supposed to be good for just about everything. Folk Medicine by Jarvis-first name is initials-(the books still packed) is all about the wonders of apple cider vinegar.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002.

Here's another use for Vinegar. Because I raise rabbits, I frequently have water dishes, and feeders that get a calcium buid up from the critters spraying. I hated to bleach them it was so rough on my hands and the equipment. I now keep a 5 gallon bucket full of vinegar in the barn when a dish is needing cleaned I place it in the vinegar soak with in 20 minutes all I have to do is rinse with water and its clean!! I have left dishes for several days if I don't have time to rinse them just put the lid on the bucket. It will discolor metal dishes, but the rabbits don't care what color the feeder is! It doesn't hurt my hands the way the bleach does, just leaves a vinegar smell! I have had the one bucket for several months and am now just considering dumping it, seems like it has lost its cleaning omph! Just an idea you might want to try. Denise

-- Denise K. (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), May 29, 2002.

According to my circa 1931 booklet "What To Do Til the Doctor Comes", vinegar can be used for everything from head lice to acne and exema (sp.??).

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), May 29, 2002.

What a great post! I would love to know how to make vinegar! I use it in the goats water, and in the chickens also. Thanks again. Sissy

-- Sissy (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), May 30, 2002.

Hi BC, read the article in cs, last night. Forgot what a great one it was. For those that might not have the issue, cs has the article online at countrysidemag.com......On the left of the screen, click on past issues, then scroll down to July/August 99.

BC how are you starting the vinegar your making? In CS they gave several recipes which seemed extremely simple. I liked the one for apple cider vinegar using the peelings and core. Wonder if you need a "mother" for this or will it just take longer to ferment without one? Wished I lived closer to Jay.....

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), June 01, 2002.


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