Vinegar is a liquid that is made by alcohol that is allowed to sour. The word comes from French and it actually means "sour wine". Vinegar is widely used in the kitchen, to flavor and preserve foods and also as a main ingredient in sauces, salad dressings and marinades. It is also used as a cleaning agent due to its acidic properties.
There are different types of vinegar available worldwide with each one having a different taste and color. The most commonly used types of vinegar are
red wine vinegar,
white wine vinegar,
apple cider vinegar,
balsamic vinegar and
rice wine vinegar.
Red wine and
white wine vinegar are made from red and white wine respectively and are widely used in cooking worldwide. They are also commonly used for preserving and pickling.
Apple cider vinegar is made from cider or apple must. It has a yellow to light brown color.
Balsamic vinegar is a very popular type of aged vinegar, made from white grapes, traditionally made in Modena, Italy. It has a very dark brown color, a very rich flavor, a complex and sweet taste.
Rice wine vinegar is vinegar made from rice wine and is very popular in Asian and Japanese cuisine.
White wine vinegar is many times infused with herbs such as
tarragon,
oregano, or
thyme.