Watch Video >>

Herbal vinegars are a culinary delight. They can be used to cook or drizzled straight out of the bottle as a healthy alternative to salad dressing, and they make wonderful homespun gifts.

Once you have perfected your personal recipe for herbal vinegar, begin experimenting with different base vinegars like cider or wine vinegar. Vary the amounts and types of herbs. The results will be a culinary creation unlike anything store-bought. Here you will find the basic instructions to launch you on your way to creating your very own culinary masterpiece.

Basic Ingredients
One quart of distilled white vinegar to one to two cups of fresh herbs, depending on the intensity of the herb and flavor you prefer.

Place the fresh herb into a large jar. Choose a jar with a lid that is nonmetallic or the vinegar will corrode it. Use a bottle with a cork or plastic cap. If you must use a metal lid, put a piece of wax paper in between the lid and the mouth of the jar.

Bring your vinegar to a boil on the stove. Pour the boiling vinegar over the fresh herbs in your prepared jar. Seal the cap and store in a cool, dark place for one month. Shake gently every so often.

After a month, strain the liquid into a new, clean jar. Be certain to use an appropriate container with a plastic or cork lid.

Use a cloth or coffee filter to finely strain the vinegar, then discard the remaining herbs. Drop in a fresh herb.

If you are creating these vinegars to give as gifts, make it more special with a unique bottle that the gift recipient can reuse long after the gift has been consumed. If you have opted to make a large batch to give to family and friends, a simple, inexpensive glass bottle is a nice touch, showcasing the beauty of the added herbs. For that one special person, purchase a more expensive bottle that is as much part of the gift as the vinegar itself.