History of Vinegar

The History of Vinegar

The accidental discovery in ancient times that grape juice, left undisturbed, turns into wine was a cause for celebration. Wine has been used in celebrations ever since. The subsequent and inevitable discovery that wine, left undisturbed, eventually turns into vinegar was not heralded with as much enthusiasm. However, over many long years the wonders of vinegar have been revealed, and will continue to be for many years to come.

• Ancients very quickly uncovered the tremendous versatility of vinegar. While records were not kept before 5000 BC legend has it that the Sumerians, a civilization of ancient Babylonia, used vinegar as a cleaning agent. The Babylonians discovered that vinegar slows or stops the action of bacteria that spoils food so they used it as a preservative. They also used it as a condiment. Caesar's armies used vinegar as a beverage.
• The Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, demonstrated its solvency powers by dissolving precious pearls in vinegar to win a wager that she could consume a fortune in a single meal. Helen of Troy apparently bathed in vinegar to relax.
• Hannibal, the famous African General, used vinegar to help his army cross the Alps. 
• Hippocrates, a Greek physician and writer, known as the father of medicine, extolled vinegar's therapeutic qualities. He prescribed drinking vinegar to his patients for many ailments.
• During the Black Plague in Europe, thieves poured vinegar over their skin to protect themselves from germs before robbing the dead.
• During World War I vinegar was used to treat wounds on the battlefields. Today, white vinegar is recommended for the treatment of rashes, bites and other minor ailments when camping
• The powerful British Navy used vinegar to preserve food during long sea voyages and to clean the decks of their ships.
• Vinegar has become most popular, however, as a condiment on French fries and as an ingredient in food and baking

Vinegar is still used for pickling and preserving, but less so, as people have less time for this fine craft