Artisanal Vinegar Maker'S Handbook, The

Vinegar making is a very ancient craft. Mankind first harnessed the creation of vinegar, along with its preservative and medicinal qualities, more than ten thousand years ago. Nowadays, however, most guides to making your own vinegar are limited to allowing wine to ferment on its own, often with less-than-stellar results. Truly high-quality vinegar production is an art and science in itself. Austrian distillers Helge Schmickl and Bettina Malle use their experience and scientific background to provide special insight into the creation of artisanal vinegars. Translated into English for the first time, this guide offers tips on vinegar fermentation, distillation, and infusion. Schmickl and Malle instruct readers on the three processes commonly used to make vinegar - generator, surface, and submerged - as well as the ideal equipment for both the casual beginner and small-scale producer. Schmickl and Malle's meticulous experimentation has uncovered the optimal conditions for creating high-quality vinegar using every imaginable starter material, from wines to fruits to herbs. Readers will also learn recipes for using their vinegar in cooking, cleaning, and healthy living. Detailed, step-by-step instructions for over a hundred recipes illuminate this fascinating process for beginners, and even experienced vinegar crafters are bound to refine their techniques.