Vinegar
Vinegar has been around in one for or another for at least 10,000 years. Through the ages it has served an important role as food preservative, condiment, cleaning agent, beauty aid and miraculous medicine.
The name vinegar is derived from Latin word ‘vinum’ meaning wine, and ‘acer’ which denotes sharp or sour.
Eventually the two words blended and became ‘vinegre’.
In the Latin root French language the words ‘vin aigre’ mean sour wine and it is true a wine along long enough can different and is said to have ‘turned to vinegar’.
The Babylonians fermented the fruit of date palms, creating date vinegar, in 5,000 B.C.
Vinegar residue has been scientifically traced to Egyptians urns in use as far as 3,000 B.C.
Vessels of vinegar figure prominently in Greek and Roman artwork. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribed vinegar for his patients.
The armies of Julius Caesar vinegar mixed with water as an invigorating tonic for its antiseptic benefits.
Samurai warriors of Japan would go down a vinegar based beverage to accrue superior strength.
The record of Hannibal’s march over the alps describes how vinegar was poured on hot boulders to crumble them to make way for his troops and elephants to proceed.
During the time of Jesus Christ, vinegar was used as condiment but was also valued for its medicinal properties.
Jail in holy land had two stone jugs kept near the wall where prisoners were flogged. One jug contained oil to soothe and heal, the other contain vinegar used an as antiseptic.
The History of Vinegar
