Sipping Vinegar?

[mbarker]

I am not sure if this fad has reached America yet.

Here in Japan, there has been a recent series of popular pronouncements that vinegar is very healthy. Some of the stores have had vinegar tastings.

This morning the news had a short piece about vinegar bars. Apparently in some train stations and shopping centers, there are small shops with counters selling vinegar drinks. You can get straight vinegar in various flavors and vintages, vinegar and water, and a number of blends or whips. For example, they showed a mixture of blueberries, yogurt, and a shot of vinegar being blended and then poured into a cup. They also interviewed some customers. One young man said he always starts his day with a vinegar drink, it is refreshing and clears your digestion. Another said they are much lighter than the sugary drinks that other places offer.

They also showed vinegar spicing. Some stores sell rock sugar and dry spices. You add your own vinegar to create spiced vinegar for drinking. I'm not sure how different this is from mulled wine, although I think the alcohol content is lower.

I do enjoy vinegar on salads, and of course pickles are good. So maybe going straight for the sour isn't so new?

Comments

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

There was an "apple cider is good for you!" book in the US a couple of decades ago. But it didn't inspire vinegar tastings and the rest of what you describe.

Japan loves to overdo it!

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

It will be interesting to see how long this fad runs. They tend to bubble up and spread very fast, but also die off and disappear fairly quickly. I think the vinegar one started last year (a little poking at the web suggests that's correct). So it has already lasted longer than many.

Hum - the web pages say there is a bottled vinegar drink out there. And stress that black vinegar is better than plain old vinegar. Now I wonder what they make vinegar out of - in the U.S. I think apple is common, but I don't know what they make it out of here.

Thanks for reading!