Condiments Strawberry Vinegar

strawberry vinegar

(from Housekeeping in Old Virginia by M. C. Tyree, 1879)

Ingredients:

3 x 4 lbs. fresh strawberries​

3 qt. white wine vinegar​

sugar (1 lb. per pint of vinegar)​

Instructions:

​

Four pounds strawberries, three quarts vinegar. Put fresh, ripe berries in a jar, adding to each pound a pint and a half of fine, pale white- wine vinegar. Tie a thick paper over them and let them remain three or four days. Then drain off the vinegar, and pour it over four pounds fresh fruit. After three days drain it again, and add it a third time to fresh fruit. After draining the last time, add one pound refined sugar to each pint of vinegar. When nearly dissolved, stir the syrup over a fire till it has dissolved (five minutes). Skim it, pour it in a pitcher, cover it till next day. Then bottle it, and cork it loosely for the first few days. Use a few spoonfuls to a glass of water.​

Photo by Jeff Kubina [CC BY-SA 2.0]​

 

[donna]

Thanks for recipe as was thinking of finding a Strawberry Vinegar as this is National Strawberry Month.

 

[nitrofd]

Is this made to be a drink as it says use a few teaspoonfuls to a glass of water ?

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

Is this made to be a drink as it says use a few teaspoonfuls to a glass of water ?

I was wondering the same thing. Perhaps it was meant to flavor drinking water, as I have read that drinking water in the era wasn't always... how can I say 'tasty', or plain and clean like today's drinking water. I know I've had mineral water that seems to taste weird, so maybe the concoction was for that purpose?

 

[nitrofd]

I was wondering the same thing. Perhaps it was meant to flavor drinking water, as I have read that drinking water in the era wasn't always... how can I say 'tasty', or plain and clean like today's drinking water. I know I've had mineral water that seems to taste weird, so maybe the concoction was for that purpose?

That is a very reasonable assumption,makes sense.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Is this made to be a drink as it says use a few teaspoonfuls to a glass of water ?

I think it is to drink when mixed with water.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

It's eye catching, thank you! You would want to drink it, all those strawberries and ' old Virginia ' make you feel M.C. Tyree could be trusted. Wonder if it could threaten sales on double double half fat hold the cream chocolate shavings extra shot expressos?

 

[amweiner]

Thank you for sharing this. It looks really good!