What is Balsamic Vinegar?
by: cmac1 | Total views: 92 | Word Count: 334 | View PDF | Print View
TRUE balsamic vinegar stands out from all other ‘aceto condimento’ products before you even taste it!!!!!!
Only two consortiums produce true balsamic vinegar, Modena and Reggio Emilia. Modena.
Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena produces three varieties which are differentiated by the label colour; a red label is vinegar which has been aged for a minimum of 12 years, a silver label denotes vinegar which is at least 18 years old and a gold label denotes a minimum age of 25 years.
Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale de Reggio Emilia uses a similar system however a white label denotes a minimum of 12 years old and a gold label bearing the word extravecchio denotes vinegar of at least 25 years of age.
True aceto balsamic vinegar comes in a 3.4 ounce bottle (with a quite distinctive shape) and is bottled and registered by either of the two consortiums
Balsamic vinegar is made from the juice of white grapes (typically, trebbiano grapes) cooked down very slowly in copper cauldrons, over an open flame to approximately 50% of its original volume to create a concentrated must, which is then fermented with a slow aging process which concentrates the flavours. The flavour intensifies over decades, with the vinegar being kept in fine wooden casks of oak, cherry, chestnut, mulberry, acacia, juniper, and ash. As the ‘must’ ages it becomes sweet, viscous and very concentrated (what is gone is romantically referred to as "the angels' share," a term also used in the production of Scotch whisky).
These are the ONLY TRUE Balsamic Vinegars.
Condimento balsamic vinegars may be made by the same methods as true balsamic vinegars and come from producers outside the Modena or Reggio provinces of Italy or they may come from producers who do not have consortium approval – or their only resemblance to Balsamic Vinegar may be the label!!!!!!!
Condimento balsamic can, for example, have brown sugar or caramel added to mimic the sweetness of true balsamic vinegar.
There are no official standards or labelling systems to designate condimento balsamic vinegars
SO REMEMBER - CHECK YOUR LABELS!
About the Author
Chris McAndrew is part of the Spinney Kitchen family. He spends much of his spare time growing the herbs, fruit and spices which go into Spinney Kitchen produce.
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