18 Nov Homemade cider apple vinegar and it’s uses

Autumn apples

There have been so many apples coming at us this Autumn that I decided to make the ancient remedy that is apple vinegar. I realise that cider apple vinegar has been all the rage in recent years, and you can buy it from the shops, but making it yourself is such a simple, life affirming process that I want to share my recipe with you. And, of course, it’s a wonderful way to use up any extra apples. Cider apples can be a bit tart for eating, but they work well for cider and vinegar. I was gicven some “cooking apples” from my neighbour’s tree, so this is what I am using, but you can use a mixture of apples. Experiment to your heart’s content.

A bit of history…

While this vinegar was a widespread remedy throughout the Slavic lands, we cannot claim we invented it. The ancient physician Hippocrates (circa 400B.C.) used it for cleaning wounds and curing coughs and colds. The Slavs just happened to have a land where apples are abundant (nowadays, Poland is a huge apple exporter). They used apple vinegar for many things, since it was known to preserve and clean. I included a cider apple vinegar toner in my most recent book, Slavic Kitchen Alchemy.

A bit of science…

Science has since discovered that as well as killing harmful strains of bacteria, apple vinegar can also improve heart health (the ancient Slavs would have probably guessed that was the case just by looking at the heart-shaped apple) and lower blood sugar levels. It can therefore be used to help manage diabetes. Additionally, there are some studies that show that consuming apple vinegar can also help with weight loss.

How to use apple vinegar

The reason I love apple vinegar is that it’s super simple to make and incredibly easy to use. To get it’s health benefits, you need to consume it raw. You can use it in salads, as part of the dressing, or drink it mixed with water (or soda water) as a health tonic. About 1-2 tablespoons is enough. In terms of toner, you can mix it with pre-boiled water (ratio 1/5) and use a cotton wool bud to wipe your face with it (you can use it for three days if you use normal water). You can also add it to your bath, as I often do, along with my epsom salts. About half a cup should do the trick.

Recipe for cider apple vinegar