The best aged balsamic vinegars have no other ingredients added to them - only the grapes. Lesser ones will add brown sugar or caramel to imitate the sweetness of the true balsamico. If a company creates a "traditional" balsamic vinegar, they will also create a less costly, but high quality vinegar as well.

View our free Gourmet Balsamic Recipes.
Oil and vinegar Balsamic Salad dressings.

Balsamic vinegar is Produced by concentrated white grapes (typically, trebbiano grapes) that has been boiled down to approximately 50% ("must") and fermenting that into alcohol. It is then once again fermented to balsamic vinegar, with a slow aging process done in wood casks that concentrates the flavours. The flavour is intensified over years, with the aged balsamic vinegar being kept in fine oak barrels, becoming sweet, syrupy and very concentrated in flavour. Some older balsamic vinegar is added to the "must" to create a more complex and intricate taste, and to add acidity.

The thick syrup is transferred to oak casks to ferment in the open air and then starts the long evaporation and aging process that makes aged balsamic vinegar unusual. Balsamic vinegar does not deteriorate after opening as oxygen is part of the aging process, you can treasure your finest bottle and use it on special entrees. Do not heat or cook balsamic vinegar as it will ruin the flavor.

As a key component in vinaigrette dressings, balsamic pairs particularly well with olive oil. Olive oil-balsamic vinaigrette is outstanding with lobster and scallops, fresh spinach and asparagus. A balsamic vinaigrette does well with winter veggies such as carrots, turnips, squash and sweet potatoes, as well as new mixed greens or baby spinach.

The Mediterranean diet, characterized by cuisine such as Italian food, has been gaining popularity in North America, where the consumption of traditional Mediterranean foods, such as cold pressed olive oil and balsamic vinegar, has been increasing. Many people are finding this diet as a healthy alternative to fatty foods and deep fried food preparation.

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