Tulsi & Ginger Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic

While many of us see vinegar as a simple condiment or an ingredient in pickling, it’s actually a 10,000-year-old remedy that’s heightened when combined with medicinal herbs. Medicated vinegar, technically known as an acetum, was clearly documented as herbal medicine in the early versions of The United States Pharmacopeia and stocked in traditional herbal apothecaries worldwide. It’s hard to believe, but this modern day cooking ingredient was once combined with many powerful plants for herbal medicine. Our recipe below includes tulsi, a beloved herb in Ayurvedic medicine and aromatic nervine used to support a healthy response to occasional stress. We’ve also paired it with fresh ginger root, known for its unique spicy and pungent taste, that supports healthy digestion.* This blend makes for beautiful synergy of Ayurvedic herbs in a traditional western herbalism format.

These days, herbalists combine more tonic-like herbs with vinegar for simple and effective everyday use. It takes just 1-2 weeks’ steeping time to prepare and pairs well with a variety of plants, from aromatic lavender to spicy ginger, and can be used in anything from house cleaner to a shrub cocktail base. Talk about diversity! In fact, famous herbal medicines like Four Thieves Blend (a medieval formula used for protection) and Fire Cider (a folk formula to support seasonal wellness) also have vinegar as a base. Vinegar on its own has been used to support the cardiovascular system, and many other various bodily symptoms.*

If you want the benefits of tulsi and ginger right away, try our Organic Tulsi with Ginger tea. Or keep yourself busy while your herbal medicine infuses with more herbal recipes on our Plant Power Journal.