Herbal Infused Vinegars

One of my absolute favorite herbal preparations is also one of the simplest and most powerful: Herbal Infused Vinegars. They are delightful creations that combine the nutritional benefits of apple cider vinegar with the healing properties of herbs, fruits, and spices into a supercharged health tonic. When you combine the power of plants and vinegar, you are left with what I call liquid herbal magic.

Why Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is one of our oldest fermented medicines. It’s created through two different stages of fermentation. First, the apples are turned into alcohol. During the second fermentation, acetobacter bacteria forms the “mother”. This turns the alcohol into acetic acid, which is the powerful compound known for its health-promoting properties and its tangy sourness. Apple cider vinegar is a powerhouse of vitamins: B and C, and Minerals- potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and iron. These nutrients support bone health, heart function, nerve and brain performance, immune support, and metabolism.

How to Make Herbal Vinegar

1. Fill a mason jar 1/2 full with fresh herbs, fruit, and roots (or 1/4 full for dried).

2. Pour raw apple cider vinegar to cover completely.

3. Cap and let sit for 4 weeks.

4. Strain and store in a cool, dark place.

Enjoy!

How to Use Your Infused Herbal Vinegar

Take 1 Tbsp daily.

Mix a tablespoon with hot water with a squeeze of lemon/lime for a warming tonic.

Add to oil for a tasty medicinal vinaigrette to pour over veggies and greens.

Add to marinade.

Mix a few tablespoons into sparkling water as a mocktail.

Enhance the flavor with a squeeze of citrus, muddled mint, a few drops of liquid stevia, or honey. Yum!

I use medicinal vinegars daily to boost energy, muscle recovery, and digestive support.

My favorite high mineral recipe:

High Mineral Tonic Vinegar

I use medicinal vinegars daily to boost energy, muscle recovery, and digestive support.

My favorite high mineral recipe:

2 Tbsp Stinging nettle
2 Tbsp Cleavers
2 Tbsp Wild oats
2 Tbsp Alfalfa
Lemon zest from 1 lemon
6 oz Apple Cider Vinegar

  1. Add all herbs & lemon zest into an 8-oz mason jar.
  2. Cover ingredients with Apple Cider Vinegar, so it covers the herbs completely.
  3. Let sit for 4 weeks.
  4. Strain and store in a cool, dark place.
  5. Enjoy by the spoonful.

Every July we forage herbs with our students on our annual Glamping trip for a special wild high mineral vinegar. Students forage wild raspberry leaf, red clover blossoms, dandelion leaf, potentilla leaf, wild rose petals, and wild geranium. Other foraged favorites for vinegars from our region: Monarda fistulosa (wild oregano), which makes a lovely warming vinegar that is perfect for cold and flu season, when you need digestive support, or just for the spicy flavor. Another favorite is bitter cress, which is a relative of arugula and makes a tasty infusion that is sure to please.

Herbalism Roots Foraged Vinegar Recipe

3 Raspberry leaves
3 Red Clover Blossoms
3 Dandelion leaves
3 Potentilla leaves
1 Wild Rose
3 oz Apple Cider Vinegar
  1. Add all plants into a 4-oz mason jar.
  2. Cover the ingredients with Apple Cider Vinegar, so it covers the plants completely.
  3. Let sit for 4 weeks.
  4. Strain and store in a cool, dark place.
  5. Enjoy by the spoonful.

One of my most treasured things about the summer months is getting out into my garden and digging in the dirt and having fresh herbs from the garden for tasty vinegars that will last me until the next gardening season.

Garden favorites for vinegar:

Stinging nettle
Violet leaf and flower
Chives
Apple mint
Spearmint
Dill
Fennel
Catnip

Another favorite way to use apple cider vinegar is this simple practice to help revitalize the hair and scalp. Using an herbal vinegar hair rinse is one of my favorite monthly beauty rituals. It will remove product buildup, smooth the hair cuticle for shine, reduce dandruff or dry scalp, strengthen roots, and stimulate hair growth.

My go-to plants to infuse for hair rinse:

Stinging Nettle – promotes hair growth and strength
Rosemary – improves circulation to the scalp
Lavender – Balancing, antimicrobial
Chamomile – anti-inflammatory
Sage – for oily hair
Calendula – emollient and healing for the scalp

Basic Hair Rinse Recipe

1/2 cup Stinging Nettle- infused vinegar
1 cup of water
3 drops of Rosemary Verbenone essential oil
  1. Combine all ingredients in a cup.
  2. Pour over freshly shampooed hair.
  3. Let sit for a few minutes.
  4. Rinse.
  5. Condition.
  6. Repeat monthly for shiny, soft hair and a healthy scalp.
These vinegars are simple, yet potent, and deeply nourishing. Whether made with cultivated garden herbs or wild-foraged plants on a summer Glamping trip, every mason jar is filled with love, medicine, and a deep connection to the plants.

This article was written by our Herbalism instructor, Kimberly Thompson. She is an Herbalist, Massage Therapist, & Aesthetician and teaches for our sister school, the Denver Integrative Massage School. Kimberly is a wise woman who understands the body & healing at an advanced level that only time, dedication, & care can create.

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