How to: Vinegar Tincture with Pomegranate
Lise
We're going to be doing a couple of interesting new things around here, but before we get busy making them, we're going to need to get busy making one of the ingredients: a vinegar tincture.
And before we start, let's chat briefly about the vinegar we'll be using today – coconut vinegar!
You: Lise, really? Oooh I'm intrigued!
Me: Cool, then let's take a brief look at this fab ingredient!
Is It Made From Coconuts? (hint: yes)
Coconut vinegar is - as the name suggests - made from coconut. The sap is fermented and then processed further until it ends up as vinegar. If you are curious to know more about the hows and whys of the process, there are a couple of links below.
Just as vinegars are used as a condiment in Western countries (think fish & chips with vinegar, or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to spice up a dish), coconut vinegar is a common condiment in many Asian countries.
When I wasn't able to find coconut vinegar at my local supermarket, I was happy to discover it could be ordered at a nearby shop. Living in a teeming metropolis as I do (insert small snicker because Copenhagen is probably considered a small town by many of the worlds known cities), it wasn't too terribly long before I had my coconut vinegar in hand.
Why Coconut Vinegar
Because I have been researching and working with vinegars for a few projects, I was immediately interested when I came across a comment that 'it doesn't smell quite as vinegary as normal vinegar does. There's a clear undertone of coconut'.
That made it a no-brainer. I had to get my hands on some.
Because when you're using vinegar in cosmetics, scent really tends to matter.
And even though it was the scent that had my initial interest, it was also interesting to discover coconut vinegar has a slightly lower acetic acid content than many other commonly used vinegars.
Although the acetic acid content of coconut vinegar will vary slightly depending on where and which production process is used, on average it is around 4%. For comparison, most other common vinegars (used for pickling and in foods) have an acetic acid content of 4.5% - 5.0%.
It was also interesting to discover coconut vinegar is not crystal clear. I would compare it to apple cider vinegar in both 'behavior and appearance'. There is a tendency to a slight cloudiness could perhaps be described as 'frosted white'. Not at all unappealing, but it does present some limitations as well.
Another fun fact: coconut vinegar has a natural content of farnesol.
About the Pomegranate
When making any vinegar infusion for use in cosmetics, keep the ingredients as basic and pure as possible. Use dried (preferably organic) seeds with nothing added – no preservatives, sugars, flavor enhancers or anything else. A quick label check will reveal if the manufacturer has added anything.
These types of 'purist' products might be more easily available in specialty shops. If you don't happen to have access to fresh seeds and own a dehydrator, you can dry your own.
If you want to use fresh seeds, you will have to take into account the additional water content of the seeds (read: you're going to have to do your own calculating and I can't promise the following described method will give a successful result as it has been calculated specifically for dried seeds).
So! Now that you have your ingredients in hand and are ready to go, here's what you need to make a modest-sized batch:
LisaLise's Pomegranate Vinegar Tincture
| Ingredient | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Dried Pomegranate Seeds | 50 | 1.76 |
| Organic Coconut Vinegar | 150 | 5.29 |
Method
Weigh and place the dried seeds in a suitable (sanitized) container (glass or food-safe plastic)
Weigh and add the vinegar
Place a lid on the jar. Note: if you use a metal lid, place a protective layer between the contents and lid.
Allow to infuse for 10-20 days at room temperature away from direct light with a daily gentle agitation (I generally cover the jar with a cloth, have a peek at the brew, give it a gentle shake, and cover it back up til the next day)
Strain
Bottle and store cool
About Storage and Temperatures
Even though this is a self preserving tincture, it should in theory be sufficient to store it at room temperature. However, room temperature varies widely around the planet.
My own tinctures are stored in my ingredients fridge which has a pretty steady temp of about 12º C / 53.6º F.
In my experience, this helps extend the life of a vinegar tincture
Do Tell
Do you live in an area where coconut vinegar is easily available? How do you normally use it as a condiment?
More About Vinegars and Coconut Vinegar
Vinegar from Coconut Water (researchgate)
Coconut Water Vinegar: New Alternative with Improved Processing Technique, Jrnl of Engineering Science and Technology
What Does Vinegar Have to Do With Cosmetics (LisaLise blog)
There’s a bundle offer in the shop! The Self Preserving Bundle gets you started making glycerites and you’ll be using them to make the Self Preserving Natural Cleansers.
