The recent Rave. Okay not this minute, but In the past few years this has become so popular. Thats right i'm talking about BALSAMIC VINEGAR. What do you know about it. Besides that it is scrum-didlie-umscious.

Modena( that's the region it comes from, when you buy balsamic try to make sure that's where it's from, this is why) Italy's balsamic vinegar is aged at least 6 to 12 years and some are aged for 50 to 100 years. As could be expected, these vinegars can be quite expensive, some costing over $200 per ounce!( if you ever get to taste an aged one, that's quite old I guarantee you will say whollly...mollllyyy!!!)

This distinctive vinegar has long been cherished: in fact, it was once considered so valuable that it was included in the dowries of young ladies of nobility and was specifically mentioned in wills. And in 1944, when reports of approaching American bombers reached the Modena area, small kegs of balsamic vinegar were packed up along with money, jewelry and other valuables.

'Balsamic' means 'like balsam' - and balsam is an aromatic resin - balsamic vinegar simply refers to the fact that it is thick (resin like) and aromatic.

Pretty interesting stuff.. If I do say myself...Just a little something from your friend the ethnofoodoligist... Yes that is a real word.. Some time we should discuss all the stuff that china invented but never gets credit for.