Aceto Balsamico

This special vinegar was once used to cure illness, hence its name balsamico, meaning ‘like a balm’. It is probably the most expensive vinegar in the world, partly because of the complex and lengthy process needed to make and mature it, and partly because only a small quantity is produced each year. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena is the name given to the only genuine balsamic vinegar, brewed by 30 or 40 families in the Modena area who only produce 8,000 litres a year. Together, these families form the Consorzio, a special association that safeguards the quality of the vinegar. It is sold at a high price in small specially designed bottles, each containing only 10 cl, and should have been aged for at least 30 years.