VN – 20 Jul, 2025

I’ve been itching to write something about apple cider vinegar since it plays such a big part in many Black communities across the diaspora. Like most cultures, we use it as a medicinal tonic, a preservative, a condiment, etc. Vinegars have been part of human diets globally for centuries. There are references to Egyptian vinegars dating back to 3000BCE.

Today in London, apple cider vinegar is widely available, but it can be quite pricey to buy, especially live vinegar containing a mother culture. A litre of apple cider vinegar can cost more than £14. It bothers me that one of the cheapest vinegars to make is so expensive. In these cost-of-living times, we all want to make a savings where we can.

So, here is a recipe that you can easily and cheaply use to get started. It takes weeks to ferment into vinegar, but once you have made your first batch, you can make further batches using the same method. Your apple cider vinegar will only cost the price of a litre of apple juice!

Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe

Ingredients & Equipment

1 litre of apple juice (not from concentrate)

1 cup of live apple cider vinegar (with mother)

1 clean jar that will hold the combined liquid

A piece of kitchen roll & rubber band to cover jar

Method

1. Shake the apple cider vinegar bottle to make sure the mother is mixed into the vinegar before you measure it out.
2. Mix the apple juice and the apple cider vinegar together in a glass jar.
3. Cover the clean jar with a piece of kitchen roll or muslin held in place with a rubber band to keep flies out. The vinegar needs oxygen to ferment, so don’t cover with and air-tight lid.
4. Leave the vinegar to ferment in a dark place (cupboard or on a shelf away from direct sun will do). Leave for 2 weeks. Check that the vinegar is free from flies or any bacteria.
5. Leave for another 2-4 weeks. You can now taste it using a non-metal spoon. It should now taste sour, like vinegar. Depending on how strong you prefer your apple cider vinegar, you can leave it to ferment for a bit longer.
6. When ready, pour the vinegar into a clean bottle or jar for storing. Keep out of direct sunlight.
7. You can now use some of this batch to make your next batch using the same method. Start the next batch before you finish the current batch for an endless supply of cheap apple cider vinegar!