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| Four Thieves Vinegar, Photo by Mrs. Dashwood, Saturday, March 7, 2020 |
Here at the Merry Rose Home, Garden, and Farm, Mrs. Dashwood always keeps a batch of Four Thieves Vinegar
on hand. This fine, easy-to-make vinegar is the legendary recipe that allegedly
protected against the plague.
Now, with the corona virus putting a crimp on the world, the
world’s people, and their health, wealth, and well-being, and with hand
sanitizer, face masks, and other precautions running out, Mrs. Dashwood was
wondering if Four Thieves Vinegar might be a nice way to get a measure of
protection against corona virus. Science has shown that vinegar kills off the
flu virus. https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2018-01-12/does-vinegar-really-kill-household-germs/8806878
Disclaimer:
Mrs. Dashwood and the Merry Rose Home, Garden, and Farm are
not associated with any medical community, but purely an entertainment webpage.
Anyone who has or might have corona virus should contact their medical
professional.
The Legend of the Four
Thieves
Here’s a version of the legend of four thieves who operated
during the plague in times long ago. Villagers were afraid to go into
plague-infested homes, with victims either still alive or dead. However, these
brazen thieves openly went into these homes, and took whatever they fancied,
all without becoming ill or dying. The story goes, that the villagers somehow
caught the thieves. (No word on why the villagers felt safe catching thieves who
had been in plague-infested homes.)
Of the many cruel punishments for theft, there were
hangings, drawings, and quarterings. The story goes that in exchange for a
lighter punishment, the four thieves would share their secret to protecting
from the plague. Some versions say that the thieves took the lesser sentence of
hanging, without the torture. Mrs. Dashwood prefers the version that says the
thieves were let go, with the promise that they would stop stealing.
Indeed, if a person has a life-saving secret to share, it
seems to Mrs. Dashwood that the exchange should be life, not execution.
Nevertheless, here at the Merry Rose Home, Garden, and Farm, we offer a basic
recipe for Vinegar of the Four Thieves, the one that Mrs. Dashwood uses. We
also include some links to other sites. Of course, readers can research on
their own too.
The only caveat that Mrs. Dashwood and the Merry Rose Home,
Garden, and Farm want to note is the cautious approach to wormwood. Leave this
out for recipes that will be consumed.
Mrs. Dashwood’s Basic Recipe
for Vinegar of the Four Thieves
Begin with a clean and dry glass container. Mrs. Dashwood
loves to use canning jars with screw-on lids, and uses a clean, dry freezer bag
to put between the top of the jar and the lid, to keep the vinegar from
reacting with the metal of the lid.
Then, Mrs. Dashwood fills the canning jar about 4/5 full of
vinegar. While organic apple cider vinegar is always preferred, regular apple
cider vinegar will work. So will apple cider-flavored or white vinegar, if that’s
all that’s available.
Then, Mrs. Dashwood adds several cloves of garlic, the main
ingredient. It’s up whoever is making this vinegar whether to add the garlic cloves
whole, to press them in a garlic press, press with a knife, chop, or do whatever
works.
Now it’s time for Mrs. Dashwood to choose what herbs to add
to the vinegar and garlic. Mrs. Dashwood is lucky enough to have planted sage,
thyme, and lavender in her garden here at the Merry Rose. Fresh herbs are the
best for this vinegar. However, dried herbs, though less effective, work fine
too.
Here is a list of herbs for Four Thieves Vinegar:
Sage
Thyme, Lemon Thyme
Lavender
Marjoram
Dill
Mint, Spearmint, Peppermint
Rosemary
Cloves
Let the Four Thieves Vinegar set for a while.
Some people say to keep it in a dark area. Others say
anywhere is fine.
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| Before using, stir up the Four Thieves Vinegar, Photo by Mrs. Dashwood, Saturday, March 7, 2020 |
Mrs. Dashwood keeps a small container on the kitchen counter
for easy access. She keeps a larger container in a bigger glass jar, which originally
was for peanut butter, in the fridge. It’s up to each person to decide to
research and choose how to store this vinegar.
Warning about Wormwood
A long time ago, in the 1970s, Mrs. Dashwood enjoyed
Saturday Night Live. A very funny sketch featured Gilda Radner and another
actor, playing a wife and husband in a commercial, arguing over an item in an
aerosol can. “It’s a floor cleaner!” “No, it’s a dessert topping!” The voice
over announcer interrupted, “You’re both right! It’s a floor cleaner and a
dessert topping!”
Four Thieves Vinegar can be taken by a spoonful in water, as
a possible way to stay healthy. It also is a handy way to clean countertops or other areas.
WARNING: Do not use wormwood in any recipe that will be ingested.
Wormwood is highly poisonous. Due to this fact, instead of
keeping two batches of Four Thieves Vinegar, one batch without for ingesting and one batch
with wormwood for cleaning, Mrs. Dashwood only makes Four Thieves Vinegar without wormwood. This seems to be fine for ingesting and for cleaning:)
References
“Vinegar, be it white or malt or rosemary-infused, is about 5 per cent acetic acid. The acid kills bacteria and viruses, by chemically changing the proteins and fats that make up these nasties and destroying their cell structures.”
When US researchers tested commercial cleaning products against alternatives like vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, they discovered that neat vinegar killed a range of household pathogens.
Science also tells us, for example, that vinegar will kill off the flu virus.
As part of research aimed at preparing us for a flu pandemic, UK researchers found that malt vinegar, much like bleach and washing up liquid, can rapidly inactivate the flu virus.”
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