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Four Thieves vinegar recipe Search

(legend included)
by Carol Little R.H.

Hello, I’m Carol

Have you heard of the famed “Four Thieves Vinegar”? When I had my shop, Studio Welcome to Studio Botanica!!
Botanica, in the west end of Toronto, this was a definite 'best seller'. It's easy to
make and the anti-microbial ingredients pack a healing punch for immune support all
year long!

There are a few versions of this legendary story. Here’s one:

Picture it.. Marseilles.. 1281. This great port town has been leveled by the great
plague … Few homes unaffected and many dead ‘stopped in their tracks’. Homes
were looted and ravaged by marauders. Chaos prevailed. Apparently there were four
men who worked in the shipyards and in a factory processing herbs and spices from Stop by often for delightful herb-infused

abroad. At one point they realized that, while working long days, covered in the recipes + seasonal projects. Indulge your
love of herbs
powdered dusty dregs of the herbs in the warehouse, they seemed to have 'an edge'
over the rest of the city. These factory workers-turned thieves were eventually
apprehended and were facing certain death as punishment for their crimes. As the
story goes, when they came before the judge, he was motivated to grant them a
pardon if they shared their secret to 'staying alive'. They were more than happy to tell
all, and were released. The magic of the herb and spice powders from the
warehouses, once again, instrumental in saving their lives. We actually don't know
how the judge managed to douse himself in the herbs but I like to think that he
managed to outwit the deadly plague and lived on to tell the story!

Four Thieves Vinegar has as many variations as there are stories about it! I've
made it with 10+ ingredients and as few as 4 or 5 herbs. Jean Valnet, a well known
aromatherapist and herbalist from the early 20th century, is thought to have 'penned'
the closest to the original! His recipe includes wormwood, meadowsweet, juniper,
marjoram, sage, cloves, angelica, rosemary, horehound and camphor! I used to make
a concoction with many of these but confess I have never included camphor.
Essentially.. it's an apple cider vinegar infused vinegar which consists of a Just for you- Enjoy 5 fave
herbal tonics!!!
combination of anti-microbial herbs. These days, I've left off some of the more bitter
Now is THE time for tonics!
herbs and make variations like this one below. Hope you'll try it. Definitely a winter (I’ve made you a printable!)
warrior remedy!
Have fun with my seasonal newsletter,
packed with recipes + ways to live an
herb-infused life!!

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G E T M Y P R I N TA B L E N O W

For SALE -- My Ebooks from

the "Herbs Can Help" series!

How to make your own "Four

Thieves Vinegar":
Four Thieves Vinegar
One version of the vinegar of the four thieves with easy to find
ingredients and a super anti-microbial condiment!

Course Condiment
Cuisine Herbal Medicine
Keyword #condiments, #easy, #glutenfree, #infusedvinegar,
5 from 13 votes
#keto, #tonic, #whole30, Herbal, Paleo, Real food
Print
Ingredients
4 cloves garlic fresh, chopped
¼ cup peppermint chopped
¼ cup rosemary chopped
¼ cup thyme chopped
¼ cup sage chopped*
⅛ cup lavender chopped
2 cups Apple Cider Vinegar ACV

Instructions
1. Chop the garlic cloves

2. Strip the herbs from their stems and roughly chop them on a cutting board.

3. Add the garlic and other herbs to your jar

4. Add enough vinegar to cover the herbs fully and add a good-fitting lid to the jar

5. Allow to sit in a cool place for minimum 7 days (or 1 month if possible)

6. Strain the liquid into a clean glass jar with a good lid.

7. Compost or discard the herbs

Recipe Notes
NOTE: use a plastic lid or use waxed paper or parchment or cling wrap between the jar and
the lid.
No fresh herbs? Just ½ the quantities.. For example, ¼ c fresh thyme = ⅛ cup dried thyme
or make a super tonic and keep it all as is.. with the dried herbs. It's more of a relaxed
template than a precise recipe.

*Sage --- from Aviva Romm M.D. (Aviva is herbalist/midwife/MD and a wonderful
teacher!)

If you’re pregnant, omit the sage from the recipe; it can cause miscarriage, and
don’t use this as a daily tonic – just enjoy occasionally as a salad dressing
ingredient.

Sage can also dry up breast milk, so if you’re breastfeeding, it’s okay to use it in
salad dressing occasionally, but preferably, just omit the sage from the recipe.
* I substitute Lemon Balm for Sage sometimes.. highly anti-viral too!

Make a Zippy vinaigrette with

Herbal Education
your Four Thieves Vinegar!
Add 2 tablespoon Vinegar of the four thieves to ¼ cup olive oil.
Add sea salt + freshly ground black pepper.
I like to add a little honey to soften the sharp pungency.
Mix well.
This dressing is delicious in salads or spooned over steamed greens!!

You can also use Four Thieves Vinegar as a tonic.. Just limit to a few times a week
to look after your 'teeth enamel'. Add to a little water -- it will still offer all of the
healing properties!

Here's to your great health ~ all year long !

I hope that you'll make your own version of this fantastic anti-microbial
herbal food/medicine

Be well, Green wishes, Carol xo

« Healing foods for Winter Health Festive Apps! Tasty Treats just for
YOU! »

Disclaimer

Thoughts and advice shown on this

website are only my experiences or what
others allowed me to share. We don’t
claim to diagnose, treat or cure.

Comments Disclaimer Details

Julia December 25, 2020 at 6:47 pm

found this mentioned in a cookbook from 1860 called The Virginia Housewife or
the Methodical Cook written by Mary Randolph. googled it to find out what it
actually was. love to read old recipes and learn interesting things from them. Not
just the actual recipe to try if possible, but learning the language, spelling, the
different names used, and the background stories.

R E P LY

Sidney Segar November 20, 2020 at 9:48 pm

Glad I found this! Will be growing more herbs this coming spring>

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Carol Little November 21, 2020 at 10:44 am

Great news! I love to hear about people growing herbs... more herbs? Even
better!!

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Kristen Wood January 05, 2020 at 1:26 am

I've always wanted to make this! I can't wait to give it a go. :-)

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Raia Todd January 02, 2020 at 10:04 am

Such a neat story (minus the death and stealing...)! I love thieves essential oil
blend, and this is such a helpful vinegar to have on hand!

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Carol Little January 02, 2020 at 10:42 am

Hope you'll make some Raia.. Yes. I love that eo blend too!

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Stacey Crawford December 08, 2019 at 11:11 pm

I am going to make this, as winter can be a rough time for me with the holidays
and getting a bit run down & I could easily add this to a vinaigrette for a salad.

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Carol Little December 29, 2019 at 11:02 am

Good Stacey. That's what I like to teach clients and friends to do.. Use the
medicine as food, as an addition to a meal you are going to enjoy anyway. Add
this 'kick' of healing herbs to a soup, stew, stir fry or salad vinaigrette etc..

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jennifer December 08, 2019 at 7:54 am

Wow, love learning the backstory and I'm totally making this! Thanks for the inspo

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Carol Little December 08, 2019 at 9:57 am

GREAT! Hope you do!

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Donny December 05, 2019 at 5:20 pm

Such a fascinating story! I love natural immune-boosters like this.

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ChihYu December 04, 2019 at 10:33 pm

Thank you for this wonderful recipe and the intriguing legend behind it! The herbs
make this vinegar so delicious!

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Carol Little December 05, 2019 at 9:49 am

You are so welcome. This was a definite best-seller when I had my shop.. Hope
you make it!

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Heather H December 04, 2019 at 6:54 pm

This was so interesting! I'm a huge fan of Thieves and this vinegar sounds really
amazing.

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Cathy December 04, 2019 at 3:24 pm

What an interesting story! Isn't it wonderful the healing power we find in common
plants! Thank you for showing us how to utilize them.

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Carol Little December 05, 2019 at 9:49 am

You are very welcome.. Cathy! It's my passion.. Love to share.

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Jean Choi December 04, 2019 at 12:39 am

Love all your healthy herb recipes! I can't wait to try this. I love all those herbs!

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Carol Little December 05, 2019 at 9:50 am

So glad to hear Jean. Hope you do try it.. and enjoy it too!

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Tessa Simpson December 03, 2019 at 1:00 pm

I just love creating my own immune supports to have on hand...this one looks
AMAZING!

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Carina December 03, 2019 at 9:35 am

Interesting post, was good to read the history of the vinegar!

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Joni Gomes December 02, 2019 at 4:09 pm

Herbs are so powerful! Love this post and recipe!

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Carol Little December 05, 2019 at 9:51 am

Thanks Joni. Hope you make it and love it as I do!

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Erin December 02, 2019 at 3:54 pm

I've never heard of this vinegar before! Will have to explore it!

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Carol Little December 05, 2019 at 9:50 am

I hope you enjoy it Erin!

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