Eden Vinegars and Oils

What is the cloudiness that appears in Eden Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Eden Red Wine Vinegar?
Our natural fermentation process produces 'Mother' of vinegar, a living mixture of friendly bacteria and enzymes, which appear as a slight cloudiness with strand-like chains (protein molecules) that settle in the bottom of the bottle. This natural culture is similar to 'starter' used to make homemade sourdough bread. The presence of 'Mother' indicates the best quality vinegar and is an assurance of beneficial enzymes in the vinegar. Mother of vinegar is only found in non-pasteurized, unfiltered vinegar.

What is the shelf life of Eden Vinegar?
4 years. They are bottled in amber glass to protect from photo-oxidation from light.

What is the shelf life of Eden oils and do they need to be refrigerated after opening?
Eden oils have a shelf life of 3 years from the date of production. They are bottled in amber glass for protection from light. Our oils do not require refrigeration, but it will not hurt them if you do. The only exception is olive oil, which we recommend storing in a cool, dark place. If olive oil is refrigerated, it will solidify. When removed from the refrigerator and allowed to liquefy at room temperature, condensation can form.

Why does Eden use amber glass bottles for bottling oils and vinegars?
Amber glass bottles work best to protect the products nutrients, flavor, color, and value from the damaging effects that light has (photo oxidation). Fluorescent lighting, in particular, affects food quality with its light rays. This is especially problematic in the retail food store.

What does nitrogen flushed mean and why is it used?
Nitrogen flushed means that nitrogen is vacuum pumped into the neck of the bottle after filling. Flushing filled bottles (especially those containing oil) with nitrogen protects against oxidation damage by removing the oxygen from the unfilled portion of the glass and replacing it with inert, food grade nitrogen.

Can Eden Apple Cider Vinegar with 'Mother' be used as a starter in making homemade vinegar?
Yes, the presence of 'Mother' indicates that the friendly bacteria and enzymes is a living mixture, and the vinegar is non-pasteurized and unfiltered. High heat pasteurization destroys 'Mother' and filtering removes it.

Is Eden Ume Plum Vinegar really vinegar?
No. Eden Ume Plum Vinegar is the pickling brine from making pickled umeboshi plums with shiso leaves (beefsteak) and sea salt. It gets its ruby red color, naturally, from red shiso leaves. In Japan, it is used just like real vinegar in making homemade pickles, salad dressings, marinades, sauces and for seasoning vegetables and soups. Since it is salty, unlike 'true' vinegar, you may need to reduce or eliminate the amount of salt called for in recipes.

Why does Eden Toasted Sesame Oil taste different from plain Eden Sesame Oil?
Eden Toasted Sesame Oil is made from roasted whole sesame seeds and plain Eden Sesame Oil is made from non-roasted whole sesame seeds. Roasting imparts a rich, deeper sesame flavor that's the secret flavor and aroma in Oriental cooking. Both oils are unrefined and expeller pressed.

Are 'expeller pressed' and 'cold pressed' oils the same?
No. Mechanical 'expeller' pressing and 'cold' pressing are two different processes used in making unrefined, naturally produced oil. Mechanical expeller pressing applies pressure to the seed or nut by use of rollers to expel the oil. The rolling action and pressure generates some heat through friction, but the temperatures are low enough to protect the nutritional integrity, flavor, and aroma of the oil seed. Expeller pressing is the most common method used in extracting seed and nut oils. Olive oil is unique in that it is the only oil that can truly be considered 'cold' pressed. Cold press extraction is a simple, gentle pressing that doesn't heat the oil much above room temperature. Oil received from the first pressing of the olives is called 'virgin' olive oil, which comes in three grades: Extra Virgin (the best) has the perfect flavor and aroma. All Eden Oils are expeller pressed with the exception of Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which is 'cold' pressed, and is the first pressing of the olives.