Double Date Black Bean Vinegar

Why people make this tonic

This is one of those simple home preparations that people in southern China have made for generations — a jar of black beans and dates quietly sitting in vinegar at the back of the fridge, gaining potency with time. Nourilo came across an updated version online and immediately made his own, adapting it by using apple cider vinegar (which brings its own pleasant sweetness without needing added sugar) and by lightly dry-toasting the beans and dates before pickling them, which serves as a simple sterilisation step. After two days of steeping he was already impressed with the flavour. After 45–60 days in the fridge, the beans soften and the vinegar takes on the colour and nourishment of everything inside. Taken regularly in small amounts, it is traditionally associated with supporting liver and kidney health, promoting a rosy complexion, and maintaining naturally dark, glossy hair.