Garlic Rice-Vinegar Infusion

Why people make this tonic

If you or someone in your family gets recurring hives, you know how frustrating that cycle can be — the itch arrives out of nowhere and the cause is often hard to pin down. This old folk preparation combines garlic and rice vinegar, two staples found in almost every kitchen. In traditional food therapy, garlic is considered warming and capable of supporting the body’s natural defenses, while aged rice vinegar is believed to help moderate the body’s inflammatory tendencies. People who steep them together for several months end up with a mellowed, tangy tonic that is gentler on the stomach than raw garlic.

The full four-month steep allows the active compounds in garlic to dissolve gradually into the vinegar. A shorter steep of a few days is possible, but the flavor will be sharper and the traditional effects are considered less complete.