Nasturtiums (Trapoleum majus), also known as “nose-twisters” or “nose-tweakers,” get their names from the Greek word “to twist” due to the peppery flavour of the flowers, leaves, and seeds! Infuse these colourful blooms in vinegar to create a tart tonic to complement your pantry staples.

Nasturtium is a South American plant that the ancient Incas of Peru revered for millennia as a salad vegetable and medicinal herb. They brewed tea from wildcrafted nasturtiums to cure respiratory illnesses and mixed it into a poultice for cuts and burns.

The genus Tropaeolum was named after Carolus Linnaeus, the inventor of the plant classification system. The phrase has military connotations, referring to war trophies captured in battle. Linnaeus compared the circular leaves to shields and the slightly cupped blooms to polished helmets!

Nutrient-rich nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are not only beautiful but also incredibly beneficial for our bodies. These vibrant flowers and other parts of the plant are packed with trace elements and bioactive compounds easily absorbed by our bodies. They are a good source of micro-elements like potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium and macro elements like zinc, copper, and iron.

But that’s not all – extracts from different parts of the plant, such as flowers, leaves, and essential oil, have a wide range of health benefits. For example, studies have found antimicrobial, antifungal, hypotensive, expectorant, and anticancer effects. Plus, extracts from garden nasturtium have high levels of antioxidants like anthocyanins, polyphenols, and vitamin C.

With such a unique combination of phytochemicals and elements, garden nasturtiums have the potential to help treat many health conditions, particularly those related to the respiratory and digestive systems.

Nasturtium vinegar as a tonic

Infusing the flowers in vinegar draws out the rich pigments that give the flowers their startling colour. These pigments, like anthocyanins and polyphenols, are antioxidants, a type of molecule that can help prevent or reduce damage to cells caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.

Free radicals can be produced in the body through normal processes like metabolism, but they can also be made by exposure to environmental factors like pollution, radiation, and cigarette smoke. Therefore, eating a diet rich in these antioxidants can help support overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

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Yield: 500mL

Nasturtium Flower Infused Vinegar

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A peppery, bright vinegar with many uses in the kitchen. You can also use it as a great warming digestive tonic.

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 500mL or half quart of unpasteurised apple cider vinegar
• Nasturtium flowers - chemical free, enough to loosely pack a 500mL or half quart jar

Equiptment

• Clean 500mL or half quart jar with lid
• Funnel strainer
• 500mL or half quart bottle

Instructions

1. Loosely pack jar with nasturtium flowers.
2. Pour apple cider vinegar over the flowers.
3. Seal the jar.
4. Leave to infuse out of direct sunlight for one to two weeks.
5. Start taste testing every day or two after one week with a clean stainless steel teaspoon.
6. When the vinegar has the right pepperiness for you, simply strain the vinegar into the clean bottle.
7. Keep sealed out of direct sunlight for up to a year.

How can I use nasturtium vinegar?

This vibrant vinegar makes a great warming digestive tonic. You can also add a touch to your cooking when you want a warming, peppery hint of tanginess!

Here are a few of my tried and true ways of using it:

• a slurp in a small glass of room temperature water as a digestive before meals
• add to honey and warm water for a soothing tea
• vinegar component of salad dressings, mayonnaise and aioli
• the vinegar ingredient in shrubs when you want a peppery edge
• making vegetable pickles – lovely with cucumber!
• deglazing pans when cooking meats
• works well in most savoury sauces and gravies

How do you like nasturtium vinegar? Tell me about it in the comments below :)