Four Thieves Vinegar can cure the plague, at least, that’s what French folklore teaches us. And while I can’t comment on the veracity of this statement (and, no, it hasn’t been approved by the Food & Drug Administration), I will say that in every little garden whether it’s an expansive lot on a farmstead, a 10-foot by 10-foot plot in your community garden or a nook of potted herbs on your balcony, harbors powerful medicine in its own right. And when I venture out to my plot in the community garden or trim the kitchen herbs in terra cotta pots and plastic tubs on my porch, I know that this medicine is good enough for me.
Four Thieves Vinegar, a folkloric elixir thought to protect against black death, finds its way to my kitchen in the summer time when fresh herbs from the garden are plentiful. Four Thieves Vinegar is the stuff of legends and of kitchen magic – a beautiful combination of rosemary, sage, mint and raw vinegar that combines for a vibrantly herbaceous and slightly floral concoction that may or may not protect your family from the rigors of medieval plagues, but will definitely enliven plates of sweet lettuces and other summer greens.
Four Thieves Vinegar: Myths & History
When the plague ravaged the city of Marseilles in the seventeenth century, it is said that a fortunate lot of grave robbers and thieves escaped what would have been inevitable illness and subsequent death by covering their bodies and dousing their face masks in an herbal vinegar with strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. Initially, as French folklore tells it, no one quite worried about the grave robbers and thieves who stole into the houses of Marseilles under the cloak of moonless nights to rob victims of the Black Death as, the townspeople assumed, the plague would inevitably infect and kill the thieves, too. But it didn’t.
The thieves continued to assail the homes and graves of the dead with impunity until they were finally caught in the middle of their act, tried and set to be burned at the stake. Astonished by the thieves’ immunity and seemingly indifferent attitude toward the plague that devastated the community so severely, the judges offered the thieves a bargain: in exchange for releasing the cause of their immunity, the thieves would be hanged instead of burned at the stake – a less brutal and more quick end. The thieves acquiesced and surrendered the recipe for their elixir, and the legend has continued to grow since then.
While many recipes for Four Thieves Vinegar abound, there’s no telling now which recipe is most accurate though a recipe written by Jean Valnet, a renowned aromatherapist and herbalist of the early 20th century, may resemble the original more closely than any other. He calls for vinegar, wormwood, meadowsweet, juniper, marjoram, sage, cloves, horse heal, angelica, rosemary, horehound and camphor. Valnet calls for steeping these herbs in vinegar for six weeks before decanting, for a lighter flavor I usually allow my herbs to steep in vinegar for about a week.
Modern herbalist usually use only a handful of herbs: rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme and mint usually make an appearance. Every herbalist and avid keeper of herbs should have his or her own version, and below is mine. Be inventive with your garden herbs.
Four Thieves Vinegar: Ancient Remedy, Modern Uses
While this garden remedy may or may not have helped grave robbers and thieves to stave off the plague that ravaged Europe centuries ago, it seems modern herbalists and gardeners have revived the interest in this garden remedy. Many herbalists use it as a cleansing agent – transferring it to a spray bottle and using it to clean and sterilize kitchen counters or bathrooms; indeed, many of the herbs posess strong antimicrobial effects and vinegar, in any case, makes an excellent natural cleanser. Others recommend using Four Thieves Vinegar in personal care, diluted with water of course, as a cleansing agent for the skin or as an astringent. Among neo-Pagan circles, Four Thieves Vinegar is thought to have protective qualities and some swear that if you dress your doorstep with the vinegar, it’ll keep your enemies away.
As for me, I can’t promise that this vinegar will save you from the black death, make your kitchen counters sparkle, beautify your skin or keep your enemies away, but I do know that it makes an excellent seasoning for braised meats and vegetables and is perfect mixed with a good quality floral olive oil (see sources) in a simple vinaigrette for freshly pickled salad greens and edible flowers.
Four Thieves Vinegar Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh lavender flowers
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh anise hyssop
- 4 cloves garlic (peeled and crushed)
- 4 cups white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Toss herbs and garlic together in a one-quart mason jar, cover with vinegar and allow them to marinate for seven to ten days in a sunny location. After seven to ten days, strain the vinegar through a fine-mesh sieve into a second, clean 1-quart glass jar.
- Store at room temperature until ready to use and serve as you would any seasoned vinegar: as a basis for vinaigrettes or as a seasoning for braised meats and vegetables.
Wendy says
Hi, Jenny.
I was looking at the four thieves vinegar and noticed the use of white vinegar (more acidic) where other recipes suggest using apple cider vinegar (less acidic). I was wondering, which is the better to use?
Jenny says
Hi Wendy,
This recipe calls for white wine vinegar, not white vinegar. Wine vinegar would have been traditional. You can also use ACV.
Mary Jo says
Can you rub this on your feet for preventative care as the Theives essential oil is used for? Can you drink it or take a teaspoon of it like taking ACV? Thank you.
Katelyn says
Excellent! I have made my own Thieves Oil for a couple years now. When my daughter was little I would put it on the bottoms of her feet and her wrists every night before bed, to this day we still put it on her neck before bed- she even wants to lick the q-tip! She rarely gets sick, and if she does it only lasts a day or two. This vinegar sounds intriguing as a house cleaning spray!
rose says
What is the shelf life of this? The ACV expiration date?
Mirian says
I have a different recipe and I use essential oils. I use it in a spray bottle and in my homemade toothpaste. It’s good for preventing gum disease and cavities. I use the spray for those dirty customers.
Betty says
Do you mind sharing your recipes?
Salixisme says
Thankyou for the recipe. I am going to have to give it a go, especially since I have all the necessary herbs in the garden.
Lisa Farrell says
Do you have a suggestion for those of us who are sensitive to sulfites? I loved Vinegar in my past, but worry about raising my intolerance again by using them. Or are there vinegars low in sulfites? Thank you in advance!
Sarah says
Umm…not to be a skeptic, but IF it could cure the plague, then why didn’t it? Just sayin’…
Mary Jo says
I think it is just recorded as giving immunity to people, not curing it.
ELSA JACOB ALEXANDER says
hI jENNY,
YOUR RECEPIES ARE REALLY REALLY NOURISHING TO THE BODY,
.I TRYING ONE BY ONE WHEN I NEED TO DO IT .
MAY GOD BLESS YOU
ELSA
Graham Pearson says
Wonderful read. Beautiful pictures and layout. So happy I have found this/ you. I cannot wait to continue reading this evening. The Kombocha recipe is calling me (something I have never brewed).
Take care.
Jennifer J says
http://www.secretofthieves.com/
Above is a link that includes studies on the effectiveness of YL Thieves theraputic essential oil. Definitely worth a look if you really would like to kill those germs.
Nadine says
Love, love. love this post! So whimsical and delicious. This will compliment my Winter cold and flu vinegar just perfectly. I got that recipie from HerbMentor.
thank you for these wonderful posts
Sarena says
Would this work with my new favorite, coconut vinegar?
Linda says
Hi Jenny: I’m eager to try the recipe but don’t have access to fresh herbs. Will dried herbs work? If so, how would the recipe need to be revised? Many thanks for your great inspiration and wonderful recipes. Linda
Suzanne says
I have the same issue – I can find most of these fresh but not fresh lavender, only dry. According to Professor Google, you would use 1/3 the amount of dried herbs when substituting for fresh.
Jeanmarie says
Jenny, did you know this post is cited in a wikipedia entry on four thieves’ vinegar?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thieves_Vinegar
Nice!
jenny says
Cool!
Phoebe Leow says
Hi, I heard thieves vinegar is helpful in treating PLEVA, i am currently having PLEVA which cause a lot of skin problems to me. Can anyone tell me where to find all those ingredients since I live in Penang, Malaysia?