A Different Kind of Vinegar: How Onggi Ferments & Foods Uses Asian Pear Vinegar
Vinegar might be a pantry staple, but not all vinegars are created equal.
Made from the juice of our hand-picked Asian Pears, Subarashii Kudamono Asian Pear Vinegar brings something a little unexpected to the table: a delicate fruitiness, gentle acidity and subtly sweet, floral flavor that can work in everything from a simple salad dressing to a savory marinade.
And sometimes the best inspiration for how to use it comes from the people who know fermentation best.
Meet Onggi Ferments & Foods
Onggi Ferments & Foods is a fermentation-focused market, bakery and café in Portland, Maine, dedicated to making the world of fermented foods approachable, interesting and, most importantly, delicious.
Named after the traditional Korean earthenware vessels used for fermentation, Onggi fills its shelves with thoughtfully selected vinegars, misos, sauces, kimchis and other fermented foods from makers they love.
We’re proud that Subarashii Kudamono Asian Pear Vinegar is one of them.
In fact, Onggi calls it “the gentlest gateway vinegar we know” — a description we love for the way it captures the vinegar’s soft acidity, fruit-forward character and approachable flavor.
One Ingredient, Plenty of Possibilities
Our Asian Pear Vinegar begins with one simple ingredient: Asian Pears grown in our Pennsylvania orchard.
That fruit-forward character makes it remarkably versatile in the kitchen. Rather than overpowering a dish, the vinegar adds brightness and complexity while allowing the other ingredients to shine.
Onggi recommends trying it:
- Drizzled over fresh salads
- Paired with grilled meats
- Added to guacamole for an unexpected pop of acidity
- Mixed into marinades
- Reduced into a syrupy sauce for desserts
Its delicate sweetness also makes it an easy vinegar to experiment with anywhere you might ordinarily reach for apple cider vinegar, wine vinegar or another mild acid.
From the Orchard to the Fermentation Shelf
We love seeing where our Asian Pears go after they leave the orchard — especially when one of our pantry products finds its way into the hands of people who are just as passionate about flavor and craft as we are.
Onggi’s entire approach is built around exploring fermentation and introducing people to interesting ingredients and makers. Having our Asian Pear Vinegar among their carefully selected products is a pretty special compliment.
And their enthusiasm has inspired us to look at our own bottle with fresh eyes, too.
If you already have Asian Pear Vinegar in your pantry, consider this your invitation to experiment. Splash it into a vinaigrette, whisk it into a marinade, add a little to your next batch of guacamole, or reduce it into something completely unexpected.
Sometimes one ingredient is all it takes to make a familiar recipe taste entirely new.
Explore our Asian Pear Vinegar and discover another way to enjoy the flavor of the world’s most wonderful fruit.
