Mmmmm Chunky Vinegar.... wth?

[nessa]

So I have this balsamic vinegar that has gone gelatinous and chunky. Do I have a mother, or is there something insidious going on? Should I rejoice, or chunk it?

[Toliver]

It could be a vinegar mother has formed. "Gelatinous" is usually the word to describe the celluose fibers of the mother. Congratulations.

[Alessia]

Sorry, Nessa, but real balsamic vinegar is not supposed to do that, in fact it is not a vinegar in the common, usual sense and there is no "mother" involved in the process. Here's the wikipedia page on balsamic vinegar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balsamic_vinegar

P.S. I'm referring to Italian balsamic vinegar, but maybe you mean something different, in which case, don't mind my reply

[nessa]

I'll check and see when I get home what brand it is, and see if its actually "real" balsamic. I was wondering if adding that chunkiness, if it is in fact mother, to my own vinegar jar and if so would it improve on it. I might just throw it away and be sad. Its gelatinous but not fiberous.

After reading that link, I bet is is "modena" and this could be the guar gum solidifying. EWEWEWEWEWWWWW