Balsamic Vinegar Explained: Traditional, Condimento, White and Glaze
What the different balsamics mean — traditional, condimento, everyday balsamic, white balsamic and glaze — and when to use each.
Not all balsamic is the same
“Balsamic vinegar” covers everything from a thick, decades-aged drizzle to an everyday salad vinegar. They differ in how they're made and how concentrated and sweet they are — which is why prices range so widely.
The main kinds
- Traditional (Tradizionale DOP): aged for years in wood; thick, syrupy and expensive — a finishing drizzle by the drop
- Condimento: aged balsamic that doesn't meet the strict DOP rules; excellent quality at a friendlier price
- Everyday balsamic vinegar: grape must blended with wine vinegar; pourable and tangy-sweet — the workhorse for dressings and marinades
- White balsamic: milder and paler, made to keep dishes light in colour
- Balsamic glaze: balsamic reduced, often sweetened, into a thick glaze for drizzling
When to use which
Use everyday balsamic for vinaigrettes, marinades and pan sauces. Use white balsamic when you don't want to darken a dish — light salads, slaws, fruit. Save traditional or condimento for finishing — a few drops over strawberries, parmesan or grilled vegetables. Reach for glaze when you want a decorative, syrupy drizzle without reducing it yourself.
Easy ways to use it
- Vinaigrette: 3 parts oil to 1 part balsamic, with salt and a little mustard
- Marinade: balsamic, garlic and herbs for chicken or vegetables
- Glaze drizzle: over caprese, roasted vegetables or strawberries
- Pan sauce: deglaze the pan with a splash after searing
- Quick reduction: simmer everyday balsamic to a syrup
Buying and storing
- Cheaper bottles are for cooking; save aged ones for finishing
- Check the ingredients — fewer additives is better
- Store in a cool, dark cupboard; no need to refrigerate
- It keeps for years, but the flavour is best within a couple
Balsamic, made simple
One everyday balsamic for dressings, a white balsamic for light dishes and a glaze for finishing will cover almost any use. The Unico range includes balsamic vinegar, white balsamic and balsamic glaze.