Brightland, a California-based purveyor of nutrient-rich olive oils and vinegars, is beloved by condiment connoisseurs and home cooks everywhere. Personally, we fell hard for its garlic-infused olive oil, Rosette, when it hit virtual shelves last year. To no one’s surprise, we were beyond psyched for the brand’s one-of-a-kind strawberry vinegar, LUSH, when it launched last summer. After a speedy sell-out, the bright, zingy condiment is back in stock for a limited time.
LUSH is a unique strawberry vinegar made with nothing but vinegar, organic cane sugar and sweet, aromatic Omakase strawberries. Its flavor is bright, juicy and slightly sweet with a notably luxurious, silky mouthfeel. But we were just as impressed by its enchanting aroma, which is equal parts zingy and rounded, thanks to the sweet fruit reeling in the vinegar’s acidity.
LUSH is Brightland’s first vinegar created in partnership with another brand. The berries are sourced from Oishii, a massive indoor vertical strawberry farm that’s likely graced your Instagram feed. Oishii is famous for its Omakase berries, a hard-to-find variety that grows seasonally in the Japanese Alps. They’re coveted for their intensely sweet aroma, next-level flavor and juiciness, creamy texture and signature seedless appearance. Omakase, a phrase commonly used in sushi restaurants that gives the chef full autonomy over your meal, fits this luxury fruit that’s revered as not a mere snack, but a sensory experience in Japan.
The vinegar can be drizzled into cocktails, over fruits, like melon or berries, or onto soft-ripened cheeses, like Brie. It can also bring vibrancy to salads and dressings, grilled fruits and chocolate desserts. It’s an especially delicious foil for bitter veggies like endive and fennel, bold treats like dark chocolate cake and effervescent cocktails like spritzes. You can even use it to create fancy strawberry shrubs, a concentrated syrup made with fruit, sugar and vinegar that’s prime for adding to boozy libations or seltzer.
