<P> Coconut vinegar, made from fermented coconut water or sap, is used extensively in Southeast Asian cuisine (notably the Philippines), as well as in some cuisines of India and Sri Lanka, especially Goan cuisine . A cloudy white liquid, it has a particularly sharp, acidic taste with a slightly yeasty note . </P> <P> Vinegar made from dates is a traditional product of the Middle East . </P> <P> The term "distilled vinegar" as used in the United States (called "spirit vinegar" in the UK, "white vinegar" in Canada) is something of a misnomer because it is not produced by distillation but by fermentation of distilled alcohol . The fermentate is diluted to produce a colorless solution of 5% to 8% acetic acid in water, with a pH of about 2.6 . This is variously known as distilled spirit, "virgin" vinegar, or white vinegar, and is used in cooking, baking, meat preservation, and pickling, as well as for medicinal, laboratory, and cleaning purposes . The most common starting material in some regions, because of its low cost, is malt, or in the United States, corn . It is sometimes derived from petroleum . Distilled vinegar in the UK is produced by the distillation of malt to give a clear vinegar which maintains some of the malt flavour . Distilled vinegar is used predominantly for cooking, although in Scotland it is used as an alternative to brown or light malt vinegar . White distilled vinegar can also be used for cleaning, and some is actually sold specifically for this purpose . </P> <P> Chinese black vinegar is an aged product made from rice, wheat, millet, sorghum, or a combination thereof . It has an inky black color and a complex, malty flavor . There is no fixed recipe, so some Chinese black vinegars may contain added sugar, spices, or caramel color . The most popular variety, Zhenjiang vinegar, originates in the city of Zhenjiang in Jiangsu Province, eastern China . Shanxi mature vinegar is another popular type of Chinese vinegar that is made exclusively from sorghum and other grains . Nowadays in Shanxi province, there are still some traditional vinegar workshops producing handmade vinegar which is aged for at least five years with a high acidity . Only the vinegar made in Taiyuan and some counties in Jinzhong and aged for at least three years is considered authentic Shanxi mature vinegar according to the latest national standard . </P>

Is distilled vinegar the same as white vinegar for cooking