People are just discovering the secret fish and chip shops keep about their vinegar

We all love a chippy tea here in the UK, don't we? It's one of the culinary triumphs we're most hailed for.

We're talking about big fat chips – fluffy on the inside and crisp on the outside – slathered in salt and vinegar. Literally, what more could you want?

But did you know there's a secret that fish and chip shops are keeping from you?

It turns out those bottles of vinegar in the plastic bottles aren't quite what you'd expect.

Watch this vid for more info:

Yup, YouTuber, Tom Scott, has shared a clip which features the surprising revelation, explaining that fish and chip shops are often substituting an alternative to malt vinegar into the bottles.

The replacement is said to be made with water, acetic acid, and flavourings so that it tastes just like the real thing when doused on your chippy order.

But, most of the time, vinegar it aint!

"Most people don’t know that this isn’t vinegar. Legally, it can’t be described as vinegar," Tom explains.

"Trading standards are really clear on that. It cannot be put in the little bottles that people traditionally associate with vinegar."

Fish and chip shop vinegar isn't always what you think (Credit: Getty)

The main reason for the swap, apparently, is that it's cheaper, and can be purchased concentrated, so it's easier to store (and to transport to the store).

The vinegar alternative is actually dubbed a 'non-brewed condiment' – doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?

The substitute is also halal and gluten-free, meaning it's actually a better switch to suit the majority of the customer base.

Do you care it's not vinegar? Now, that's another matter.

As long as it's safe for consumption and tastes like vinegar, we really don't think it's a biggy.

How much do you care whether your chippy vinegar is legit? (Credit: Getty)

But it turns out the revelation has left some people bamboozled – mostly because they preferred the taste of the artificial stuff!

"That explains why it doesn't taste the same when I put vinegar on my fish and chips at home," said one person in the comments on the YouTube video.

"'Does it matter?' Yes, it does. My whole life I have wondered why I could never replicate the taste of chip shop vinegar at home. Now I know the truth," said one person.

Whilst another wrote: "'You want salt and vinegar?' sounds better than 'you want salt and water, acidity regulator and ammonia caramel?'"

Turns out the topic is a controversial one (Credit: Getty)

"I can tell you that it does without a shadow of doubt matter. Having moved to another country that doesn't have Fish & Chip shops plastered everywhere, I have struggled to find anything that replicated salt and "vinegar", and often get strange looks when asking for vinegar in general," said a third.

As someone else chimed in: "I always wondered why I couldn't get the same vinegar taste on my chips at home, now I know and all this has done is pushed me into finding somewhere that sells 'non-brewed condiment'."

Non-brewed condiment fans, you're not alone!

Featured image: Getty