PURPOSE: To provide a raw material composition for producing food vinegar having excellent taste and flavor, free from stimulating smell of acetic acid and having mild and thick taste, suppressed acid taste and refreshing fruity feeling.

CONSTITUTION: A food vinegar is prepared by inoculating a food vinegar malt with yeast and acetobacter having acetic acid resistance and carrying out acetic acid fermentation under aerobic cultivation condition. A food vinegar malt containing a fatty acid ethyl ester and a vegetable protein is used as the food vinegar malt of the above process. Aging period indispensable to conventional preparation process can be shortened or eliminated. The obtained food vinegar can be used also as a compounded food vinegar, dressing, mayonnaise, sauce, etc., having mild taste with suppressed acid smell and acid taste.