A Shrub is a drink that’s made from a syrup made of fruit, sugar and vinegar. The rough ratio is usually 1:1:1. Mixed with sparkling water, it’s a really refreshing non-alcoholic drink. It’s sometimes called “drinking vinegar”. Because of all of the vinegar in it, it almost seems like you’re drinking an alcoholic cocktail. You can make a shrub with any fresh fruit you like, and there are two ways you can make them. The slow version, where you let the fruit and sugar sit for a couple of days before adding the vinegar, or if you want a quick shrub, you can use the heat method and simmer the fruit and sugar for about 20 minutes, then add the vinegar. I made this batch the quick way. I had a pound of fresh strawberries that needed to be eaten, so they became an excellent shrub.
The first time I ever had a shrub was at The Lost Kitchen, in Freedom, Maine. We were served plum shrubs just prior to entering the dining room. I loved it so much, I knew I wanted to make them at home. This strawberry shrub syrup is delicious. If you’d like to read more about shrubs and find some additional recipes, you can check out this link. Drinking vinegar supposedly has a lot of health benefits, but are the benefits cancelled by the sugar content? Who knows. The syrup will keep for months in your refrigerator.
Strawberry Shrub
Recipe from Food52
1 pound of fresh strawberries, chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup apple cider vinegar with a splash of balsamic vinegar (optional)
In a medium saucepan, heat the sugar and water over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the strawberries and bring the mixture to a low simmer. Let it simmer until the syrup has become the color of the fruit and the fruit looks tired. Stir in the vinegar and bring the mixture just to a simmer; strain the mixture using a fine mesh sieve. Collect the syrup in a bowl (I used a mixing bowl). Pour the syrup into a jar and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.
To make a mocktail, in a glass filled with ice, mix one Tablespoon of shrub syrup with three to four Tablespoons of sparkling water. You can play with the ratio. If you want something lighter, add more sparkling water. Play with the flavors too – try flavored seltzers. And if you want an alcoholic cocktail, add vodka or gin or your alcohol of choice.
