Fresh Fruit Shrub Recipe

This Fresh Fruit Shrub Recipe is a quick and easy way to add something tangy and delightful to your favorite drink or cocktail. Serve with sparkling water for a refreshing treat or add to your favorite cocktail for an unexpected twist!

The first time I heard the word "shrub" it was in the ingredients of a delicious cocktail I had at this cool swanky bar in Portland. I asked the bartender what it was and she said "drinking vinegar!" I tried to pretend I knew what she was talking about and then immediately went home and asked Google. To my surprise, there were many recipes out there on how to make this delicious drink. Fast forward 10 years and shrubs are becoming more prevalent in the market. So now I feel like I was ahead of the curve...LOL! It's also been said that drinking vinegar on a regular basis is good for your health. I'm not a doctor or an expert, but it can't hurt, right?!?

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What is a "Shrub"?

A “shrub” is basically an old way of preserving. They are typically a fruit and/or herb-infused syrup, made with fresh ingredients, then fortified with some type of vinegar. The word “shrub” is derived from the Arabic word “sharbah,” which translates to “drink.” Back in the day, people from the 16th-18th century drank shrubs to prevent scurvy. Today, shrubs are infused with all different flavor combinations and some even use them for health benefits. There are some shrubs you can find in stores, also called drinking vinegar. Shrubs can be used in craft cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks.

Cold vs. Hot Shrub Recipe

My fresh fruit shrub recipe is a "cold" recipe meaning there is no cooking needed to make this shrub. You are basically macerating fruit with sugar, and then fortifying it with vinegar. The only downside to a cold recipe is that you have to wait a day or two before enjoying your creation. Some recipes are the "hot" or "cooked" version where you boil the fruit with sugar and water, basically making a syrup to add to the vinegar. This is handy if you want to enjoy your shrub immediately but I have heard that you don't get quite as much fresh fruit flavor this way. I haven't tried the hot version yet, mostly because the cold recipe works so well for me I haven't needed to change it.

What Type of Vinegar to Use

You can choose from different types of vinegar and that will, of course, change the taste of your finished product. I use an Asian white vinegar called Datu Puti. This vinegar is made from sugarcane and has a rich, slightly sweet flavor. You can also use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, champagne vinegar, or coconut vinegar. I would also suggest trying this recipe for the first time with just berries. I've made strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, peach, and plum shrub so far. They have all been delicious.

What Type of Sugar to Use

You can use white or brown sugar. White sugar will allow the fruit flavor to really come out, while the brown sugar will add a darker flavor. I haven’t tried anything but white sugar yet, but I can imagine brown sugar and strawberries specifically would be a great pairing. You could also try other sweet elements like honey, agave, or maple syrup.

Save that fruit that's about to go bad!

Shrubs are a great way to transform fruit that has almost gone bad or is overripe. Since you are adding sugar, transforming the fruit into a juice, and adding vinegar to preserve it, why not? You will have a delicious drink that will keep in your fridge for up to 4-6 weeks instead of throwing away some perfectly usable fruit.

The Flavor Combinations are endless!

There are so many different combinations of fruit and fruit and herbs you could try together, here are a few ideas:

• Strawberry-Mint
• Peach-Rosemary
• Cherry-Almond
• Blueberry-Vanilla
• Lime-Ginger
• Pineapple-Sage

The sky is the limit when it comes to making unique and tasty flavor combinations for your shrubs. Once you get the process down, you can make whatever you can think of!

Here are some more cocktail and fresh fruit recipes for you to check out:

• Gin Elderflower Cocktail Recipe
• The Last Word
• Easy Cherry Crumble Bars
• Fresh Mango Galette
• Fresh Cherry Tart Recipe

Did you try this Fresh Fruit Shrub Recipe?

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