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SHRUBS
Drinking Vinegars
Discovering Shrubs changed my whole beverage menu and "happiest hour". Shrubs add zing, complexity, rich flavor, and punch to an easy mixed zero proof drink. Shrubs can add that extra apple cider vinegar to our daily diet many are looking for. The best part is they are SO EASY! Make your own, or buy some from the many artisan creators. Add a splash to your favorite AF Selzer, sparkler, etc. The flavor combos are endless. Enjoy!
Shrubs: Welcome
A shrub is a “drinking vinegar”, dating back centuries. Concentrated syrups are made from fruit, sugar and vinegar, most popularly apple cider vinegar, and used in combination to make tasty beverages. They can be purchased ready made or made at home. Shrubs are fun in alcohol free beverages as they make for a wide variety of mocktails and add zip to water. both flat or fizzy.
My first experience with Shrubs was via a gift Friends wandering around the White Mountains, a favorite stomping ground of mine, discovered WOZZ Creations in Franconia and sent me their Shrub collection as a thank you present. I experimented with different concoctions and my favorite became short and simple: Shrub, frozen fruit, ice and fizzy water. I matched the flavors on the bottle for example: Cranberry Saffron shrubs with frozen cranberries , added a sprig of rosemary , ice and then when I added the fizzy water the fruit crystalized with the cold and made for a pretty holiday sparkler. Pear Ginger Shrub begged for slices of ginger and sprigs thyme . A freezer with frozen fruit and a small winter herb garden make for endless combinations.
Summer time begs to make my own shrubs. A bounteous herb garden, farm fresh luscious berries and tree fruits . I look to what is in season for inspiration. The combinations are endless. Experimenting is fun. Some of my favorites. Are:
Blueberry Mint
Strawberry Tarragon
Watermelon Basil
Concord grape Rosemary
Peach Ginger
Cucumber peppercorn
Homemade Shrub Recipe
I started simple. Once I got down the basics, I started with more adventurous combinations.
A homage shrub consists of equal parts fruit, sugar and vinegar
Classic Strawberry Shrub:
2 cup plus strawberries
1 cup white cane sugar
1 cup apple cider vinegar
Remove stem and wash the berries.
Place in a glass bowl/jar with a storage lid (or use cling wrap).
Lightly crush with a potato masher or fork to start extracting the juices.
Pour the sugar over and stir.
Cover the bowl and store in fridge for 48 hours,
Stir every 12 hours there about, to dissolve all the sugar.
Drain the syrup through a cheese cloth into a sterilized jar or bottle.
Save the macerated fruit to top ice cream or cake, yum!
Mix the vinegar in with syrup with a sterilized spoon.
Cover jar, seal bottle for 3 days in the fridge.
Once a basic recipe is mastered, get creative. Mix different fruits, sugars, vinegars.
Champagne vinegar & peaches
Balsamic vinegar & Figs
and on and on and on............
Shrubs: About
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