Wondering what Shrub is? You're not alone. Typically a Shrub is a 1:1:1 mixture of vinegar, sweetener and fruit that come together to make a refreshing beverage similar in flavor to Kombucha. But like all recipes, that's just a guideline.
Is Shrub Good For You?
Yes, even the most basic shrub, mixed with sparkling water will be a healthy alternative to sugary beverages. Some people use them to create mocktails, to avoid alcohol consumption, or just a simple way to ingest apple cider vinegar.
However, with a careful selection of your ingredients, you can make one that is basically an herbal remedy in a glass. It's all about the ingredients you choose.
The Ingredients
Vinegar - This is the most important component of Shrub. You can make delicious shrubs with good balsamic vinegar or cheap shrubs with distilled white vinegar; but if you want your shrub to be not only delicious but also super good for you, the best vinegar to use is raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar. These are the vinegars that herbalists turn to all of the time because of the health benefits they offer.
You can learn a lot about apple cider vinegar HERE and HERE. A couple of key takeaways is that raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar supports gut health, helps maintain healthy blood glucose levels, and supports weight management.
Sweetener - Just like the vinegar, the sweetener affects the overall "goodness" of your final product. Many people use white sugar or maple syrup, and that will indeed taste great. But if your shrub is meant to also be an herbal remedy, the best option is local, raw honey.
The Fruit & Herbs - you can choose any fruit you like and any herbs that blend well with the fruit. Some great combinations are
strawberry and basil
peach, chamomile, and thyme
pear, rosemary, and nettles
elderberry and cinnamon - which is my favorite. And you guessed it, elderberries up the herbal ante. You can learn more about elderberries HERE.
Watch Me Make Elderberry Shrub
The Shrub Method
Just to be confusing, if you watched the video above, you may quickly pick up that I use a slightly different method when making Elderberry Shrub and that is because 1.) I used dried elderberries and 2.) You should cook elderberries before using. Watch THIS VIDEO to learn more.
For any other shrub I make, I use fresh fruit and don't cook it. But, even when I make shrubs with fresh fruit, I do it 2 different ways, and I haven't decided which I like better.
The first method is to combine the fresh fruit, herbs, and the sweetener, mash together. Then let this sit and macerate for several days. Strain it out, measure the liquid and then add in about an equal amount of vinegar, maybe a bit more. Stir to combine, and compost the strained out fruit and herbs.
The second method is to combine the fruit, herbs, and vinegar, and mash them together. Let this sit for several days. It's like making a tincture. Strain out the fruit and herbs and add an equal amount or less of honey to the vinegar mixture. Stir to combine.
At the beginning of the post, I mentioned that it's usually 1 part chopped fruit to 1 part vinegar and 1 part honey. I usually do something more like 1 part fruit, 2 parts vinegar, and 1/2 part honey because I prefer it less sweet. That's the beautiful thing about shrubs, there is a lot of room to experiment! Play around.
Once you have your completed shrub, store it in the fridge. Most say that it will last for 6 months to a year, but that depends on a lot of variables. We go through ours fast, so we never worry about it, but I would say it should safely last 6 weeks. However, if it takes on a weird color, smells funny, or you can see growth floating on top, discard it and make a new batch.
To Serve
In my house, we drink shrub daily (and more often than not, it's elderberry shrub). In a large glass, measure in about 1 shot glass of shrub, and top it off with a can of plain club soda. The taste is very similar to Kombucha.
You can also add a shot of shrub to flavored seltzers and herbal teas or use it to make homemade vinaigrette.
Caution
Do take note that vinegar is very acidic. When making the shrub or using it as an ingredient, be careful not to spill vinegar or shrub on any natural stone countertops.
For some people taking shrub every day can alleviate acid reflux symptoms, while for others it can worsen them. If you see an increase in heartburn, either dilute it more, take it less often, or discontinue it altogether.
Also, if you have very sensitive skin, you may notice that a shrub cocktail irritates your mouth or throat (and it can wear tooth enamel). To prevent this, follow up by drinking plain water to rinse the mouth and throat.
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