Enjoy homemade sweet-tangy blueberry shrub, without alcohol! This easy blueberry shrub drink recipe works with fresh or frozen berries. Perfect served with sparkling water!
This no-sweat, 4-ingredient blueberry shrub recipe has been around for centuries! Also known as drinking vinegar, it is an easy way to preserve blueberries while benefiting from the natural goodness of honey and apple cider vinegar.
Before the days of refrigeration, people used fermentation, pickling, and a mix of acids and sugar to preserve their food. Shrubs came about as a way to keep the fruit flavors around for longer, combining honey and vinegar to make something that could last for months.
Fruit shrubs were also great for cocktails and were a practical way to make seasonal or foraged fruit last. Nowadays, with better refrigeration and food standards, your fruit shrub will last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks in the fridge.
Why We Think You’ll Love This Blueberry Shrub Drink Recipe
- It’s a great way to preserve fruit for short-term storage, adding a burst of blueberry flavor to your favorite cocktails or sparkling water.
- It is made with apple cider vinegar and honey, both known for their health benefits.
- Naturally sweetened with maple syrup, honey, or molasses, this shrub gives you a deliciously sweet taste without refined sugar.
- Perfect for adding a fruity twist to the second fermentation of your homemade kombucha.
The Blueberry Shrub Drink Recipe
Equipment
- Wide-mouth jar with lid
- Large bowl
- Pounding tool – A kraut pounder works great if you have one, but the end of a wooden spoon and a little elbow grease will do the trick.
- Mesh strainer – You’ll need a fine mesh strainer to separate the blueberries from the liquid. A regular colander won’t cut it, as it lets small bits of fruit through.
Ingredients
6 oz. fresh blueberries
I recommend using wild blueberries if you can find them because they are smaller and sweeter. But don’t worry, the larger cultivated ones work just as well and are super tasty! You can even go with canned or frozen blueberries if you plan to use the shrub syrup within the next week or so.
3/4 cup sugar, honey, or maple syrup
You’ll want to use a good-quality natural sweetener for this centuries-old drink. Most shrub enthusiasts prefer honey or maple syrup. But if you are looking for a more modern twist, cane sugar works well, too. You could also use molasses, but remember, it has a much stronger flavor.
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
You can use any type of vinegar, but raw apple cider vinegar is the way to go for the best flavor and health benefits.
Making and Fermenting
- Mash the blueberries with a fork or your chosen pounding tool in a large bowl, then stir in the sweetener (sugar, honey, or maple syrup).
- Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature, stirring it a couple of times throughout the day.
- Leave it for about 24 hours or until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the berries are soft and juicy.
- Next, stir in the vinegar, then taste and adjust by adding more vinegar or sweetener if needed.
You’ll want to let it rest for at least an hour to let the flavors start coming together, but we highly recommend waiting a full 24 hours. This way, the sweetener and vinegar really soak up the blueberry flavor.
Straining and Storing
Once your blueberry shrub mixture has rested for at least an hour (or up to 48 hours), it’s time to strain and store the liquid.
- Start by placing a fine mesh strainer over a glass measuring cup or bowl. Gently pour the shrub mixture through the strainer.
- Once you’ve strained the syrup, transfer it to a clean, airtight bottle (or jar) and store it in the fridge for 2 to 6 weeks. Just be sure to discard it if you notice any signs of spoilage, like an off smell, mold, or any unusual bacteria.
Customizing Your Blueberry Shrub Drink Recipe
Blueberry shrubs are a fantastic way to add complex flavors to drinks, cocktails, and desserts. Infusing fruits with vinegar intensifies their flavors, adding a nice tangy element to your beverages. Its zesty taste appeals to kids and adults, making it a great choice for any occasion!
- Use it to make your favorite blueberry shrub drink
- Rosemary Blueberry Shrub Vodka Cocktail
- Blueberry Bourbon Fizz
- Blueberry Basil Shrub
- Carlina Blues Blueberry Cocktail
- Flavor your kombucha or kefir
- Mix it with fizzy water for a refreshing homemade lemonade
Conclusion
Blueberry shrubs are a healthy and versatile flavor base for drinks, cocktails, and desserts. It is packed with antioxidants from the blueberries and probiotics from the apple cider vinegar, making it an excellent option for creating lower-sugar, healthier beverages and treats.
