Craft your own non-alcoholic & tangy Strawberry Shrub! Try this easy strawberry shrub drink recipe with fresh or frozen berries. Perfect with soda or on its own!
Shrubs are the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, making them a must-have for all your summer drinks and cocktails. With just three simple ingredients and many ways to customize it, you can mix it with water, soda, or even a little liquor for a refreshingly delicious drink!
Strawberry shrub drink recipe (sometimes preserved with brandy or rum) have been popular in Europe since at least the 15th century. By the 17th and 18th centuries, shrubs became a key ingredient in the boozy punches served in English pubs. When the idea crossed the Atlantic with the colonists, the Americans swapped out alcohol for vinegar to preserve the fruit instead.
Equipment:
- Copper strainer
- Mixing glass
- Paring knife
- Glass bowls
- Glass jar
- Wooden spoon
Strawberry Shrub Drink Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of fresh strawberries—peel and slice them if needed
- 2 cups of your preferred vinegar (apple cider, plain white, or even wine vinegar works great)
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- ¼ cup of fresh basil or mint leaves (if you’d like an extra hint of flavor)
It is best to use fruits or berries that are just about too ripe when making shrubs. They are sweeter and juicier, which gives your drink a fruitier flavor. While it’s not really necessary, I suggest that you roughly dice your strawberries to expose more surface area for maceration.
And don’t toss out those strawberry tops! This recipe makes use of the whole berry, so set the tops aside in a jar to infuse with the vinegar.
Making and Fermenting
- Let’s start by placing the strawberries into a clean glass container—either a medium-sized bowl or a jar with a lid works well.
- Stir in the sugar, and then pour the vinegar over everything. Mix it all together until the sugar dissolves. If you prefer, you can also cook the fruit, vinegar, and sugar in a heavy-bottomed pot on the stove before transferring it to your container, but it’s not really necessary.
- Once everything’s prepped, cover the mixture and store it in the fridge for at least 2 days or up to 4 weeks. Remember that the longer it sits, the stronger the fruit flavor will get.
Straining and Storing
- When your shrub is ready, set a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl and pour the shrub mixture through it.
- Use the back of a wooden spoon to press down on the fruit and squeeze out as much juice as you can. You can either discard the leftover fruit solids or save them for another use.
- Next, rinse the sieve, line it with cheesecloth or a coffee filter, and strain the shrub syrup again to catch any leftover seeds or residue.
Your strawberry shrub is ready! You can use it as a base for mocktails and cocktails, or even enjoy it on its own over ice. Any leftover shrub can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Using Your Strawberry Shrub in Drinks
Shrubs aren’t just for drinks; they can be the perfect base for mocktails and cocktails, and even add a zesty twist to sauces, marinades, and salad dressings. Here are some other fun ways to create delicious strawberry shrub drinks:
- Strawberry Shrub Soda: Add 2 tablespoons to a glass of ice, then top it off with ¾ cup of sparkling water, ginger ale, or club soda. Adjust the amount of shrub syrup to suit your taste.
- Strawberry Shrub Cocktail: Shrubs make excellent cocktails. Simply swap the simple syrup in any cocktail recipe for shrub syrup. Start without any citrus juice, then add it gradually to keep the drink from getting too sour.
- Strawberry Shrub Beer: Give your beer a flavor boost by gently stirring in 3-4 tablespoons of shrub syrup.
- Strawberry Shrub Wine: Add 2 tablespoons of shrub syrup to a wine glass and top with sparkling wine, like prosecco.
- Strawberry Shrub Iced Tea: Mix 2 tablespoons of shrub syrup into a glass of iced tea. Experiment with different types of tea, like black, green, or herbal.
If you have never tried a shrub drink, you’re in for a treat! Made with ripe strawberries, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and maybe a hint of basil, this strawberry shrub drink recipe is a refreshing way to enjoy the season’s freshest berries.
