Have you heard of drinking vinegars? They are a wonderful old fashioned drink that turns out to be really good for you. They are also called drinking shrubs. This Blueberry Shrub Recipe is a great one to start with! Post may contain affiliate links.
Drinking Vinegars - What are They?
Drinking vinegars are an old fashioned drink. They are basically vinegar and a sweetner with some fruit added. In the days before soda pop, these drinks were a refreshing answer to quench your thirst. A drinking shrub is simply a concentrated form and all you have to do is add it to some sparkling water for a delicious and good for you drink! You can buy drinking vinegars at the store, but it's so easy to make your own.
Blueberry Shrub Drink
Now, if you go Google shrubs, you'll learn there are lots of different opinions on how to make them. Some use only a cold process, some introduce heat. Some use a ration of 1-1-1 and some use something different. The only thing everyone agrees on is that you use fruit, some sort of sweetener, and some type of vinegar. I settled on a cold process. I preferred to let time do the work, rather than speeding it up by introducing heat. I also went with the 1-1-1 ration. But honestly, I think no matter how you do it, you're going to love it. When you're finished with your drinking vinegar, you have this jar of tart fruitiness ready to make the most refreshing drinks. I spoon about 3 tablespoons into a glass, add ice and top with sparkling water and stir. It is so good. Sweet and tart. From now on, I plan to always have a shrub in my fridge, waiting to be made into a refreshing drink - I'm also going to experiment with some cocktails.
Click here to pin this Blueberry Shrub Recipe now!
Blueberry Shrub
Ingredients
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup sugar I used raw cane sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Place the blueberries and sugar in a mason jar. Muddle the blueberries a bit to begin releasing some of the juices. Cover it with a loose lid or cheesecloth and let sit out on your counter for about 3 days.
- At the end of three days it should be syrupy. Stir in the vinegar and let it sit out for 1 more day. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and store in a lidded jar in the fridge (it should keep for about 6 months.)
Nutrition
You might also like:
Peach Bourbon Sour made with a Peach Shrub
This week I am linking up with:
Amaze Me Monday |
Lou Lou Girls |
| The Scoop
The Hearth and Soul |
The SITS Girls |
Full Plate Thursday |
Thursday Favorite Things |
Friday Favorites |
Country Cook Weekend Potluck
** note this post was originally published in 2017, it has been updated for 2018.
Greg Smith says
Stumbled upon this post when looking up the Dogfish Head Blueberry Shrub Vodka Soda. I think I'll give your recipe a try to make my own version of this cocktail.
Greg Smith says
Kind of surprised that there wasn't a reply from the Blog author
I find that there's not enough blueberry taste to this. However for an adult version of the blueberry shrub, 3 oz. blueberry mix, 2 oz. vodka, 4-6 oz. soda water.
Very refreshing.
Pam Greer says
I'm sorry you didn't think there was enough blueberry flavor. I used a pretty standard ratio for a shrub. My blueberries are usually fresh picked off my bushes and are really flavorful. Did you get yours from the store? Sometimes they vary in how much flavor they have. Definitely going to try your adult version!
Jana says
Could you use monk fruit sweetener or swerve instead of sugar?
Pam Greer says
Honestly, I don't know. Part of what makes this ferment is the sugar, and I don't know how monk fruit sweetener and swerve act, since I've never used them.
Abby says
Is it possible to freeze the shrub to prolong its life? I'd love to give it as Christmas gifts but I'm worried 4+ months in the fridge will be pushing my luck.
Pam Greer says
I've never tried it, but Google says that you can freeze vinegar, so I imagine it would work. Because of the sugar, it might not freeze completely solid.
Nan says
Chalk it up to tiredness, but somehow I goofed up and put the ACV in the jar along with the blueberries and sugar, and only afterward re-read the instructions to add the ACV after 3 days. Is my batch still salvageable?
Pam Greer says
Yes, I would think so! You just missed the slight fermenting of the berries and the sugar.
Mary J. Fore says
I use this blueberry shrub as a dressing on a black bean salad. I just mix black beans, northern beans, chick peas, red onion, apple, mandarin oranges, and sometimes grapes. Of course you can play around with bean salad ingredients.
Pam Greer says
That sounds amazing! I am definitely going to try that!
Esme says
They serve fruit vinegar drinks in Taiwan and Korea. I had so many of them. I was hooked on them. They were amazing. I like them without the sugar though. Only because I try not to drink my sugars.
Pam Greer says
I might have to try making it without sugar!
Amy Arnold says
I have never heard of this. Sounds good!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
Elena says
I have never heard of drinking vinegars, I will definitely give this recipe a try,
Lisa L. Bynum says
This was an interesting read. I've never heard of this before, but I would like to give this a try.
Jessica Robinson says
Oh my goodness this blueberry shrub sounds so refreshing! I'll be enjoying a glass over the Southern sunset this spring for sure!
Julia says
I had heard a lot about shrubs but until now I had no idea they contained vinegar as well. Thanks for the info! I will be trying this 🙂
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says
Oooh, I've NEVER had one of these, but they sound pretty tasty!! Will give it a go!
Traci says
What a great idea! I love it that you can make this with any fruit. Perfect timing with spring around the corner! Thanks for sharing 🙂
April J Harris says
I've heard so much about Shrubs, and I love blueberries, so I definitely want to give this recipe a try, Pam. Scheduled to pin. Thank you so much for being a part of Hearth and Soul. Hope to 'see' you again this week. The party is open now!
Stephanie says
I drink ACV with water everyday for heartburn. I have aquired the taste but can't say it is the best tasting stuff. Will definately be making a batch ASAP so I can start enjoying it. Lovely glasses too BTW.
Miz Helen says
This looks like a great Blueberry Shrub! Hope you have a fantastic weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
A Narrow-Minded Woman says
This sounds very intriguing. I have a friend who drinks a ton of apple cider vinegar every day and swears by it. I use it a lot in cooking but I haven't quite developed a habit of drinking it yet. I love the idea of using it like a mixer to cover the taste a bit. 😀
Marjie says
I'm another who's never heard of a shrub. Interesting concept!
Ann says
I've never heard of a shrub other than of the plant variety. How fascinating!