Blackberry Shrub: 19th Century Sweet Drink
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Have you ever heard of shrub? This old-fashioned style of mixed drink goes back to the 15th century, when medicinal cordials were at the height of popularity. This delightful drink had a second wind during the 19th century with the pioneers. It’s no wonder considering how easy it is to make! Blackberry shrub is made by infusing blackberries and sugar in vinegar and then boiled down into a syrup. This is then mixed with water or club soda for a fizzy, sweet, and uniquely flavored refreshing summer drink!
what is shrub?
The word shrub can refer to a cocktail or soft drink, a term that was used most often in the 18th century in colonial America. This drink was made by infusing fruit in vinegar and then boiling the juice down into a sugary syrup to mix with water or alcohol. Shrub, in its essence, is a simple fruit-flavored mixer. In the past, shrubs were often also infused with spices and herbs.
In the 19th century, shrubs were an easy refreshing drink to make. Because of the vinegar and sugar, shrubs were easy to store and could be store for a longer period of time without refrigeration. This made them an excellent preservation method for summer fruits! Of course, they fell out of fashion with the invention of refrigeration, and we saw the end of this sweet-and-sour drink.
gathering ingredients:
To make your own homemade blackberry shrub, you really only need a few ingredients. It’s an incredibly simple recipe that is positively unique and delicious!
Blackberries. You will need some fresh blackberries, or you can use frozen berries that have been thawed.
Sugar. I used granulated sugar for my shrub, but any sweetener will work!
Vinegar. I would recommend using distilled white vinegar over other types as it will affect the flavor of the shrub, but apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar would be okay to use.
Water or Club Soda. You will add this to your concentrated shrub at the end, and it’s really up to you what you use!
how to make blackberry shrub:
Step One: To a quart jar with an airtight lid, add the blackberries, 1/2 cup (100 g) of the sugar, and the vinegar. Stir and gently mash the berries to dissolve the sugar. Cover the jar with the lid and store in the refrigerator for 2 days.
Step Two: After 2 days, place a fine mesh sieve over a large pot. Strain the juice from the jar through the sieve and press out any excess juice and sugar from the berries.
Step Three: Place the pot over the stove and add the remaining 1 cup (200 g) sugar. Turn on the stove to medium heat and bring the juice to a boil, lowering the heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer the juice, whisking to dissolve the sugar, for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the syrup becomes slightly thickened.
Step Four: Remove the pot from heat and allow the syrup to cool before transferring it to a pitcher or jar with an airtight seal.
how to store blackberry shrub:
At this point, you can fully mix the drink so it is ready to consume any time, or you can store the shrub concentrate separately. If you plan to mix the concentrate with water, you can easily just make the final drink and store it in your refrigerator. If you would like to mix the concentrate with sparkling water or club soda, I would wait to mix your drink just before you are ready to drink it.
The shrub concentrate will last in your refrigerator for several months. When mixed with water, it should last for about one week.
final thoughts:
Recipes like this one are one of my favorites to learn more about and recreate. Homemade blackberry shrub is incredibly simple in its method and ingredients, but it has been completely forgotten about. There are so many powdered mixed drinks on the market that are filled with ingredients that aren’t the best for your body, and here is something just as delightful and enjoyable to drink… and all you need is some fruit, sugar, and vinegar. Simple!
xoxo Kayla
Blackberry Shrub
Ingredients
- 2 cups (145 g) fresh blackberries
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar, divided
- 1 cup (240 ml) distilled white vinegar
- 8 to 10 cups (2 L) water or club soda
Instructions
- To a quart jar with an airtight lid, add the blackberries, 1/2 cup (100 g) of the sugar, and the vinegar. Stir and gently mash the berries to dissolve the sugar. Cover the jar with the lid and store in the refrigerator for 2 days.
- After 2 days, place a fine mesh sieve over a large pot. Strain the juice from the jar through the sieve and press out any excess juice and sugar from the berries.
- Place the pot over the stove and add the remaining 1 cup (200 g) sugar. Turn on the stove to medium heat and bring the juice to a boil, lowering the heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer the juice, whisking to dissolve the sugar, for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the syrup becomes slightly thickened.
- Remove the pot from heat and allow the syrup to cool before transferring it to a pitcher or jar with an airtight seal.
- At this point, you can fully mix the drink so it is ready to consume any time, or you can store the shrub concentrate separately. If you plan to mix the concentrate with water, you can easily just make the final drink and store it in your refrigerator. If you would like to mix the concentrate with sparkling water or club soda, I would wait to mix your drink just before you are ready to drink it.
- The shrub concentrate will last in your refrigerator, covered, for a few months.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
55Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
