Cranberry Ginger Shrub

 

When we lived in NYC, my husband and I used to buy this great old-fashioned drink called a shrub.  Shrub is a cordial made with fruits, sugar, and some sort of spirits.  In the past, this was made with alcohol, such as rum.  But many people also make it with vinegar.  This way it keeps a long time and you can mix it with water, seltzer, and alcohol if you like.  It's originally Arabic but was passed around the world during trade and colonialism and was very popular in the early Americas and England.

We used to purchase it from the Tait Family Farms but since we can't find it here, decided to make our own.  I got the general gist from this website and changed it a bit.  We love it mixed with sparkling water - about 1 shot per glass give or take your sweetness preference.  You can also add a shot of rum for a refreshing drink.

Cranberry Ginger Shrub

1/2 C cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/2 C ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 C apple cider vinegar
1-1 1/2 C sugar

Mix the fruit and ginger with the vinegar.  Bring to a boil, then let it sit in a glass or steel bowl/pot and cover.  Let it sit at least 24 hours.  Strain the mixture back into the pot, add the sugar, and bring back to almost a boil, then simmering for 5 minutes or so.  Let it cool for a bit, then pour it into a glass bottle and keep in the fridge.  Best served with cold bubbly water and ice if you have it.

You can replace the cranberries with another tart fruit like raspberry, blackberry, lemon, or currant.  You can also make plain ginger with 1 C of ginger and no fruit.  Or an all-fruit version.

Comments

[Marianne]

Yum, Emily. I'm making this today. Seems incredibly healthy too. xoxoxo Marianne

[Teresa]

That sounds yummy - I've made ginger ale before - I'll have to try this...

[twinsetellen]

I had been casting about for a special holiday drink to serve at Thanksgiving this year - I think you just supplied it! (Dinner in the last post looked really great, too.)

[Mary Jessica]

AWESOME. I want to do this. After you boil it the second time and cool to serve, can you store any leftover in the refrigerator?

[Marianne]

So "today" ended up being THIS morning. But, I'm ready to boil and wondering if the sugar goes in with the boil or the refrigerate? Thanks! xo

[Chris Tolomei]

Hi Emily - Haven't seen you around in awhile. I'm at the Cafe Trieste knitting group tomorrow night (11/26) so if you're in the Bay Area, stop by. That's Cafe Trieste in Berserkeley.

[Regina]

yum. This looks good. I must try it