How To Make Blackberry Shrub

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If you love apple cider vinegar, you need to make this blackberry shrub! You will find this delicious blackberry shrub very easy to make and very versatile. Whether in a salad dressing, in a marinade or mocktail, you will LOVE making this recipe.

What is a Shrub?

When you hear “shrub” you might think of a small bush or plant in your yard. This kind of shrub is very different from that. This kind of shrub has origins in Arabic heritage. Although the spelling is different in Arabic, the translation is said to mean “to drink”. 

Somewhere along the way, shrubs became a mixture of fruit, a sweetener and vinegar. Because of this, you may also see shrubs called “drinking vinegar.” Combining fruit and sugar with vinegar allowed people to preserve fruit that would have been wasted.The addition of fruit and sweetener also made it more tolerable to drink on its own or with some water.

How to Make a Blackberry Shrub

A blackberry shrub is made by combining blackberries and sugar in a bowl. When blackberries and sugar sit together, the juices are extracted. The juice is made into a syrup with the sugar. Once the juices are extracted, the pulp is removed and the fruit syrup is mixed with vinegar. 

How to use a Blackberry Shrub

Shrubs are primarily used in culinary applications. You are likely to see shrubs be used in beverages like mocktails and cocktails. However, they can also be used in marinades and salad dressings. 

If you use shrubs in a beverage, be sure to account for the vinegar flavor. It’s best to choose flavors that will complement the sweet and acidic nature of your chosen shrub.

Shrub vs Switchel

The process to make a shrub is very similar to making a switchel. The main difference between a shrub and switchel is that shrub uses fruit and switchel uses ginger. There are also different ratios of sweetener, vinegar and ginger. Within a switchel recipe, you will notice the ingredients will be combined in a different manner as well. 

Ingredients to Make a Shrub Drink

Fruit

Almost any fruit can be used to make a shrub. Just keep in mind that this recipe turns out the best when fresh fruit is used. To make sure you’re using the freshest, it’s best to use any fruit that is in season. 

In the summer months, berries are perfect for this recipe. In the fall, apples and pears can be used. During the winter months, citrus can pair really well with honey and vinegar. 

Sugar

Most shrub recipes will likely call for white cane sugar. Using cane sugar will allow for the flavor of the fruit to shine through the sweetness without altering the overall flavor. If you’re looking for a deeper, more complex flavor, brown sugar is a great option. 

If you don’t want to use cane or brown sugar, you can use an alternate sweetener like honey, maple syrup or molasses. Keep in mind the flavor of the alternate sweetener to make sure it will complement the fruit flavor. 

Vinegar 

Just like the fruit and sweetener, the vinegar to use for this recipe is quite flexible. I like to use apple cider vinegar because I make it myself. It also tends to be a bit more mellow for including in beverages. 

Other options for this recipe include red or white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, balsamic and white vinegar. A wine or rice vinegar will be the best substitute for an apple cider vinegar. A balsamic or white vinegar will be more prominent and acidic. These options are best if you are looking to use this for a marinade or salad dressing. 

Looking for more kitchen inspiration? You might also enjoy this Homemade Vanilla Bean Yogurt Recipe or this Honey Sweetened Lemonade Recipe.

The Ratio of Ingredients 

The most common ratio of ingredients is typically 1:1:1. This means you would use equal parts of each vinegar, sugar and fruit for each batch. This ratio can be altered to fit your needs and preferences for the application you wish to use your drinking vinegar for. 

If you love the acidic nature of the vinegar you choose, you can definitely use more vinegar than sugar. This tends to be better for salad dressings and marinades. Adding more vinegar will also increase the shelf life due to the preserving qualities of vinegar. 

If you are looking for a more fruit forward flavor, you can use a higher ratio of fruit. It’s best to keep in mind how long it will take you to use that batch. With a reduced vinegar to fruit ratio, the shrub is likely to go bad a bit faster. Remember to mark each batch with a date and to use your senses when determining if it’s okay to use. 

How to Store Blackberry Shrub

If you use equal parts vinegar to fruit and sugar, your shrub is pretty well preserved. You are likely able to keep your jar on your counter If you plan to use all of your shrub within a week or so. If you use a raw apple cider vinegar, be sure to pay close attention to it to make sure it doesn’t begin to ferment or over-ferment. 

If you plan to use your shrub sparingly or intermittently, I would suggest storing your shrub in the refrigerator. Storing this in your refrigerator will ensure the freshest flavor for a longer time and an increased shelf life. 

Blackberry Shrub Ingredients and Tools

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• 1 cup Fresh blackberries
• 1 cup Raw cane sugar
• 1 cup Raw apple cider vinegar
• A medium glass bowl
• A potato masher or a fork
• A fine mesh strainer
• Airtight storage jar

Directions to Make a Blackberry Shrub

Begin by adding blackberries and cane sugar to your medium glass bowl. Mix until the sugar covers the blackberries. 

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Gently mash or muddle the blackberries to release the rest of the juices.

Loosely cover with a plate or damp cloth and set on your counter for 24-48 hours. 

After 24-48 hours, a lot of the blackberry juice should be released into the sugar.

Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the blackberry syrup from the pulp into an airtight glass jar.

After all of the blackberry syrup is in the glass jar, add the apple cider vinegar. Secure the air tight lid and gently shake to combine.

Use immediately or store in the back of your refrigerator for 6 months to 1 year.

Enjoy!

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Blackberry Shrub FAQ:

What is a shrub?

When you hear “Shrub” you might think of a small bush or plant in your yard. This kind of shrub is very different from that. This kind of shrub has origins in Arabic heritage. Although the spelling is different in Arabic, the translation is said to mean “to drink”. 

Somewhere along the way, shrubs became a mixture of fruit, a sweetener and vinegar. Because of this, you may also see shrubs called “drinking vinegar.” The combination of fruit and sugar with vinegar allowed people to preserve fruit that would have otherwise been wasted. The addition of fruit and sweetener also made it more tolerable to drink on its own or with some water.

How Are Shrub Drinks made?

Shrubs are made by combining fruit and sugar in a bowl. When the fruit and sugar sit together, the juices of the chosen fruit are extracted and made into a syrup with the sugar. Once the juices are extracted, the pulp is removed and the fruit syrup is mixed with vinegar. 

How Do I Use a Shrub?

Shrubs are primarily used in culinary applications. You are likely to see shrubs be used in beverages like mocktails and cocktails. However, they can also be used in marinades and salad dressings. 

If you use shrubs in a beverage, be sure to account for the vinegar flavor. It’s best to choose flavors that will complement the sweet and acidic nature of your chosen shrub.

What’s the difference between a Shrub and Switchel?

The process to make a shrub is very similar to making a switchel. The main difference between a shrub and switchel is that shrub uses fruit and switchel uses ginger. There are also different ratios of sweetener, vinegar and ginger. Within a switchel recipe, you will notice the ingredients will be combined in a different manner as well. 

What Kind of Fruit to Use For a Shrub drink?

Almost any fruit can be used to make a shrub. Just keep in mind that this recipe turns out the best when fresh fruit is used. To make sure you’re using the freshest, it’s best to use any fruit that is in season. 

In the summer months, berries are perfect for this recipe. In the fall, apples and pears can be used. During the winter months, citrus can pair really well with honey and vinegar. 

What Kind of Sugar to Use For a Shrub drink?

Most shrub recipes will likely call for white cane sugar. Using cane sugar will allow for the flavor of the fruit to shine through the sweetness without altering the overall flavor. If you’re looking for a deeper, more complex flavor, brown sugar is a great option. 

If you don’t want to use cane or brown sugar, you can use an alternate sweetener like honey, maple syrup or molasses. Keep in mind the flavor of the alternate sweetener to make sure it will complement the fruit flavor. 

What Kind of Vinegar to Use For a Shrub drink? 

Just like the fruit and sweetener, the vinegar to use for this recipe is quite flexible. I like to use apple cider vinegar because I make it myself. It also tends to be a bit more mellow for including in beverages. 

Other options for this recipe include red or white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, balsamic and white vinegar. A wine or rice vinegar will be the best substitute for an apple cider vinegar. A balsamic or white vinegar will be more prominent and acidic. These options are best if you are looking to use this for a marinade or salad dressing. 

What is the Ratio of Ingredients for a Shrub Drink?

The most common ratio of ingredients is typically 1:1:1. This means you would use equal parts of each vinegar, sugar and fruit for each batch. This ratio can be altered to fit your needs and preferences for the application you wish to use your drinking vinegar for. 

If you love the acidic nature of the vinegar you choose, you can definitely use more vinegar than sugar. This tends to be better for salad dressings and marinades. Adding more vinegar will also increase the shelf life due to the preserving qualities of vinegar. 

If you are looking for a more fruit forward flavor, you can use a higher ratio of fruit. It’s best to keep in mind how long it will take you to use that batch. With a reduced vinegar to fruit ratio, the shrub is likely to go bad a bit faster. Remember to mark each batch with a date and to use your senses when determining if it’s okay to use. 

How Do I Store a Blackberry Shrub?

If you use equal parts vinegar to fruit and sugar, your shrub is pretty well preserved. You are likely able to keep your jar on your counter if you plan to use all of your shrub within a week or so. If you use a raw apple cider vinegar, be sure to pay close attention to it to make sure it doesn’t begin to ferment or over-ferment. 

If you plan to use your shrub sparingly or intermittently, I would suggest storing your shrub in the refrigerator. Storing this in your refrigerator will ensure the freshest flavor for a longer time and an increased shelf life.

Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.