MSG Free Classic Berry Shrub
Shrubs — the old-fashioned drinking vinegars that bartenders and home cooks have been quietly rediscovering — are one of the most refreshing things you can make with a handful of fruit and a little patience. This one leans on fresh mixed berries, granulated sugar, and apple cider vinegar to build a syrup that's bright, tangy, and deeply fruity all at once. The process is beautifully low-tech: crush the berries with sugar, let time do the work in the fridge, strain, and stir in the vinegar. No cooking, no additives, no flavor enhancers hiding in a packet — just four clean ingredients doing exactly what they're supposed to do. That simplicity is a genuine win for anyone navigating ingredient labels, since store-bought flavored syrups and drink mixes are notorious for sneaking in unwanted extras. Served over ice with sparkling water and a sprig of fresh mint, it's the kind of drink that feels fancy without requiring any special equipment or technique. Make a jar on the weekend and you'll have a sophisticated, completely clean mixer ready to go for the next four weeks.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 cups fresh mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries), hulled and halved if large
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
For serving
- sparkling water, for serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the berries and sugar in a medium bowl. Use a muddler or the back of a fork to crush the berries thoroughly, releasing their juice and working the sugar into the fruit until a wet, jammy mixture forms.
- 2
Stir in the kosher salt, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a glass jar. Refrigerate for at least 48 hours, stirring or shaking once or twice, until the sugar has fully dissolved and the mixture has released a deep, syrupy liquid.
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