Nitrate & Nitrite Free Classic Berry Shrub
Tart, fruity, and endlessly refreshing, this berry shrub is a drinking vinegar syrup that transforms a simple glass of sparkling water into something genuinely special. The whole thing comes together with just four pantry-friendly ingredients — fresh mixed berries, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of kosher salt — so you know exactly what's going into every sip. That matters a lot when you're avoiding cured or processed products, since many store-bought flavored drinks and cocktail mixers sneak in preservatives that can be hard to spot on a label. Here, the preservation comes entirely from the natural acidity of apple cider vinegar, which keeps the shrub shelf-stable in the fridge for up to four weeks without any additives. The process is mostly hands-off: crush the berries with sugar, let them macerate in the fridge for 48 hours, strain, stir in the vinegar, and you're done. The result is a deeply colored, syrupy concentrate with a sweet-tart punch that plays beautifully over ice with sparkling water and a sprig of fresh mint. It's the kind of thing that feels fancy enough for a dinner party but easy enough to keep on rotation all week long.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!