Sesame Free Classic Berry Shrub
Tart, fruity, and just a little funky in the best possible way, this berry shrub is a drinking vinegar syrup that transforms a glass of sparkling water into something genuinely special. The base is nothing more than fresh mixed berries, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of kosher salt — clean, simple ingredients with zero hidden additives to stress over. The magic happens in the fridge over 48 hours, where the sugar slowly draws out every drop of deep, jewel-toned juice from the berries before the vinegar is stirred in to balance the sweetness with a bright, tangy edge. Shrubs have a long history as a way to preserve fruit flavor, and once you taste how complex this syrup gets from such minimal effort, you'll wonder why you ever bought flavored syrups at the store. Serve it over ice with sparkling water and a sprig of fresh mint for a refreshing mocktail that feels far more sophisticated than its ingredient list suggests. It keeps in the fridge for up to four weeks, so you can make a batch on the weekend and enjoy it all month long.
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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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