Paraben Free Classic Pineapple Shrub
Bright, tangy, and refreshingly tropical, this pineapple shrub is the kind of homemade drinking vinegar that makes plain sparkling water feel like a serious treat. Fresh pineapple is gently cooked down with sugar until it releases all its sweet, fragrant juice, then balanced with apple cider vinegar and a pinch of kosher salt for that signature shrub complexity. The result is a concentrated syrup that mellows beautifully in the fridge over 24 hours, developing a rounded, slightly funky depth that store-bought mixers simply can't replicate. Every ingredient here is straightforward and whole — no preservatives, no synthetic additives, no hidden chemical compounds that can sneak into commercial beverages and flavored syrups. For anyone navigating sensitivities to synthetic preservatives like parabens, making your own shrub from scratch is one of the smartest moves you can make. Just mix a couple of tablespoons into sparkling water over ice and you've got a sophisticated, fizzy drink that tastes like it came from a craft cocktail bar.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 cups fresh pineapple, cut into ½-inch chunks
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
For serving
- sparkling water, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Combine the pineapple chunks and sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir to coat the fruit, then let the mixture sit at room temperature for 10 minutes until the sugar begins to dissolve and the pineapple releases some juice.
- 2
Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture just comes to a gentle simmer, about 3–5 minutes. Remove from heat immediately — do not boil vigorously.
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