This fruit shrub recipe is crisp, sweet and refreshing.
You don’t often think of cider vinegar as a beverage ingredient, but it really enhances the flavor of fruity drinks. Plus shrub is just fun to say!
You know how some you hear about strange food combinations and you wonder how on earth that ever happened? I am about to tell you about my own strange food combination. When I was 12 or so I was, I was hanging out in the kitchen, bored and hungry. My mom never had snack food so I would create my own. One day I decided to try a spoonful of beef bouillon in a spoonful of vinegar. I loved it. I have no recollection as to how I came to try those two things together, but it was a tangy salty snack that I found irresistible. Looking back at that now I can’t help but wonder, what the heck was I thinking? That is such a gross snack, I’m really too embarrassed to even put it in writing.
The takeaway, however, is that I love vinegar. I was a pickle juice drinker growing up, so consuming spoonfuls of vinegar as a snack is not that crazy. It’s no wonder I love things like Buffalo Sauce (especially in Buffalo Bloody Mary’s), or Red Wine Vinegar (which I used to dress this Grilled Veggie Cobb Salad), and even mustard (which makes a great BBQ sauce for wings).
I am once again going to sip on vinegar, but this fruit shrub recipe is like nothing you’ve ever tasted! Pompeian Organic Cider Vinegar makes a big impact in this drink. A shrub is a vinegar based sweet syrup that is often infused with fruit, spices or even herbs. This recipe is infused with a vanilla bean and fresh pears. The cider vinegar adds an undertone that makes this drink crisp and refreshing. Much like bourbon, the vinegar has a lingering taste that is pleasant and aromatic.
Drinking cider vinegar has many health benefits. It is a natural gut cleanser with many healthy attributes. You can drink cider vinegar with water or mixed in a glass of tea (or as a shrub, which is my favorite). Of course, cider vinegar is fantastic in marinades, salad dressings, and drizzled over vegetables too!
You can practically make a fruit shrub recipe using any fruit or herb combination, just be sure to add the cider vinegar for maximum benefit and flavor!
Vanilla Pear Fruit Shrub Recipe
A crisp, refreshing, tangy fruit shrub recipe made with vanilla and fresh pears!
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- ½ pear sliced
- ½ cup Pompeian Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions
Simmer water, sugar and vanilla bean in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the sliced pears and continue to simmer mixture until it thickens and reduces. Stir in the vinegar and simmer on low until the pears become soft. Remove the syrup from heat and strain. Cool the syrup.
To serve, pour the desired amount of syrup over ice and top with soda water or ginger ale.
Notes
The ginger ale will make this beverage sweeter, I personally prefer the soda water; makes it very refreshing. You can add more pear slices to the syrup if you prefer.
The shrub will keep in an airtight container in your refrigerator for a month or so.
Sparkling wine, gin or vodka can be added if you would like to have the shrub as a cocktail instead.
Nutrition Information
Amount Per Serving Calories 0Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 0mgFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g
Want more refreshing drinks? Try Detox Water , Acai Refresher, and Strawberry Rickey!
Aimee says
This looks incredible! Do you scrape the vanilla bean out or simmer it whole?
Tanya Schroeder says
Thank you! I did split the bean, but I did not scrape it.