shrub

Shrub is a concentrate of acid, sugar and fruit. In practical terms, shrubs break down into two principle groups: citrus shrubs and vinegar shrubs (a.k.a. “drinking vinegar”). The former are usually oleo-saccharums dissolved in the pressed juice of the same fruit, such as a lemon oleo-saccharum dissolved in lemon juice. The result is sweet, sour and highly aromatic, but in this case particularly sweet. This form of shrub is employed as a prepared ingredient in mixed drinks, most frequently in punches. The latter are stone fruit and/or other suitable ingredients (e.g., rhubarb) that are either cooked down in sugar syrup (hot method) or macerated in granulated sugar (cold method) and then dissolved in vinegar. Again, the result is sweet, sour and highly aromatic, but in this case particularly sour. This form of Shrub is then employed as a mixed drink ingredient or simply diluted to taste in water or seltzer for drinking.