- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Location
- Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
The word shrub is derived from the Arabic word, "sarbah", which means a "drink". Sherbet and syrup also come from this root word. Although drinking vinegars is not so common today, they have a long history, stretching back to the Babylonians who added date vinegar to water to make it safe to drink and the Romans who mixed vinegar and water to make a beverage called "posco". Colonial-era sailors carried shrubs rich with vitamin C on their boats to prevent scurvy. Shrubs also gained popularity during the Temperance Movement and many 19th and early 20th century housekeeping manuals contained recipes for them.
During Colonial times, shrubs were a very popular means of preserving fresh produce, usually berries, using vinegar or sometimes a spirit such as rum. Vinegar-based shrubs can provide a delicious and refreshing nonalcoholic drink option too. They can also be mixed with spirits and sparkling wine for alcoholic cocktails.
For mixed drinks, shrub is the name of two different yet related, acidulated beverages. One type of shrub is a fruit liqueur that was popular in 17th and 18th century England. It was typically made with rum or brandy mixed with sugar and the juice or rinds of citrus fruit. A shrub can also refer to a cocktail or soft drink that was popular during America's Colonial Era, made by mixing a vinegar syrup with spirits, water or carbonated water. The term "shrub" can also be applied to the sweetened vinegar-based syrup from which the cocktail is made. The syrup is also known as "drinking vinegar". The drinking vinegar is often infused with fruit juice, herbs and spices for use in mixed drinks.
The American version of the shrub has its origin in 17th century England where vinegar was used as an alternative to citrus juices in the preservation of berries and other fruits for the off-season. Fruit preserves made in this fashion were themselves known as shrubs and the practice carried over to Colonial America. By the 19th century ( post Civil War and during) typical American recipes for shrubs and vinegars poured over fruit and left to infuse anywhere from overnight up to several days, where popular. The fruit would be strained out and the remaining liquid would be mixed with a sweetener such as sugar or honey and then reduced to make a syrup. The sweet-sour syrup could be mixed with either water or soda water and served as a soft drink, or it could be used as a mixer in alcoholic cocktails.
Shrubs were served during the Christmas season in the 19th century. They were mixed with raisins, honey, lemon, sherry, rum, and other spirits.
The information on shrubs was from a program given on November 19, 2015 at meeting of National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Ohio Division. I am now attending this group and hope to be able to submit my application to join in the near future. I am still in process of establishing my ancestors back to this date in history. They have guidelines on how to submit proof of lineage that must be followed. It is even harder than the DAR.
During Colonial times, shrubs were a very popular means of preserving fresh produce, usually berries, using vinegar or sometimes a spirit such as rum. Vinegar-based shrubs can provide a delicious and refreshing nonalcoholic drink option too. They can also be mixed with spirits and sparkling wine for alcoholic cocktails.
For mixed drinks, shrub is the name of two different yet related, acidulated beverages. One type of shrub is a fruit liqueur that was popular in 17th and 18th century England. It was typically made with rum or brandy mixed with sugar and the juice or rinds of citrus fruit. A shrub can also refer to a cocktail or soft drink that was popular during America's Colonial Era, made by mixing a vinegar syrup with spirits, water or carbonated water. The term "shrub" can also be applied to the sweetened vinegar-based syrup from which the cocktail is made. The syrup is also known as "drinking vinegar". The drinking vinegar is often infused with fruit juice, herbs and spices for use in mixed drinks.
The American version of the shrub has its origin in 17th century England where vinegar was used as an alternative to citrus juices in the preservation of berries and other fruits for the off-season. Fruit preserves made in this fashion were themselves known as shrubs and the practice carried over to Colonial America. By the 19th century ( post Civil War and during) typical American recipes for shrubs and vinegars poured over fruit and left to infuse anywhere from overnight up to several days, where popular. The fruit would be strained out and the remaining liquid would be mixed with a sweetener such as sugar or honey and then reduced to make a syrup. The sweet-sour syrup could be mixed with either water or soda water and served as a soft drink, or it could be used as a mixer in alcoholic cocktails.
Shrubs were served during the Christmas season in the 19th century. They were mixed with raisins, honey, lemon, sherry, rum, and other spirits.
The information on shrubs was from a program given on November 19, 2015 at meeting of National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Ohio Division. I am now attending this group and hope to be able to submit my application to join in the near future. I am still in process of establishing my ancestors back to this date in history. They have guidelines on how to submit proof of lineage that must be followed. It is even harder than the DAR.