Homemade Strawberry Rose Elderflower Shrub & Mocktail
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I’m in the kitchen straining the last of my summer remedies. Shrubs are by far my favorite way to preserve a piece of summertime vibrancy, berries, roses, and elderflowers to enjoy for the months to come! They can be enjoyed as a mocktail or for their medicinal value, but trust me, shrubs are so delicious. You get all the benefits of apple cider vinegar and its energetic properties of the herbs & flowers, in a delicious mocktail. I love making this strawberry, rose, and elderflower shrub to keep a piece of summer with me for months to come. Let’s get started!
What is an Herbal Shrub?
An herbal shrub, also known as drinking vinegar, is a vinegar-based drink with fruit and herbs that are infused and has medicinal properties. Believe it or not, shrubs were popular in the 1500s & 1600s and are starting to make their comeback!
The medicinal properties come from the vinegar (if using Apple Cider Vinegar) and the fruit or herbs that are infused with it. In this recipe, we will receive a lot of medicinal properties from the elderflowers. I like to make these shrubs when the fruit is freshest and can enjoy throughout the months to come. In this recipe, I add strawberries, rose petals, and lemons along with the elderflowers. This makes for a delicious and refreshing shrub!
Difference between an herbal shrub & an oxymel?
A question I get asked often is “what is the difference between an herbal shrub and an oxymel”? How shrubs and oxymels are made and their ingredients are very similar. However, there are two main differences. First, an oxymel is sweetened specifically with raw honey. Second, an oxymel only uses apple cider vinegar. Now compare this to a shrub, which can be made with sugar or raw honey, and can be any type of vinegar.
Another difference between the two is, Oxymels are specifically used for curing ailments and strengthening the immune system (check out my Elderberry Oxymel). Where a shrub can be medicinal and enjoyed as a mocktail. This elderflower shrub with strawberry, lemon, and rose could be either. It’s a very enjoyable drink with a side of medicinal properties. I also find that oxymels are more concentrated and can be taken through a dropper bottle in a more medicinal method.
Shrub Ingredients
We’ve already touched on a few ingredients, but let’s go through them and how this is constructed. For the shrub, I chose strawberries, rose petals, rose hips, elderflowers, and lemons. I infuse these fruits and berries in apple cider vinegar and honey.
Let’s start with the flowers, berries, and fruit. I specifically chose the elderflowers for medicinal purposes and subtle sweetness. Along with elderflowers, I added strawberries and lemons. The sweetness of the strawberries and the acidity of the lemons complement each other and make this shrub very refreshing. I also added rose petals and rose hips for energetic & extra vitamin-boosting benefits.
To infuse the fruits and berries, I mixed apple cider vinegar and honey. With shrubs, this can be any vinegar and honey if you wanted. I chose apple cider vinegar because it’s great for gut health. Honey is also a naturally occurring sweetener with a ton of immune-boosting properties. The goal was to make this drink as delicious and good for you as possible!
Directions
The first step in making your strawberry and flower shrub is to combine the strawberries, lemon slices, and flowers in a jar. Next, sprinkle on the rose petals and rose hips. Finally, infuse the ingredients with apple cider vinegar and honey.
Once the mixture is completed, infuse for 3-4 weeks. Strain the ingredients into another jar through a cheesecloth and discard the solids. You can then transfer the strained liquid to a pitcher and serve with chilled sparkling water. Feel free to store the shrub in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. It should last you well into the winter!
Options
When making shrubs, you can be as creative as you want. I’ve made shrubs made with blueberries and blackberries as well. You can also use this shrub as a base for other mocktail recipes. Just add some fresh fruit along with sparkling water and your shrub concoction.
Homemade Strawberry Rose Elderflower Shrub & Mocktail
A delicious homemade strawberry rose elderflower lemon shrub recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of fresh or dried elderflowers
- 1 cup of rose petals
- 2 tablespoons of dried or fresh rosehips
- 2 cups of strawberries
- 4 cups of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2-1 cup of honey
- 1 lemon sliced
Instructions
- Slice strawberries and place them into a glass jar. I used a 64-ounce jar.
- Add sliced lemon, and top with elderflowers and rosehips.
- Add honey, and apple cider vinegar into the jar.
- Stir well.
- Place lid on top, let infuse for 2-4 weeks.
- When ready strain the herbs & fruit out of the vinegar with a cheesecloth and strainer.
- Add the shrub into a new clean glass jar.
- Add sparkling water and a non-alcoholic spirit such as SeedLip into a glass of your choice.
- Top with sliced strawberries and dried elderflowers.
- Add Ice & Enjoy!