Why would people drink "shrub" beverages? ... And what are they!?

From What’s Shaking in the Cocktail Scene

This Autumn we’re introducing some Shrubs to the menu. Otherwise known as sipping vinegars. There are health benefits to drinking shrubs which include:

Health Benefits of Shrubs

• It has high antioxidant properties and purifying qualities.

• It has been known to promote weight loss and stabilise levels of blood sugar.

• It helps detoxify your liver and make digestion easier.

How Are Shrubs Consumed?

• You can drink it on its own

• Top it with seltzer.

• Some combine it with cocktails.

The Shrub beverages we’re introducing can be taken as a shot or served with sparkling water

Turmeric + Lemongrass Hydrosol

Turmeric + Lemongrass Hydrosol

Drink it. Shoot it. Mix it. Blend it. Spike it. Love it. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this infused ACV teeming with immune-boosting turmeric. Organic apple cider vinegar base gets its flavor-enhancing jolt from organic turmeric root grown on Harpersville farm. Layering in lemongrass hydrosol, honey, lemon and red pepper gives this vinegar a balance that is only complemented by the addition of garlic, cinnamon, clove, star anise and cardamom. Uses: Imbibe the daily 2-ounce shot, or mix it with some sparkling water

Hydrosols, also known as "flower waters," are produced by distilling fresh leaves, fruits, flowers, and other plant materials. With similar properties to essential oils, these aromatic waters are much less concentrated. Their aromas are often soft and subtle when compared to their essential oil counterpart. These aromatic products usually have a scent similar to their essential oil, but also can have a greener note. This comes from the water soluble constituents in the plant material that are not present in the essential oil. 

From: What’s a Shrub

Strawberry Rose

Rich in Vitamin C

Reduces Oxidative Stress

Promotes Heart Health

Good source of potassium

High Levels of Antioxidants

Ginger + Lemon Hydrosol

Your mouth might start to water before you even pour your first shot. Your tongue will probably start doing a happy dance we pass you your glass. Your brain knows what’s coming, even before your tastebuds do. That is the power of this ginger-infused apple cider vinegar. Organic apple cider vinegar base gets its peppery jolt from organic ginger root grown on Harpersville farm. Not content to stop there, layered in lemongrass hydrosol, honey, lemon and red pepper which gives this vinegar a balance that is only complemented by the addition of garlic, cinnamon, clove, star anise and cardamom.

Why do people drink shrubs?

The word “shrub” is derived from the Arabic word “sharbah,” which translates as “drink.” Even sailors from the 16th-18th centuries drank shrubs to prevent scurvy! Today, they are infused with every flavor one can imagine and lauded for their health benefits, some even claiming weight loss.

In the mid-17th century, trading ships brought sherbet to Western Europe, where it became a mixture of citrus, sugar, and rum or brandy, and was referred to by a variety of names; shrub stuck.

The Victorians used 'fruit vinegars' in the same way we would enjoy a cordial, and a version of a shrub was used to fight the onslaught of scurvy that plagued the British Navy in the 18th century. When prohibition took place in the US, shrubs became the popular alternative to alcoholic drinks.

From: Fruity, Floral, Raw Vinegar Drinks

Shrubs get their reputation by the concentrated flavour and the vinegar that gives them a tart kick - much stronger than cordials.

Now of course how much goodness you are getting depends on the specific fruit, and where you are getting it from. Here at The Scottish Bee Company, the fruits are grown locally from trusted and seasoned farmers with reputations for looking after their crops.

• As you all know, fruits are a fabulous source of minerals and vitamins

• A whole range of purifying and antioxidant qualities

• Eating lots of fruits can reduce the chances of developing inflation and heart disease. 

The vinegar element is pretty darn good for you as well. It keeps your blood sugar levels down, but stopping you from digesting starch fully. This means for the starch you eat,  your body has a smaller glycemic response - again reducing the chances or you gaining diabetes or heart disease.