SHRUB SODA
The Fall season is full of amazing sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and textures - it is a symphony for the senses. But also with the Fall season comes the promise of spending more time indoors, colder weather, and an increased chance of getting sick. Of course, we are hyper-aware of staying vigilant to fight away contagions these days. But the Fall also gives us a great reminder that we should always be working to help shore up our body’s natural defenses to fight off seasonal illnesses that might sneak by our fervent hand-washing, mask-wearing, and vitamin-taking.
One great way to help boost your immune system is gut health. A great practice this time of year is incorporating organic apple cider vinegar to help give your gut an added boost of repair and assistance. Traditionally, just the mention of apple cider vinegar is enough to make one shudder and your lips pucker. However, like many health-forward practices, the options have come a long way.
One of our favorite ways to enjoy apple cider vinegar is with a mixed drink termed “shrub soda”. Shrub soda was a popular drink during Colonial times. With this concoction, one can purchase shrubs or sipping vinegar online or and add to club soda to taste. Or, better yet, you can experience and explore to develop a shrub soda to your exact taste preferences.
TREE Restaurant and Bar features two mocktails that include a “shrub.” Our Wine Slinger, Leslie Britt hand-selected Jukes Cordiality as a partner. They are an elegant and healthy non-alcoholic drink, which mirrors the generosity and flavor complexity of fine wine.
A Rosé by any Other Name
Jukes #8 "The Rosé" / Lorina Elderflower Fizz / Fresh Strawberry Garnish
Jukebox Hero
Jukes #6 "The Dark Red" / Sparkling Water / Blackmore Farm Fresh Mint Garnish
The main idea is to mix organic apple cider vinegar with a natural sweetener such as organic local honey, or natural maple syrup to help cut the sour/bitter taste of the vinegar. You can then begin to tweak the flavor slightly to your specific taste preferences by adding healing herbs, spices, or fruit extracts to develop a delightful mixer with club soda (typically mix about 1 part shrub sipping vinegar with 3 parts club soda).
Three unique combinations include:
Citrus Spice
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons local organic honey
- Tumeric to taste
- Cloves to taste
- Orange zest to taste
Maple Plum Spice
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Grade A natural maple syrup
- Plum extract to taste
- All-spice to taste
Lavendar Berry Spritzer
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons local organic honey
- Organic dried lavender to taste (strain after seeped)
- Blueberry extract to taste
- Lemon rinds to taste (strain after seeped)
Sip, sip, hooray!