We hear this question almost every day- why is it called shrub? Some folks are confused as to why something made from fruit, vinegar, and some type of sugar would be named after a low lying bush? Well the answer is simple….. and not so simple. Here is brief etymology of the word “Shrub”.
The shrub that you plant in your yard is well, just that. That kind of shrub comes from older Germanic languages and is best we can tell, a permutation of “scrub”, which means a low lying bush or collection of bushes. Scrub/Shrub arriving in the English isles when the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (all Germanic) arrived in 400 to 800 AD in what is now called England.
The “shrub” which is the topic of this website and the stuff you find in bottles and jars etc, is also an English permutation of a middle eastern word(likely Proto Arabic). That word is Shraab. Other versions of this word are Shra’ab, Shrab. Shrarab, and Sherbet to name a few. Throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, Central Asia, and the outer limits of the Indian subcontinent, you will find versions of these words all meaning similar things such as to drink a fermented drink, to make a fermented drink, or specifically a type of fermented drink or process.
Since then the name has stuck. However, time and use have allowed for other words and names to be co associated with “shrub” adding to the colloquial confusion as to what shrubs are. These include sipping or drinking vinegar, switchel, co*cktail shrub, shrub punch, rum punch, sherbet, sherbert, and even soft drink. And those with strong familial memories will stand by what grandma called shrub no matter what or how it was made.
So, how did shrub get to England?
Europe woke up late. The rise of city states and trading capitals with a far reaching thirst for new foods, spices, and agricultural products didn’t really begin until the Vikings were assimilated and the Huns(Hordes and Mongols e.g.) were no longer pillaging Europe. Fruit based fermented and acidulated drinks were common in Roman and Greek eras and likely survived in one fashion or another long after Empire demise. World trade took off in the 15th century with Italian city nations Venice and Genoa leading the culinary charge. Turks and Persians were also in the game, making value added drinks and candies with fruit, sugar, milk, and vinegar. Italy was the formative trading partner for the rest of Western Europe which included England. It was likely then that the ideas of what became shrubs came to English cuisine later evolving into a practical preservation method. How it transformed into “Shrub” whence there ……. not sure about that yet.
As colonization spread across the globe in the 1600’s shrubs made their way to the Carribean and the Americas, at first on board ships for thirst and nutrition, and often laced with Rum. It is not clear whether early rum was so foul that it needed help or that shrubs needed rum to help with the inevitable sourness of vinegar that eventually formed.
Later shrubs were indispensable on the farm as a preservation method in the expanding North American colonies. Although the name shrub wasn’t fully associated with vinegar based preserves until the early 1800’s when common recipe books were published and distributed.
Either way, shrub remained in use all the way through the Temperance movement, Civil war, the Victorian co*cktail era, and Prohibition. It took another 60 years for it to show up again in co*cktail lounges, and in full resurgence from 2010 to today.
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FAQs
That kind of shrub comes from older Germanic languages and is best we can tell, a permutation of “scrub”, which means a low lying bush or collection of bushes. Scrub/Shrub arriving in the English isles when the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (all Germanic) arrived in 400 to 800 AD in what is now called England.
What is the origin of the word shrub drink? ›
Shrub History
The word shrub is derived from the Arabic word sharab, which means “to drink.” These syrups, common in colonial America, were used to make delightful drinks.
What is the origin of the word "shrub"? ›
"low-growing bush, a woody plant with stems branched from or near the ground," Middle English shrubbe, from Old English scrybb "brushwood, shrubbery," a rare and late word (but preserved also, perhaps, in Shrewsbury), possibly from a Scandinavian source (compare dialectal Danish skrub "brushwood," Norwegian skrubba " ...
What makes a drink a shrub? ›
To put it plainly, a shrub is a combination of vinegar, sugar, and fruit—typically in a 1:1:1 proportion (though it can get far more complex, if you so choose). You combine all three ingredients, and let it sit for 2 days or more. Then you strain, and you've got yourself a shrub, baby.
What is the difference between a shrub and a tonic? ›
One of the most common questions we get are relate to how to use shrub and what the difference is between our shrubs and tonics. Our tonics are simply fruit shrubs made with no organic large crystal cane sugar and a little more ACV. They are aged, but only for a month or so.
Are shrub drinks healthy? ›
Cherry & Thyme Classic Shrub
Cherries carry with them powerful antioxidants such as anthocyanins and cyanidin. Their power to reduce inflammation aids in arthritis pain relief and post-workout muscle pain.
Can you drink shrub by itself? ›
Shrubs are mixers, which means they're an ingredient in a drink, not something you would normally drink on its own. Luckily, drinking shrubs are versatile, so they pair well with lots of other ingredients. Overall, we recommend using a 1:5 ratio of shrub to another (or several) ingredient(s).
What is another word for shrub drink? ›
Shrubs, also known as drinking vinegars, are refreshing beverages made from sweetened fruit and vinegar mixed with still or sparkling water.
What is the difference between a cordial and a shrub? ›
So what is the difference between a shrub drink and a cordial? Well cordials often (not always) have many more ingredients, and are always diluted in the drink. Shrubs get their reputation by the concentrated flavour and the vinegar that gives them a tart kick - much stronger than cordials.
What drink is similar to shrub? ›
Switchel is similar to shrub, but instead of using fruit as a base, it uses ginger as the main flavouring agent, and is usually sweetened with richer sugars (i.e. molasses or maple syrup), and can sometimes include spices in the mix.
What is the difference between a shrub and kombucha? In a nutshell, shrubs are fruity concoctions of fruit, sugar, and vinegar without the fermentation process, while kombucha is a fermented tea drink enriched with probiotics, thanks to the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY).
What is the difference between a shrub and a tincture? ›
Bitters are made with a pure grain spirit inundated with bittering agents like fruit peels, spices, or funky stuff like bark or cassia. Tinctures act as straight-up botanical, fruit, or vegetable infusions without any bitterness. A shrub adds sugar to fruit juice and uses vinegar to cut the sweetness.
What is the difference between a shrub and a syrup? ›
Syrups are only sweet, but shrubs have both sweet and tart. We recommend adding equal parts shrub concentrate to spirit. If adding juice or simple syrup, reduce the amount of syrup and add a lemon juice or bitters to cut the sweetness. Add fresh fruit, herbs, or vegetables to round out your drink.
What is the difference between bitters and shrubs? ›
Bitters are made with a pure grain spirit inundated with bittering agents like fruit peels, spices, or funky stuff like bark or cassia. Tinctures act as straight-up botanical, fruit, or vegetable infusions without any bitterness. A shrub adds sugar to fruit juice and uses vinegar to cut the sweetness.
