Spring and Summer Shrub Recipes
Add some sweetness to your spring and summer with Tait Farm Shrub cocktails and mocktails. Shrub is a fruit mixture which was first developed in the 19th century when refrigeration didn’t exist. Resourceful people would combine fruit and sugar into a large crock to ferment, creating a flavored vinegar. Once fermented, sugar was added to increase the sweetness and Shrub was born!
Shrub can be used in cocktails and mocktails to create fun and refreshing beverages. The most simple shrub recipes are a flavored shrub with sparkling water for a quick and easy drink. But when you’re feeling fancy you can try out any mix for a tried and true drink, or a new concoction of your very own.
The history of Tait Farm Shrub (courtesy of Tait Farms website):
Marian and Elton Tait purchased the farm in 1950. They were both Penn State graduates working for Agricultural Extension. Their new hobby farm was just the place to raise their 3 children (Sandy, David and John), as well as sheep, chickens, hogs, horses, and a few Basset hound dogs and Christmas Trees. In the late 1970’s, the 2 prodigal sons left their day jobs and decided to return to the family farm to make a living off the land. Perennial crops of raspberries, asparagus, apples and more Christmas trees followed. By the mid-1980’s, Tait Farm was the local place to come for pick-your-own crops, Christmas trees and dogs.
In the summer of 1986, a bumper crop of raspberries was hanging on the canes while it rained buckets for nearly 2 weeks. Rather than allow the fruit to rot, it was picked and frozen for winter sales. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell the frozen raspberries, a family friend reminded David Tait of an old Colonial beverage called Raspberry Shrub. Shrub is made by preserving fresh fruit in vinegar and sweetening it with sugar, it was the perfect solution! This concentrate is then mixed with water (or spirits) to make a delicious sweet, tart beverage. The first bottles of Raspberry Shrub were made in David’s kitchen on the farm in 1987, and since that time has grown into a line of more than 50 value-added products.
We have compiled some of our favorite recipes of Tait Farms Shrub cocktails and mocktails for you to try out this spring and summer.
Spring and Summer Shrub Cocktails:
The Peach Blossom is a delicious take on a white wine spritzer. The refreshing white wine and sweet Peach Shrub will give you those summer vibes we are all craving.
Looking to combine your fresh herbs into a yummy spring time beverage? Tait Farms Strawberry Basil shrub mixed with white wine and a little club soda makes a sweet addition to a backyard party.
Spring and Summer Shrub Mocktails:
Sunday brunch is never complete without a round of mimosas! This raspberry orange mimosa can be made as a cocktail or a mocktail and either way is delicious! Pro tip: freeze the raspberries ahead of time and use them as ice cubes, then you have a nice sweet snack at the end of your drink!
Having a backyard get together? Why not mix up a pitcher of sweet peach iced tea. Ice tea goes with any meal!
For more recipes, check out the Gardening Guides section of our website.