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This fresh Pear Shrub is a bubbly fruit-based drink with a surprising kick of vinegar that keeps you coming back for more. It’s tangy, sweet, has the perfect subtle pear flavor, and is perfect for serving during the holidays.
If you love pears, try my Pear Applesauce. It’s easy, makes only 2 jars, and is spiced with cinnamon sticks.
I first made this Pear Shrub on a whim a few years ago, and now my family won’t let a holiday go by without it. They ask for it every Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus any holiday parties in between. Honestly, I think they’re more excited about the pear shrub than the turkey at this point.
Here’s the thing about shrubs… they’re unexpected.
The vinegar sounds weird until you taste it, and then suddenly you’re hooked on that sweet pear, tart, tangy thing happening in your glass. It’s the perfect alternative to soda or when you want something more interesting than water but don’t want alcohol. Dress it up with a cinnamon sticks, fresh herbs, and you’ve got a drink that looks and tastes like it came from a fancy cocktail bar.
For another delicious shrub drink, try my Cranberry Shrub with orange.
It’s a Shrub Drink, Not A Shrub Plant!
When I say shrub most people think I’m talking about a tree, but this is actually a drink. It’s fruit (pears in this case), sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
The mixture is cold processed in the refrigerator for several days and during this time the pears and sugar macerates together while the vinegar’s acidity works to preserves it. What you get is a tangy, sweet, fruit-forward syrupy shrub that lasts for months.
Pear Shrub Ingredients
Here’s everything you will need to make the shrub base and a drink. I did include a couple important notes, so keep reading.
- Fresh Pears: Be sure to clean, peel, and chop them into 1/2″ chunks. I used Bartlett because they’re sweet and juicy. You could also use D’Anjou, Bosc, or Asian pears, they just won’t be as juicy when ripe.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: You’ll want to choose a brand that includes the “mother” or your shrub can be lacking in flavor and tanginess. I use Aldi’s because it has wonderful flavor, comes in a glass bottle, and has the mother.
- Granulated Sugar: Don’t leave this out, it’s essential for balancing the flavors and helps speed up the fermentation process.
- Something Bubbly: This is to mix with the shrub once it’s finished. I like plain sparkling water, but you can also use tonic water or club soda. You could even go with options that are complementing in flavor.
How to Make a Pear Shrub
1. Mix and Refrigerate. In a large jar, add the chopped pears, granulated sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Give it a stir and seal with a clean lid and ring. Refrigerate for 5 to 7 days, stirring gently once a day.
2. Strain and Store. After the time has passed, strain the pear shrub away from the chopped pears. Place the shrub in another jar or airtight bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to three months.
3. Pour Yourself a Drink! Combine 3 tablespoons of shrub with 4 to 6 ounces of sparkling water.
Find the complete recipe instructions with measurements below.
Holiday Serving Suggestions
Plan to prep your shrub ahead of time. Don’t forget this recipe takes a week for the flavors to fully develop, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.
Set up a self-serve station. Have drink glasses set out with pre-measured amounts of the pear shrub. Next to it have an array of mixer options like neutral and flavored sparkling waters, ginger ale, or even champagne. Your guests will appreciate the options.
Make it festive with garnishes. Give this shrub a beautiful holiday presentation with cinnamon sticks, sprigs of fresh rosemary, sugared cranberries, dehydrated citrus, or candied pear slices.
Make It Your Own
Use flavored sparkling water instead of plain to amp things up. Some common complimenting flavors would be cranberry, spiced apple, and ginger.
Add spices to the shrub. Create another layer of flavor with a cinnamon stick, finely grated fresh ginger, or crushed cardamom pods. My personal favorite with pear is cardamom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
More Non Alcoholic Drinks You Might Like
Pears are popular in the fall/ winter season, and so are these non alcoholic drinks.
Pear Shrub
EQUIPMENT
- jar - 24 ounce
- fine mesh strainer
- jar - or bottle, 16 ounce
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups Bartlett pear - extra ripe, peeled, chopped in 1/2" chunks
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 ounces plain sparkling water - tonic water or club soda
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large jar, combine the chopped pear, granulated sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Seal the jar with a clean ring and lid, place in the refrigerator for 7 days. Gently stir once a day to help the sugar dissolve and flavors to meld together.
- After 7 days, use a fine-mesh strainer to separate the shrub from the solids. Transfer the shrub into a clean jar or bottle and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
- When ready to serve, combine 3 tablespoons of pear shrub with 4 ounces of plain sparkling water. Stir gently and taste test. Add more shrub to make it stronger and more sparkling water to make it lighter.
RECIPE NOTES
STORING INFORMATION
- Refrigerated, in an airtight container, for up to 1 month.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
