Schuster's Shrub Ginger Syrup. Vinegar-based ginger syrup made from fresh ginger – mild and spicy for lemonade, aperitifs, and cooking.

Schuster's Shrub Ginger Syrup is a vinegar-based syrup made from sugar, apple cider vinegar, and fresh ginger by Schuster's Spezialitäten from Untersteinbach in the Steigerwald. One part syrup to ten to fifteen parts mineral water makes ginger lemonade. Non-alcoholic, 250 ml in a glass bottle. Not a sharp ginger beer syrup, no artificial flavors, not a drink for drinking straight – just ginger, apple cider vinegar, and sugar that you dilute yourself.

Shrub Ginger from Schuster's Shrub is the variety that uses a root instead of a fruit. Shrub is a vinegar-based syrup made from three ingredients. Here, fresh ginger is steeped in apple cider vinegar for several weeks until the vinegar has absorbed the spice. Then it is pressed, sweetened with sugar, and hot-filled. The vinegar provides acidity and carries the ginger aroma, which comes entirely from the root. According to the manufacturer, the word "shrub" goes back to the Arabic "sharba" for syrup. Hanna Schuster, a trained food technologist, brought the idea back to the Steigerwald from a semester abroad in Pennsylvania. Her shrubs have been around since 2012, and according to the manufacturer, the ginger variety is one of the best-sellers.

Taste

Shrub Ginger clearly tastes of fresh ginger, but is soft and lacks the typical heat of the raw root. The apple cider vinegar provides a clear acidity underneath, rounded off by the sweetness.

The manufacturer describes it as a ginger lemonade that actually tastes like ginger. Neat, the syrup is concentrated and sweet; only in a glass with ice-cold sparkling water does it become a lemonade that is both spicy and fresh. Anyone expecting the burning heat of a ginger beer will find this shrub mild. In return, the ginger aroma remains present, even when highly diluted, and the acidity of the vinegar keeps the glass feeling fresh.

Use

For ginger lemonade, add 1.5 to 2 cl of shrub to a 0.2-liter glass and top up with ice-cold, sparkling mineral water – this corresponds to a 1:10 to 1:15 ratio.

The manufacturer's non-alcoholic aperitif goes like this: 1 cl shrub, a squeeze of lime juice, two ice cubes, a lime slice, and two mint leaves in a glass, topped with 100 ml of sparkling water. Add 2 cl of gin if desired. At the home bar, the shrub replaces ginger syrup in Mule variations: shrub, vodka or gin, tonic water or juice, plenty of ice. In the kitchen, a spoonful adds a refined touch to Asian dishes, barbecue marinades, and dips.

Store the bottle in a cool, dark place. According to the manufacturer, the shrub has a shelf life of three years and can be stored at room temperature even after opening.

Our tip: For a quick dressing for cucumber or glass noodle salad, whisk the shrub with lime juice and a neutral oil – spicy, fresh, and ready in two minutes.

Origin

Schuster's Spezialitäten is a small family-run craft business in Untersteinbach, in the municipality of Rauhenebrach in the Haßberge district, in the Steigerwald region of Franconia. Johannes and Hanna Schuster run it with transparent production, a farm shop, and tasting tours; bottling is done by hand by Hanna Schuster and her family themselves.

For the ginger, the manufacturer uses fresh root, which is extracted in apple cider vinegar; sugar is only added after pressing. This creates a syrup whose spice comes from the root and whose acidity comes from the vinegar. You can find out more about the family and their varieties on our Schuster's Shrub page.

For whom

Shrub Ginger is the bottle for anyone who likes ginger lemonade but wants to decide how strong it should be. It belongs at the home bar for Mules and gin drinks, on the table for Asian food, and as a non-alcoholic aperitif for guests who are driving.

If you prefer citrus and herbs, reach for the Shrub Rosemary-Lemon Syrup; if you want something even spicier, go for the Shrub Oriental Spice Syrup. The shrub is not suitable for those looking for a sharp ginger beer – it remains mild.

Fresh ginger, apple cider vinegar, and sugar from the Steigerwald – the mild ginger syrup you can use to mix your own lemonade, aperitif, and marinade.