Schusters Shrub Oriental Syrup. Apple cider vinegar-based spice syrup with cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, and chili – for oven-roasted vegetables, couscous, and dips.
Schusters Shrub Oriental Syrup is a vinegar-based spice syrup made from cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, coriander, star anise, cloves, chili, and cardamom, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. It comes from the family-run manufactory Schusters Shrub in Untersteinbach in the Steigerwald forest and is the only purely spice-based variety among our Schuster syrups; 250 ml in a glass bottle. No mulled wine spices, no liquid curry powder, no added flavorings – just eight spices, vinegar, and sugar.
Oriental Syrup from Schusters Shrub follows the traditional method of a shrub, using spices instead of fruit. A shrub is a fruit syrup based on vinegar consisting of three ingredients: fruit, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. The fruit macerates in the apple cider vinegar for several weeks, is pressed out, and the fruit vinegar is seasoned with sugar and bottled hot. In the Oriental version, the eight spices take the place of the fruit. They infuse in the vinegar, are strained, and the spiced vinegar is sweetened and bottled hot. According to the manufacturer, the aroma comes solely from the spices, without any added flavorings. The result is a syrup that you use more like a condiment: a spoonful in a sauce, a dressing, or drizzled over oven-roasted vegetables.
Flavor
Shrub Oriental tastes spicy and warm: cinnamon and star anise at the forefront, followed by cumin, coriander, and turmeric. A hint of clove and a subtle heat from chili round it out. The apple cider vinegar provides the acidity, while the sugar balances it.
The manufacturer describes it as having an "oriental, mysterious note" and a "touch of the distant Orient." On the palate, the spices arrive one after another, first the sweet ones, then the earthy ones; the chili remains in the background, providing more warmth than heat. The syrup is potent on its own—and meant to be; a shrub is always dosed or diluted.
Anyone expecting a fruity syrup will find the Oriental too tart and spicy. There is no fruit to soften it; instead, you get a spice blend that has already been extracted and dissolved.
Usage
For Middle Eastern cuisine, stir a tablespoon of Shrub Oriental into a dressing for bulgur or couscous salad, along with lemon juice and oil. Drizzle it over oven-roasted vegetables just before serving.
A teaspoon is perfect for rounding out sauces and dips. The syrup even works in desserts: a baked apple gets its spice kick straight from the bottle with a splash of Oriental. The manufacturer recommends this variety to adventurous home cooks.
To make a lemonade, mix one part syrup with ten to fifteen parts ice-cold sparkling water – a refreshing spiced lemonade, as described by the manufacturer. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place; according to the manufacturer, the syrup remains shelf-stable even after opening.
Our tip: Start with a teaspoon and taste as you go. A spice syrup releases all its flavor at once, and you can always add more.
Origin
Schusters Shrub is based in Untersteinbach, a district of the municipality of Rauhenebrach in the Steigerwald, Haßberge district, Franconia. Johannes and Hanna Schuster run the family manufactory with an open-production facility, a farm shop, and tasting tours; it is bottled by hand by the family themselves.
Spices have a long tradition at Schusters: Gabi Schuster once boiled mulled wine spices in water and invented the syrup for mulled wine. The Oriental takes a different approach. Instead of heat, it relies on time – the spices infuse in the apple cider vinegar for weeks, as per the shrub method. The manufacturer derives the word "shrub" from the Arabic "sharba" for syrup – a shrub that tastes of cinnamon and cardamom brings things full circle. You can find more about the family and their varieties on our Schusters Shrub page.
For whom
The Oriental is the syrup for anyone who enjoys cooking with spices and regularly serves couscous, bulgur, or oven-roasted vegetables. It is suitable for home cooks looking for acidity, sweetness, and eight spices in a single spoonful, and for those who want something other than cinnamon sugar for their baked apples. The 250 ml bottle is a great gift idea for adventurous friends.
If you prefer to combine fruit and spice, try the Shrub Orange-Cardamom Syrup; if you prefer your spices hot in wine, the Syrup for Mulled Wine from the same manufacturer. Other syrups can be found in our Syrup category. The Oriental is not suitable for those looking for a fruity lemonade for children – it is too spicy and contains chili.
Eight spices, apple cider vinegar, and sugar from the Steigerwald forest – the spice syrup from Schusters Shrub for oven-roasted vegetables, couscous, and dips.
