Grapefruit Shrub and Ginger Refresher | This post was sponsored by Pompeian. All opinions expressed on my site are my own.

The Texas summer is brutal you guys. It’s hot, hot, hot! Sometimes no matter how hard you try nothing will cool you off. But, I do love to sit on the deck and watch the summer sunset with a cool refreshing drink in my hand.

Here is a funny tidbit of information about myself. I don’t drink alcohol in the summer. It’s not because I have any personal issues with alcohol it’s because I have some annoying allergic reaction to alcohol and it raises my body temperature about 20 degrees. So in the summer, I stick with mocktails.

I absolutely love cocktails made with ginger beer. I love the spicy sweet flavor of a ginger beer. And since I am in Texas and it’s summer I thought ruby red grapefruit and ginger beer would make a great refresher.

First, I started with a shrub. A shrub is a mixture of fruit preserved in vinegar. It is then mixed with water or alcohol to make a refreshing beverage. It can be mixed into both iced or warm drinks. A ruby red grapefruit and vanilla shrub is perfect for summer.

Shrubs can be made with any fruit and any vinegar but I wanted to make one that would refresh me on a hot summer day and give my system a little boost. This shrub is made with vitamin C packed grapefruit and Pompeian Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother.

Pompeian does not filter or pasteurize this vinegar in order to maintain the presence of the mother, which is desired for its many health benefits and is a good addition to your daily diet. Unlike other kinds of vinegar on the shelf, unfiltered, unpasteurized organic vinegar with the mother can be consumed on its own as part of a daily diet as the mother contains healthy bacteria filled with a high volume of polyphenols (antioxidants). Consuming two tablespoons of Pompeian Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother daily offers many health benefits including boosting the immune system. Having a shrub in the refrigerator is a delicious and easy way to drink apple cider vinegar.

Preparing a shrub does require some planning ahead since the shrub needs to sit for a least a week to allow the flavors to develop and the vinegar to mild. But, once it is prepared it good to use for up to 6 months. You can make shrubs out of any of your favorite summer fruits. Mix it with cold tonic, ginger beer, or sparkling water.

Grapefruit Shrub and Ginger Refresher Recipe

Shrub

2 large ruby red grapefruits
1 vanilla bean
2 cups Pompeian Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
1½ sugar

Refresher

2 cups grapefruit shrub
3 cups ginger beer

Do you have any favorite mocktails? But don’t just tell me about them. Show me and Pompeian how you are experimenting with the latest food trends on Instagram. To share your latest on-trend creations using Pompeian, tag your photos with #TrendingintheKitchen. If you looking for inspiration or for tips on how to trend in the kitchen, visit Instagram.com/Pompeian.

Thanks to Pompeian’s ongoing commitment to quality and innovation, home cooks can depend on Pompeian’s olive oils and vinegars as a great tasting base while exploring new flavors and ingredients.

more drink love

• spiced orange shrub hot toddy
• pineapple mocktail margarita
• pineapple mule mocktail
• blackberry thyme and vanilla lemonade

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Yield: 2

Grapefruit Shrub and Ginger Refresher

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A grapefruit shrub made with apple cider vinegar is a great source of healthy bacteria, antioxidants, and vitamin C. Mix with ginger beer over ice and you have a perfect summer refresher.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours 48 minutes

Inactive Time 11 days 13 hours 12 minutes

Total Time 11 days 16 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Shrub

• 2 large ruby red grapefruits
• 1 vanilla bean
• 2 cups Pompeian Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1½ sugar

Refresher

• 2 cups grapefruit shrub
• 3 cups ginger beer

Instructions

Shrub

1. Wash a large mason jar in hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Submerge in a pot of warm water to cover by 1 to 2 inches, bring to a boil, and boil for 10 minutes. For the lid or cap, wash it in hot, soapy water; rinse well, and scald in boiling water. Using tongs transfer right side up to a clean paper towel to dry.
2. Using a vegetable peeler remove the zest from the grapefruits, set aside in a mason jar. Peel away the white pith of the grapefruit and discard. Cut the grapefruit into thirds and add to the mason jar. Split vanilla bean and add to the mason jar.
3. In a small pot combine vinegar and sugar. Place on the stovetop over medium-high heat, stir until sugar has dissolved and mixture comes to a simmer. Pour mixture over the fruit in the mason jar, leaving at least ¼-inch headspace in the jar. Wipe the rim with a clean with a damp cloth, and close tightly.
4. Store the jar in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or the refrigerator for one week or up to 4 weeks until the desired flavor is reached.
5. Strain the fruit from the vinegar through a fine mesh strainer lined with a damp cheesecloth or coffee filter. Transfer the shrub to a clean mason jar, tightly sealed.
6. Store the shrub in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Taste before using to make sure the flavor is still good. Discard immediately if it has mold or any signs of fermentation, such as bubbling, cloudiness, or sliminess.

Refresher

Divide the grapefruit shrub between two pint glasses. Add chilled ginger beer, stir and add ice. Garnish with grapefruit zest.

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