Shrubs are old-fashioned vinegar and fruit based drinks. Ideally, they're sweet enough to temper the tang of the vinegar, but sour enough to catch the back corners of your mouth. They can be added to water or sparkling water, cocktails, or even ice cream or shave ice. In essence, they're just really yummy flavoring syrups with a bit more twang.

The best part is that shrubs are easy peasy and only have three ingredients--fruit, sugar, and vinegar. The hardest part is straining the shrub, and even that is pretty stone simple. To get a somewhat clearer shrub, I filtered mine through a coffee filter after removing the large chunks of fruit. But really, you don't need to do this. Simply strain it through a fine mesh strainer.

Strawberry Shrub

About 2 cups

Combine in a medium bowl:

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup red wine vinegar

About ½ cup loosely packed mint leaves

Using a potato masher or a wooden spoon, mash the berries so they release their juices. Stir until the sugar has mostly dissolved and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, transfer the mixture to a saucepan and heat gently over medium-low heat. Do not bring to a simmer--you simply want to heat the mixture to coax the sugar to dissolve.

Strain the shrub through a fine mesh strainer. If desired, strain again through a coffee filter. Refrigerate.

Use to flavor water or sparkling water, make cocktails, or top ice cream or shave ice.