Rose Geranium and Strawberry Shrub

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Rose Geranium and Strawberry Shrub brings a floral, aromatic and fruity flavour to cocktails. Here’s how to make it.

As seen on Botanical Beverages: My Segment on Gardening Australia

Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) is a scented geranium with leaf hairs that have tiny glands that release a rose scent and oil when the leaves are crushed. Although the leaves are not edible per se, they can be used to flavour to sweets and drinks. You can read all about rose geranium,  how to grow it and its culinary and drink applications.

Shrubs are, or drinking vinegars made from fruit, sugar, and vinegar often infused with an aromatic such as a herb or spice. For this shrub recipe, we’re marrying the flavours of rose geranium with strawberries, an ideal pairing for a fruity and floral flavour profile with the classic balance of acid and sweetness. For more information on shrubs, take a look at how to use shrubs in cocktails.

Unlike syrups which have a short shelf life, shrubs last a long longer and can be stored in the fridge for up to one year. The following recipe can easily be scaled up if required.

Rose Geranium and Strawberry Shrub Recipe

Original recipe by Corinne Mossati, As Seen on Gardening Australia

Ingredients

• 100g strawberries, cut in half
• 60g castor sugar
• 125ml red wine vinegar
• 1 cup rose geranium leaves, rinsed, dried and loosely packed

Equipment: glass jar with tight fitting lid, fine strainer

Method

1. Rinse the rose geranium leaves and pat dry them on a kitchen towel.
2. In a glass jar, add the strawberry halves, the rose geranium leaves and top with castor sugar. Give the ingredients a good mix, seal the jar and place in the fridge overnight.
3. After 24 hours, add the red wine vinegar. Stir all the ingredients together then put the jar back in the fridge.
4. Keep it refrigerated for 7 days, and give the jar a little stir every day.
5. On Day 7, using a fine strainer, strain the shrub pressing down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. The solids can be dehydrated and blitzed into a fine powder to use as garnish in drinks. Alternatively, the rose geranium leaves can be discarded and the strawberries consumed.
6. Store the shrub in the fridge until ready to use. The flavours will mellow with time and it will keep in the fridge for one year.

Next… Rose Geranium and Strawberry Shrub Cocktail

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