Other People’s Preserve is my opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the very delicious jams, pickles, and preserved foods being made by some of the many dedicated professionals out there. If you see one of these products out in the wild, consider picking up a jar, tub, or bottle!
I first became aware of drinking vinegars (also known as shrubs) about five years ago, and started making my own soon afterwards (here’s the very first recipe I posted!). These days, not a week goes by when I make myself a concoction of sparkling water and a splash of sweet and tangy drinking vinegar.
When I first started making my own drinking vinegars, there were hardly any commercial versions available, but happily a number of small batch makers and producers have jumped into the fray in the last few years. One that I’ve been enjoying is Genki-Su. Made by hand in Portland, OR and using their old Japanese family recipes, these shrubs are brightly flavored and highly concentrated.
Their product line currently consists of five flavors – Yuzu-Citron, Nashi (Asian Pear), Ginger-Honey, Shiso, and Cranberry. Of those five, I tried the Ginger-Honey and the Shiso. The first was earthy, with gentle heat coming from the ginger. The shiso variety is herbaceous and wonderfully green.
As we head into warmer days, there’s nothing like a little splash of drinking vinegar in a tall glass of fizzy water (gin or vodka are also nice additions!).
Disclosure: The folks at Genki-Su sent the two bottles pictured here for review purposes. No additional compensation was provided. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I wonder if my local Windmill Farms might carry these. There’s a Trader Joe’s where I buy gas. Maybe they’ll carry them. The only shrub I experimented with was raspberry. I am not a fan of raspberry. I’d like to find more recipes as these flavors sound great.