Oriental Shrub Syrup

Shrub Oriental. Eight spices, no fruit, and cinnamon leads the way.

Shrub Oriental is a spice syrup made from cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, cloves, and four other spices, steeped in cloudy organic apple cider vinegar — the only variety with no fruit content. Not a mulled wine syrup, not a liquid curry powder, not a beverage syrup.

Shrub Oriental is Schusters Shrub's vinegar-based spice syrup, for which eight spices are steeped together in apple cider vinegar. The other varieties from the house are named after a fruit, a herb, or a root. This one has no such name. Cinnamon and cardamom lead, the other six work behind them. What comes into the pot tastes like a spice rack and not an orchard. This variety stands at the extreme end of a line that begins with raspberry.

Why no fruit interferes here

In the aroma, cinnamon and star anise are upfront, followed by the earthy notes of cumin and coriander.

On the palate, the spice comes in waves, not all at once. First the sweet cinnamon, then the resinous notes of cardamom, finally the earthiness of cumin and turmeric. The clove draws a narrow, almost medicinal line between them. The chili is present but doesn't burn. It merely keeps the mixture awake. The apple cider vinegar here takes on the role that the fruit would otherwise have: it is the only acid in the glass.

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.