History in A Glass

If you go back in time and open a 19th-century cookbook, you will find references to Shrub. This all-natural drink was found at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s homestead, Little House on the Prairie.

Before refrigeration, the fresh fruits of summer would spoil quickly, so resourceful colonists discovered they could pile their extras into big crocks with sugar and after a few weeks the mixture would ferment into vinegar. The results were bright with fresh fruit flavor and when some additional sugar was added, Shrub was born! They mixed it simply with water as well as with libations of that period which included whiskey, sherry, and champagne.

Tait Farm Foods Shrub

Fast forward to the summer of 1986, when a bumper crop of raspberries was hanging on the canes at our farm in central Pennsylvania. A driving rainstorm set in lasting nearly 2 weeks. Rather than allow the fruit to spoil, it was picked and frozen for winter sales. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell the frozen raspberries, a family friend reminded our founder David Tait of a colonial beverage called Shrub. Necessity gave way to invention, and the first batch of Tait Farm Foods' Raspberry Shrub was born!

Today, Tait Farm Foods is often credited with bringing about a modern day Shrub revival. Often referred to as “The Original Shrub,” we still make all of our flavors “the old fashioned way” with all natural ingredients and no artificial flavorings, colorings, or juices. Fresh fruit is held in vinegar to infuse for weeks, just as it was all those years ago. Once it is ready, organic cane sugar is added and the mixture results in a tangy, thirst-quenching syrup.

Over the years, we have created and collected many recipes using our Shrubs. Non-alcoholic drinks, craft cocktails and culinary recipes have been assembled on this website. We hope you enjoy the opportunity to explore and enjoy Shrub!