Rhubarb Cordial or Shrubs
Rhubarb cordial, also known as a shrub, is a sweetened vinegar-based syrup used to flavor drinks. It's made by infusing chopped rhubarb stalks with sugar and vinegar (or fermenting them together), creating a tangy, sweet, and fruity concentrate. This preservation method has historical roots in colonial America and Victorian England.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This syrup is primarily a source of quick energy from carbohydrates, specifically simple sugars, and contains virtually no fat or protein. A typical serving provides a small amount of vitamin C and potassium from the rhubarb, with a calorie count heavily dependent on the sugar content.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 35 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbs | 9 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Vitamin C | 2 mg |
| Potassium | 40 mg |
| Manganese | 0.02 mg |
| Vitamin K | 1 µg |
Per 1 fluid ounce (30 ml) syrup, mixed into a drink · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The use of vinegar in a fruit syrup is a unique preservation technique that predates modern refrigeration, creating a complex sweet-and-sour flavor profile. Nutritionally, the vinegar may help moderate the blood sugar spike from the sugar, and the rhubarb contributes plant compounds like anthocyanins.
