Wild Irish Foragers & Preservers, a 5th generation family farm strive to recreate a taste of the past with recipes from a bygone era using only what is foraged from nature in the woodlands, meadows, hedgerows and boglands on and around the farm. All the farm’s products are handpicked and handmade in small batches to ensure the magical taste and quality of working in harmony with nature’s bounty.

Traditionally used as ‘drinking vinegars’ to quench thirst other suggested ways to use are:

– Mix with oils for dressings, water for drinks and spirits for cocktails.
– Add to mayonnaise, hummus, yogurts for flavours of the wild.
– Mix with water and sip with cheese as ‘Shrub Shots’.
– Use as flavouring in baking.
– Make ‘wild’ marinades.
– Enjoy with ice-cream or drizzled over fruit.
– Create the ultimate ‘Cheeseboard Shots’ when mixed with sparking water and sipped with cheese.
– For extra health benefits take 1 tsp in water as required (see info boards or ask www.wildirishforagers.ie)

Suggestions

Use up yesterday’s sourdough or the like by simply cutting the bread, dampen with a little water, spring half cupful of Honeysuckle or Wild Rosehip Shrub along the bread, sprinkle a few light herbs and pop into the oven on a high heat for 5 mins.

Mix 1 part Shrub with 1 part sparkling water. Pour into little shot cups and place on your cheeseboard. Take a bite of cheese and a sip of Shrub Shot and enjoy the combination of flavours. For a refreshing drink mix 1 part Shrub to 8 parts water.

Chop an avocado into small pieces into a bowl and add half capful of your Shrub of choice. Stir and leave for 2-3 mins to allow the avocado to soak up the flavours. Add the rest of your salad ingredients. Toss and serve.

Salad Dressing Recipe

2 tbsp Wild Irish vinegar shrub of choice
4 tbsp rapeseed oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Pinch brown sugar
Sea salt and black pepper

The Wild Hips Toddy!!!

1 ounce Tullamore Dew Whiskey (you can also try Dark Rum or any whiskey of your choice)
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon pure honey
1/4 teaspoon of Wild Irish Foragers Shrub (preferably Wild Rosehip Shrub)
1/4 cup hot brewed tea
Lemon slice

Put honey, lemon juice and the Shrub in a warmed mug. Add hot water or hot tea and stir until the honey has dissolved. Add the whiskey or rum, stir then finish with a lemon slice.
The acid from the Shrub brings out all the flavours of the toddy without making it taste too sweet. Using black tea instead of plain hot water really makes this toddy stand out

Wild & Herbal Hot Tea

Pop the kettle on to boil, and pick out your favourite mild herbal tea. Add the tea bag to each mug you’ll be serving, and pour 6 ounces of hot water over the top. Let steep for 3 minutes, then remove tea bag and stir in about 2-3 tablespoons of our Wild Shrub. Taste, & add more Shrub if you would like more of a “kick”.
12 ounces water
2 bags of Camomile/Mild Mint/Fennel tea (or any herbal tea of your choice)
4-6 Tablespoons of Wild Irish Foragers Shrub (any Shrub of your choice from our Shrubbery range)

Our Wild Shrubs make a delicious alternative to coffee or hot tea when stirred into hot water.

Simply Shrub

Just add 1oz of your Wild Irish Foragers Shrub to 6-8 oz. of hot water
Example: 1oz of Honeysuckle Shrub, 6/8 oz. of Hot water. Stir the Shrub into the water & pour into your flask or mugs. For a “zapped” Hot Toddy add a shot of brandy or your favourite tipple

Wild & Warm

4oz Apple Cider, 1 oz. of Wild Irish Foragers Shrub, 1 oz. Fresh Orange Juice, half ounce of Fresh Lemon Juice, I Cinnamon Stick
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan & heat until simmering (stirring constantly). Pour into your flask & seal. Rum or brandy can also be added to this punch per your own preferred taste

Wild Irish Rugby

1 tsp of All Black tea, 8 oz. of boiling water, 1.5oz of Wild Irish Foragers Shrub (works with any of our Shrubs), I slice of lemon.
Steep tea & slice of lemon in boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain into flask, add shrub & shake or stir & then seal

Warm the Cockles

2oz of Wild Irish Foragers Shrub (works well with any of our Shrubs)
4oz of Red Wine
2 oz of Orange Juice
Half ounce of Lime Juice
1 teaspoon of brown sugar
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan & heat until sugar is dissolved stirring all the time. Pour into flask & seal