The Flavors

Send us Fan MailGo back in time with Sarah and The Shrub as they get into some strange flavored pops, novelty drinks, and retired sodas. This lighthearted episode is full of gratitude for living sober, the sober journey, and all the fun we can have when we go for it.***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tab_(drink)https://www.bonappetit.com/story/save-tab-soda-interview?srsltid=AfmBOopduhSk3I6jdpOIvJeK0EG0kZDKBhWZbyhSe-YY9GobT3fXWAeyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbitz_(drink)#Historyhttps://www.mashed.com/1361798/discontinued-orbitz-soda-scientific-marvel/http://www.lanceandeskimo.com/chefelf/bev_orbitz.shtmlhttps://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1913612,00.htmlhttps://www.mashed.com/60683/soft-drinks-totally-forgot-existed/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine_(drink)#https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/nyregion/03cocaine.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envigahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine_(drink) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cocaine-pulled-from-shelves-nationwide/ ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Sarah and The Shrub explore some fun history and facts surrounding everyone's favorite juicy, fruity, flavored-tea beverage with a pop: Snapple! Also, Drinking Dreams, and a scrumptious dessert (or breakfast!) themed shrub based on a classic.This is not an official sponsorship of Snapple. No endorsements were made for the production of this episode.***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapplehttps://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/17/dining/the-snapple-deal-how-sweet-it-is.html?sec=healthhttps://www.snopes.com/fact-check/snapple-rumor/https://www.snapplecaps.com/real-facts/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machinehttps://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/business/leonard-marsh-80-dies-a-founder-of-snapple.html?_r=1&https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Kaufman***ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub get into natural & artificial flavorings, flavorists, flavor houses, a little bit of science, a little bit of cultural fun facts - it's a classic Shrubbish episode! Also, the challenges of dealing with moderating addictions when abstinence is not possible. ***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Croix_Sparkling_Water​​https://nutrisci.wisc.edu/2021/07/26/natural-and-artificial-flavors/https://www.bonappetit.com/story/truth-about-natural-artificial-flavors https://freakonomics.com/podcast/natural-and-artificial-flavors/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1-9wlAYZOM https://blogs.ubc.ca/communicatingchemistry2017w110/2017/09/18/what-exactly-are-natural-flavours/ ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub discuss the 100% zero proof, 100% refreshing beverage: Hop Water. From the plant-parts behind it all (hops) to it's "f around and find out" origins in the home brewing community, and it's place in the wellness sector today, hop into spring with this one! Also, Sarah reflects on her connection between suburban stress / isolation and drinking. ***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hop_water#cite_note-Men's_Journal_28_June_2023-2https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/7129-what-is-hop-waterhttps://www.fooddive.com/news/hop-water-nonalcoholic-beer-segment-wellness-trend/806828/https://www.mensjournal.com/drink/is-hop-water-your-drink-of-the-future https://www.bevnet.com/news/2015/hopwater-launches-in-ohio-secures-distribution-through-cavalier-distributing/ https://www.h2ops.com/pages/our-story-mission?srsltid=AfmBOooPKHt1y7wv9xqA40l9T5N4M34RbzakAFTdhWNkG_0vUSCWVC6M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBQFaHS5teY https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/1lvddkz/first_time_making_hop_water_and_it_turned_out/***ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub investigate Dry Ice - from a little bit of science, history, and common uses for the super cold sublimating product! Including how to safely use dry ice in your favorite mocktail. Also, another nod to community. And the nuances & uniqueness of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and how you do not have to have a higher power to get sober.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_icehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_carbon_dioxidehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrien-Jean-Pierre_Thilorier#Early_yearshttps://www.grabbitandrun.com/10-cool-facts-about-dry-ice/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry-ice_blastinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE4Tk9BGFKY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GYdIB1Z51ghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJH-OYYxA3I&t=63s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhInWBtVXxMhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DOEb6H4gX5r/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKZ4GpveNgY ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub visit South America, India, Sri Lanka, Europe....not really (you know no one is really traveling on this show, right?) but the history of Tonic Water takes you all over the map! From the Peruvian tree that started it all, to some wacky historical cures for malaria, this episode investigates everything Tonic Water -- including actual mocktail recommendations! Also, what happened at PodFest, and Sober Community. **https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_waterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81gua_de_Inglaterrahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinchonahttps://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/just-the-tonic-historyhttps://www.countrylife.co.uk/food-drink/curious-questions-invented-gin-tonic-206058https://europeancoffeetrip.com/espressoandtonic-story/ https://www.webmd.com/drugs/quinine-qualaquinhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3121651/https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/rcs/projects-exhibitions/products-empire-cinchona-short-historyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoePAOjyv5Qhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcJkzHfSgpA ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub (a particularly good one!) expand on honey by putting their paws in pots of fermented honey, honeydew, and propolis -- figuratively, of course. Also, how do sober communities respond to or offer invitations for celebration and community without the classic one liner "can I buy you a drink?"***https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s_mk7zGYDA8https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1109/honey-and-honey-syrup/fermented-honeyhttps://www.bonappetit.com/story/hunt-for-fermented-honey?srsltid=AfmBOop1HV9SHQVBqJD0OsOb5fdAsF0vt7Ir_zwyk9pDQKfz9FVn0R4Khttps://www.npr.org/2025/12/12/nx-s1-5637405/honey-flavor-reaches-new-depths-with-spotted-lanternfly-droppings https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-024-00375-3https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3872021/#sec3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgkN0YaNXF4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M28XjoeiGXA  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propolis https://health.clevelandclinic.org/propolis ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub start in on a honey-centric two-parter with a little background on bees, honey production, and health benefits, in anticipation of more honey loving to come! Also, a look at that "fresh restart" that comes with the new year, seasonal depression, and the cycle of going on a bender.***https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey - Base Articlehttps://www.honey.com/about-honey/how-honey-is-made - 2nd Base Articlehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754825000195#sec5 - Health Claims/Useshttps://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/does-honey-help-prevent-allergies - Allergies Defuncthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamse - The Bearhttps://www.npr.org/2025/12/12/nx-s1-5637405/honey-flavor-reaches-new-depths-with-spotted-lanternfly-droppings - Spotted Lanternyfly https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/honey-cave-painting - Cave Paintings***ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub(s) go south of the border for this week's ancient fermented beverages, with notes of pineapple, corn, brown sugar, and funk. Also, on that big first step of admitting you have a problem, and asking for help.**https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tepachehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tejuinohttps://imbibemagazine.com/tepache-traditional-to-mexico-cautiously-finds-its-way-northward/https://www.foodrepublic.com/1853633/tejuino-vs-tepache-mexican-drinks-explained/https://punchdrink.com/articles/tepache-ready-to-drink-cans-mexico/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuVho-yppBchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpM-e1eGiCU**ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Send us Fan MailSarah and The Shrub get sour and funky with the discovery of yet ANOTHER ancient fermented beverage, and talk flights - in more ways than one.**https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/13457-cranberry-shrub-syruphttps://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2024/03/29/expo-west-banana-water-s-clean-label-features-one-ingredient/https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-make-banana-water-for-plants-5218164 https://www.thespruce.com/compost-tea-8661967 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvasshttps://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/08/14/204859046/america-are-you-tough-enough-to-drink-real-russian-kvashttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OsLi9mHeQshttps://www.gefilteria.com/ **ig: @shrubbish_podemail: [email protected] I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).