When people think of French drinks, wine, cider or sparkling lemonade often come to mind. Yet there’s another French favourite that deserves a place in your fridge: Verjus.
Made by pressing unripe grapes before they fully ripen, verjus (or verjuice) has been enjoyed in France for centuries. It is well known in cooking, where chefs use it to bring gentle acidity to sauces, dressings and marinades. But there’s another way to enjoy it that many people haven’t discovered yet.
A Different Kind of Refreshment
If you’ve never tasted verjus before, imagine something bright and refreshing with the gentle tang of citrus, but without the sharp bite of lemon.
The flavour is clean, crisp and lightly fruity, making it wonderfully refreshing on a warm day. Unlike many soft drinks, Verjus isn’t overly sweet, allowing the delicate grape flavours to shine through.
It’s one of those drinks that surprises people after the first sip.
How to Drink Verjus
The easiest way to enjoy verjus is simply mixed with water.
- Mix 1 part verjus with 3 or 4 parts chilled still water.
- Or top it with sparkling water or soda water for a light, bubbly drink.
- Serve over plenty of ice with a slice of lemon, lime or cucumber.
- Add fresh mint, basil or rosemary for extra freshness.
The result is an elegant alcohol-free drink that’s perfect for summer lunches, garden parties or simply staying refreshed throughout the day.
A Wonderful Base for Cocktails
Verjus also makes an excellent cocktail ingredient.
Its gentle acidity brings brightness without overpowering the other flavours, making it an alternative to lemon juice in many recipes.
Try mixing verjus with:
- Sparkling water and fresh mint.
- Elderflower cordial and soda.
- Tonic water with cucumber.
- Gin or vodka for a light summer cocktail.
- Prosecco, crémant or sparkling wine for a refreshing spritz.
Whether you’re making cocktails or mocktails, verjus adds freshness while letting the other ingredients shine.
More Than Just a Cooking Ingredient
While verjus is excellent in vinaigrettes (try our verjus vinaigrette dressing recipe), sauces and seafood dishes, it’s worth keeping a bottle in the fridge simply as a refreshing drink.
Once chilled, it’s ready whenever you fancy something crisp, light and a little different from fruit juice or fizzy drinks.
If you’ve never tried drinking verjus before, this could become your new favourite summer refreshment.
FAQs
What is Verjus?
Verjus is the juice of unripe green grapes harvested before they fully ripen. It has a fresh, fruity flavour with gentle acidity, making it popular in both cooking and drinks. Unlike vinegar, it is not fermented, so its taste is softer and less sharp.
Why is it called Verjus?
The name verjus comes from the French words “vert jus”, meaning “green juice”. It refers to the juice pressed from green, unripe grapes, a technique used in European cooking since the Middle Ages.
Why is Verjus a good alternative to lemon?
Verjus provides freshness and acidity without the intense sharpness of lemon juice. Its delicate grape flavour complements ingredients rather than overpowering them, making it ideal for dressings, sauces, seafood, cocktails and refreshing drinks mixed with still or sparkling water.
A Fun Fact about Verjus
Before lemons became widely available in Northern Europe, verjus was one of the main ingredients used to add acidity to food. Medieval cooks regularly used it in sauces, soups and meat dishes, making it a staple of European kitchens centuries before citrus fruits became common.
Discover French Verjus at BonneBouffe
Whether you enjoy it mixed with sparkling water, in a refreshing cocktail or in your favourite recipes, discover our French Verjus and experience this versatile ingredient at home.