Orange Soda III

Orange soda is a sweetened, carbonated beverage flavored with orange. This recipe is modified from one by Vintage American Cocktails & Sodas.

Ingredients

  • 6 drops orange oil
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) 150+ proof unflavored spirit OR a mixture of ½ tsp (2.5 mL) gum arabic with ½ tsp (2.5 mL) water
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) citric acid
  • 4 tsp (20 mL) water
  • ½ cup (120 mL) carrot powder OR a mixture of 24 drops of red food coloring and 24 drops of yellow food coloring
  • 6⅔ oz (200 mL) water
  • 1½ cups (360 mL) white sugar
Orange Soda III

Photo: Baby Keem LLC / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Procedure

  1. Combine the spirit or gum arabic water and oils together in a small cup, mixing well. Set aside.
  2. Transfer this mixture into a larger container.
  3. Put the carrot powder or coloring, citric acid, water, and white sugar into the container. Stir well.
  4. To make the finished soda, combine 1 volume of syrup with 5 volumes of carbonated water.

Notes, tips, and variations

  • Use a clean eye dropper to measure drops. Do not use a pipette, an eye dropper previously used for dispensing medication, or a spoon to measure drops.
  • Use water from a carbonating machine or a brand of pure carbonated water such as Polar Original Sparkling Water, Great Value Seltzer Water, or Signature Select Seltzer Water. Do not use a brand of mineral water such as Perrier, San Pellegrino, or Mineragua because the added minerals will ruin the taste. Avoid flavored sparkling water such as La Croix or Spindrift because the preexisting fruit flavors will ruin the drink.
  • You can make a Shirley Temple by mixing five crushed frozen cherries with the zest and sugar or by adding a volume of grenadine syrup for every volume of lemon-lime syrup when making the finished soda.