How To Make Homemade Soda

Come summer and you will find yourself constantly reaching out for the soda bottle to help cool your body down. Soda or any carbonated drink is the most preferred drink for many people. It is amazing how the simple process of carbonation can change the entire ‘feel’ of the water. The fizz in the soda lends it a certain sharpness that makes it a little more complex drink than water, but not as hard as alcohol. Indeed soda, in any of its commercial forms, is the favorite drink among the urban youths. Plain soda water is pretty much similar to the water of the mineral springs as it does not have any artificial sweeteners or other flavors. That is why soda is also known as ‘seltzer water’ to distinguish it from the sweetened commercial soda. Soda water was invented by Joseph Priestley in the year 1767. What he did was simple. At a local brewery, he simply suspended a bowl of water over a beer vat. Thus, he infused the water with carbon dioxide. Nowadays, you can make your own soda safely at home without going to a brewery. It is also the best way to stay away from commercial sodas, as the homemade sodas are as good as any market colas. Read below to learn how to make homemade soda.

Homemade Soda Recipes

Method One

Things Required

Empty screw-top bottle (2-liter)
2 ¼ cup of sugar
One gallon jug-empty and clean
Yeast
Soda flavoring of choice
Funnel
Measuring spoons and cup

Procedure

Heat a cup of water to about 110 degrees F. In it dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of yeast and stir for about 5 minutes.
Now, take the gallon jug and add 2 ¼ cups of white sugar to it.
In the jug, add one tablespoon of any flavoring extract. Then pour the dissolved yeast into the jug.
Fill the jug with water leaving a little room for the contents to shake. Then screw the lid tightly.
Then shake the jug gently so that the sugar dissolves in the water.
Using a funnel pour the contents of the jug into two 2-liter bottles.
Screw the cap tightly and store it in a cool place. The bottles should be kept undisturbed for four to six days.
To check the carbonation you can gently squeeze the bottle. If the bottle is too firm then there is too much carbonation. So, open the cap to let the excess carbonation out.
After six days, you can keep the soda for refrigeration.

Method Two

Materials Required

Mesh strainer
Quart mason jar
Glass bottles
Funnel

Ingredients

1-2 tablespoons water kefir grains
Filtered water
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon molasses
Piece of an egg shell (rinsed)

Procedure

Fill three-fourth of the Mason jar with filtered water.
Now, add the sugar, molasses, and eggshell into the jar and then put the lid on.
Gently shake the jar until the sugar dissolves.
Then add the kefir grains and then leave it in a dark place for at least three days. Remember that the soda ferments faster in warm temperature. So, the number of days that you will have to keep the soda will depend upon the temperature of the room.
After three days, check the soda. If it is bubbly and tastes mildly sweet then the soda is ready.
When the soda is ready, pour it into another mason jar through a strainer. Add fruit flavoring or ¼ cup of frozen or fresh fruit. You can use any type of flavoring or fresh fruit but the best are undoubtedly lemon, grapes, cherries, ginger, or mint. You can also add a combination of various fruits. If using lemon, then add a couple of tablespoon more sugar.
Keep the soda jar undisturbed for four days more for it to get fizzy and taste right.
After four days, you can transfer the soda from the mason jar, to smaller bottles using a funnel. Store it in a fridge.

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