Fanta Orange Recipe

Prepare zest and juice

Wash oranges thoroughly. Finely grate the orange zest from one orange (about 1 tsp). Cut oranges and juice them until you have 1 cup of fresh orange juice. Strain juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove pulp and seeds if you prefer a clear soda.

Make simple orange syrup

In a small saucepan combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and the mixture just comes to a simmer. Add the orange zest and simmer gently for 1 minute to bloom the oils. Remove from heat.

Combine and finish syrup

Stir the strained orange juice into the warm sugar mixture. Add 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice to brighten flavor and 1 teaspoon light corn syrup (optional) to improve mouthfeel and keep the syrup from crystallizing. If you want a more vivid color, add a drop of orange food coloring and mix. Taste and adjust sweetness: if you want sweeter, add up to 1 more tablespoon sugar while the mixture is warm and stir until dissolved. Let syrup cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator until cold (about 15–20 minutes).

Chill all components: make sure the carbonated water and the orange syrup are cold. Fill a large pitcher or four 12-oz (approx. 350 ml) glasses with ice if desired.

Measure syrup to soda ratio: For a balanced, bright orange soda, use about 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the orange syrup per 4 cups (960 ml) carbonated water. This yields a flavor similar to commercial orange soda without being overly sweet. (Adjust to taste: more syrup for sweeter/stronger orange, less for lighter.)

Mix gently: In the pitcher or each glass, pour the cold carbonated water over ice, then slowly add the measured orange syrup. Stir gently once or twice with a long spoon to combine — avoid vigorous stirring so you don't lose carbonation.

Serve: Pour into chilled glasses if assembled in a pitcher. Garnish each glass with an orange wheel or wedge on the rim. Serve immediately while fizzy.