House Cola Recipe

Make Simple Syrup

Combine the 2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugars fully dissolve. Do not boil rapidly; reduce heat to low and simmer 3–4 minutes to slightly thicken. Remove from heat.

Steep Spices and Citrus

While still warm, add the orange zest, dried orange peel, cinnamon, whole cloves, star anise, coriander seeds, sliced ginger, split vanilla bean (or vanilla extract), and freshly grated nutmeg to the warm syrup. Cover and let steep for 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how intense you want the spice and citrus character.

Add Tea and Citrus Juices

Brew 1 cup very strong tea (use the tea bag in 1 cup just off-boil water for 3–4 minutes) and strain. After the syrup has steeped, pour the brewed tea through a fine-mesh sieve into the syrup to capture solids. Add 2 tablespoons lime juice and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to the mixture and stir to combine.

Strain and Cool

Strain the entire syrup concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container to remove all solids. Press on solids gently to extract flavor, then discard solids. Let the concentrated syrup cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator until cold (about 1–2 hours).

Adjust Acidity

When ready to serve, taste 1 ounce (30 ml) of chilled syrup diluted with 4 ounces (120 ml) still water. Add up to 1/4 teaspoon phosphoric acid solution or 1/4 teaspoon dissolved citric acid to achieve the bright, sharp tang of cola. Stir and re-taste; adjust in small increments if needed.

Mix with Sparkling Water

For each serving (about 12 fl oz / 350 ml), combine 2 ounces (60 ml) chilled cola syrup with 10 ounces (300 ml) very cold sparkling water in a tall glass filled with ice. Gently stir once to combine, preserving the carbonation.

Garnish with a lime wheel and/or orange twist if desired. Serve immediately. Store remaining syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.