Fanta Recipe

Prepare oranges

Wash the oranges thoroughly. Zest one orange to yield about 1 tablespoon of zest. Juice the oranges until you have 1 cup of fresh orange juice. Strain the juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove pulp and seeds for a clearer soda.

Make syrup

In a small saucepan combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup filtered water. Add the orange zest. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves (about 3–4 minutes). Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes to infuse the zest, then remove from heat.

Combine and cool

Stir the strained orange juice and 1 tablespoon lemon juice into the warm syrup. If using citric acid, dissolve the 1 tsp now to add bright acidity. Taste and if you want a stronger orange aroma, add 1 tsp orange extract (optional). Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator until cold (about 30–45 minutes). This yields an orange concentrate/syrup.

Mix with carbonated water

Fill a large pitcher with about 4 cups of very cold carbonated water. For a soda-strength ratio similar to commercial orange sodas, add 3/4 cup of the chilled orange syrup to the 4 cups of carbonated water and gently stir once or twice to combine. Adjust sweetness/strength: add more syrup for a sweeter/stronger flavor or more carbonated water to lighten.

Serve

Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the mixed Fanta-style soda over ice. Garnish each glass with an orange slice or wheel. Serve immediately to preserve carbonation.

Storage

Store any leftover orange syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 7–10 days. Store mixed soda in a sealed bottle in the fridge and consume within 24 hours for best fizz. If storing mixed soda, transfer to a bottle and tighten the cap to help retain carbonation.