Fanta Recipe

Fanta-style Orange Soda

1. 1

   Make simple orange syrup

   Combine the granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Add the orange zest. Heat over medium, stirring constantly, just until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is slightly thickened (about 2–3 minutes). Do not boil vigorously. Remove from heat and let cool 2–3 minutes.

2. 2

   Stir in the fresh orange juice, lemon juice, and (if using) citric acid and extract into the warm syrup until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity: add up to 1 tablespoon more sugar dissolved into a little warm water if you prefer sweeter, or an extra 1/4 teaspoon citric acid or 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice for more tang. Let the syrup cool to room temperature (about 10–15 minutes) or chill briefly in the refrigerator.

3. 3

   Assemble soda

   Fill four serving glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup ice per glass). Divide the cooled orange syrup evenly among the glasses (about 3 tablespoons per glass).

4. 4

   Top each glass gently with carbonated water (about 1 cup per glass). Pour slowly over the back of a spoon or down the glass side to preserve bubbles and minimize foaming. Stir once gently with a spoon to combine — avoid vigorous stirring that will flatten carbonation.

5. 5

   Taste a glass and adjust: if it's too strong, add a splash more carbonated water; if too weak, add another 1/2–1 tablespoon of the syrup. Garnish each glass with an orange slice if desired and serve immediately for best fizz.

6. 6

   Notes

   For a closer commercial profile, you can substitute part of the fresh orange juice with a high-quality concentrated orange juice (reconstituted) and add the small amount of citric acid and a drop of natural orange oil or extract. Keep refrigerated and consume within 24 hours for best flavor and carbonation (syrup can be stored separately for up to 3 days).