Bottled Mexican Coke Recipe

Name: Mandina's Restaurants Bottled Mexican Coke Recipe
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1.5 cups granulated sugar; 0.25 cups brown sugar (light or dark, packed); 1 cups water (for simple syrup); 2 tsp caramel color (liquid or homemade caramel); 0.25 tsp phosphoric acid solution (0.5% food-grade) or 1/4 tsp food-grade phosphoric acid diluted; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 0.125 tsp natural coca leaf flavoring (trace or commercially available extract) or 1/8 tsp coca substitute; 0.25 tsp citrus oils (orange oil); 1 tsp lime juice (fresh); 1 tsp orange juice (fresh); 50 mg caffeine (optional, food-grade powdered caffeine); 2 cups cold filtered water (for final dilution); 12 fl oz high-quality club soda or soda water (very cold, highly carbonated); 4 each glass bottles (12 fl oz) with caps, chilled; 1 cup ice (for serving); 4 each lime wedges (optional, for garnish)

Inspired by Mandina's Restaurant

Time30m

Serves4

Make Bottled Mexican Coke Recipe in just 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Syrup Mix

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cups brown sugar (light or dark, packed)

1 cups water (for simple syrup)

2 tsp caramel color (liquid or homemade caramel)

1/4 tsp phosphoric acid solution (0.5% food-grade) or 1/4 tsp food-grade phosphoric acid diluted

1 tsp Watkins vanilla extract

1/8 tsp natural coca leaf flavoring (trace or commercially available extract) or 1/8 tsp coca substitute

1/4 tsp citrus oils (orange oil)

1 tsp lime juice (fresh)

1 tsp orange juice (fresh)

0 oz (50 mg) caffeine (optional, food-grade powdered caffeine)

Carbonated Base & Bottling

2 cups cold filtered water (for final dilution)

12 fl oz high-quality club soda or soda water (very cold, highly carbonated)

4 each glass bottles (12 fl oz) with caps, chilled

1 cup ice (for serving)

4 each lime wedges (optional, for garnish)

Method

Syrup Mix

Make Simple Syrup

Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugars fully dissolve and mixture just reaches a simmer (do not boil vigorously). Remove from heat once sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear and slightly amber, about 4–6 minutes.

Add Flavor Components

Allow the simple syrup to cool for 10 minutes. Stir in caramel color, vanilla extract, coca flavoring (or substitute), orange oil, lime juice and orange juice. Mix thoroughly so oils and extracts incorporate into the syrup. If using powdered caffeine, dissolve it now into a tablespoon of the warm syrup to ensure even distribution, then stir back into the batch.

Acid Balance

Add the phosphoric acid solution (or diluted phosphoric acid measure) to the syrup and stir. Taste cautiously — phosphoric acid is sharp; you want a bright tang reminiscent of cola but not an overpowering sour. Adjust with an additional 1/8 tsp water or 1/8 tsp sugar if needed.

Cool and Rest

Let the completed syrup cool to room temperature. Transfer to a clean glass container with a lid. The concentrated syrup can rest in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Carbonated Base & Bottling

Prepare Bottles

Chill glass bottles and club soda thoroughly. Clean bottles and caps with hot water and a mild sanitizer if reusing bottles.

Dilute Syrup to Make Cola

For this recipe scale (yields about four 12 oz servings): add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the prepared syrup to each 12 fl oz bottle. Alternatively, combine 1/4 cup (60 ml) syrup with 12 fl oz cold club soda for an easy open-pitcher method. Pour cold club soda or highly carbonated soda water into the bottle or glass slowly to preserve carbonation and minimize foaming. Stir gently or cap and invert gently once to mix — avoid vigorous shaking.

Fine-Tune Sweetness & Acidity

Taste one bottle. If you prefer sweeter, add 1/2 teaspoon simple syrup or 1/8 tsp sugar dissolved in a few drops of warm water. If you want brighter acidity, add an additional 1/16 tsp lime juice or a tiny prick of phosphoric acid solution (use sparingly). Mix gently after adjustments.

Serve or Bottle

If serving immediately, fill a glass with ice, pour the bottled Mexican-style cola over ice, garnish with a lime wedge. If bottling for later, fill bottles leaving 1/2 inch headspace, cap tightly and refrigerate. Note: Because carbonation was introduced via club soda rather than force-carbonation, do not expect additional carbonation to develop in the bottle; consume chilled within 3–5 days for best flavor and fizz.