Jun 09 2026
Restaurants›Prep & Pastry›Soda Recipe

Soda Recipe

Inspired by Prep & Pastry
Time45m
Serves6

Make Soda Recipe in just 45m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Syrup

To serve

Method

Syrup

  1. 1

    Combine sugar and water

    In a small saucepan combine 1.5 cups granulated sugar and 1.5 cups water. Stir briefly to distribute the sugar before heating.

  2. 2

    Heat to dissolve

    Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved and the liquid is clear (about 3–5 minutes). Do not let it boil vigorously; a gentle simmer is fine but avoid heavy boiling that reduces volume.

  3. 3

    Add flavorings and steep

    Remove the pan from heat. Add the zest of 1 lemon, 0.5 cups fresh lemon juice, 0.25 cups fresh lime juice, 4 fresh mint sprigs (bruise the stems slightly with the back of a spoon to release oils), 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 0.125 tsp kosher salt. Stir to combine, then cover and allow to steep for 15–20 minutes so the citrus, mint, and vanilla infuse the syrup.

  4. 4

    Strain and cool

    After steeping, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a heatproof container to remove zest and mint. Press gently on solids to extract flavor but avoid forcing bits through. Let the syrup cool to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes). If you need it chilled faster, place the container in an ice bath and stir occasionally until cool.

  5. 5

    Refrigerate

    Once cooled, cover and refrigerate the syrup until fully cold. The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Assembly

  1. 6

    Prepare glass

    Fill each serving glass with 2 ice cubes per 4 oz (use roughly 2–3 ice cubes for an 8 oz glass). For 6 servings use about 12 ice cubes total. Add 1 lemon slice to each glass if desired.

  2. 7

    Measure syrup-to-soda ratio

    For each 8 oz (1 cup) of club soda start with 2 tablespoons of syrup for a lightly sweet soda, or 3 tablespoons for a medium sweetness. This syrup is a 1:1 sugar syrup with lemon-lime and mint flavors, so adjust to taste.

  3. 8

    Mix soda

    Pour the measured syrup into the prepared glass, then slowly top with 1 cup (8 oz) chilled club soda to preserve carbonation. Stir gently once with a long spoon to combine — avoid vigorous stirring to keep bubbles. Repeat for remaining servings (using in total about 6 cups club soda and the prepared syrup).

  4. 9

    Garnish and serve

    Garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a fresh mint leaf if desired. Taste a glass and adjust additional syrup if you want it sweeter. Serve immediately while fizzy.

  5. 10

    Storage note

    Unmixed syrup keeps refrigerated up to 2 weeks. Do not pre-mix syrup with club soda for storage — mix just before serving to retain carbonation.

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