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Ingredients
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Soda Base
Orange Syrup
Garnish & Serving
Method
Orange Syrup
Prepare syrup
Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup cold water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar completely dissolves and the mixture comes to a low simmer (do not boil vigorously).
Infuse orange
Add 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest to the saucepan. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 3 minutes to extract oils from the zest.
Add orange juice and finish
Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in 1 cup fresh orange juice, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon citric acid (if using). Taste and adjust: add more lemon or citric acid for additional tartness, or a bit more sugar if you prefer sweeter soda. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
Strain and chill
Strain the cooled syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove zest and any pulp. Transfer the syrup to a clean jar and chill in the refrigerator until cold (about 30 minutes to 1 hour). Syrup can be stored refrigerated for up to 10 days.
Assemble Soda
Prepare glasses
Fill 4 serving glasses with a few ice cubes each (about 1/2 cup per glass). Add an orange slice to each glass if desired.
Mix soda
For each 8-ounce (1 cup) serving, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the chilled orange syrup to the glass. You can adjust syrup amount to taste: 1–3 tablespoons per cup for lighter or stronger flavor. Pour in 1 cup (8 fl oz) carbonated water slowly over the syrup to preserve fizz. Stir gently once with a long spoon to combine.
Garnish and serve
Garnish with an additional orange wheel and a sprig of mint if using. Serve immediately while fizzy.