Name: Zeke's Kitchen & Bars HAITIAN COLA Recipe
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Haitian
Ingredients: 1 cups brown sugar; 0.5 cups white granulated sugar; 1 cups water; 1 tbs dark molasses; 2 oz fresh ginger, peeled and sliced; 2 pieces star anise; 10 pieces whole allspice (pimento) berries; 6 pieces whole cloves; 1 pieces cinnamon stick; 1 tbs fresh lime zest (from about 2 limes); 1 tsp fresh orange zest (from 1 orange); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 0.5 tsp citric acid (or fresh lime juice); 6 cups cold sparkling water or club soda; 2 cups ice; 4 pieces fresh lime wedges

Method

Syrup Base

Make the caramelized sugar base

Combine brown sugar, white sugar, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugars dissolve, then bring to a gentle simmer. Add the molasses and continue to simmer gently for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened into a syrup. Do not boil vigorously — you want a glossy syrup, not hard caramel.

Spice & Flavor Blend

Infuse the syrup

Add the sliced ginger, star anise, allspice berries, cloves, and the cinnamon stick to the simmering syrup. Reduce heat to low so the syrup barely simmers and let the spices steep for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep the pan covered loosely to retain aromatic steam.

Add citrus, vanilla, and acid

After 15 minutes, remove the pan from heat. Stir in the lime zest, orange zest, vanilla extract, and citric acid (or fresh lime juice). Cover and let the mixture steep and cool to room temperature for another 30–45 minutes to deepen the flavors.

Strain and finish syrup

Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean heatproof container, pressing on solids to extract flavor. Discard solids. Taste the syrup and adjust: add up to 1 tsp more citric acid or 1–2 tsp lime juice if you want brighter acidity, or a pinch more salt if it tastes flat. Chill the syrup in the refrigerator until cold (about 1–2 hours) or use at room temperature if making drinks immediately over ice.

Finishing & Serving

Assemble the Haitian Cola

Fill 4 tall glasses with about 1/2 cup ice each. For each serving, add 2 tablespoons of the prepared cola syrup to a glass. Top with 1.5 cups (12 fl oz) cold sparkling water, stirring gently to combine. Taste and adjust: add an additional 1–2 teaspoons syrup if you prefer it sweeter/stronger. Garnish each glass with a lime wedge.

Batch method (pitcher)

To serve multiple people, combine 1 cup chilled cola syrup with 6 cups cold sparkling water in a large pitcher and stir gently. Keep chilled and pour over ice into glasses, adjusting syrup-to-sparkling ratio to taste.

Storage

Store unused syrup in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Shake before using, as natural sediment from spices may settle.

Haitian Cola Recipe