Mt. Nittany (until a better name arrives) Cola

Based on this recipe

No. 1

Syrup

• 500 mL water
• zest of 2 oranges
• zest of 2 limes
• zest of 1 lemon
• pith from half a lime
• 2 pinch ground cinnamon
• 2 pinch ground nutmeg
• 2 point star anise, crushed
• 1/2 t dried lavender flowers
• 10 g ginger
• 2 cardamom pods, cracked
• 6 black pepper corns
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1/4 t citric acid

Procedure

1. Bring water to boil. Reduce to simmer
2. Add other ingredients and cook, covered, 30 minutes
3. Strain out solids (with metal sieve) and stir in 440g sugar (do this while syrup is still hot).
4. Cool and strain through a tea towel.

Cola

Mix syrup with charged water (club soda) in a 1:4 ratio.

Thoughts

• Too much sugar. Even reducing from the source recipe by 10g, the flavor of the sugar dominates. Using cane sugar, instead of a processed, probably contributed to this. Could reduce to maybe 350g or even less in the future.
• Needed more citric acid. Added another 1/8t or so and this seemed to restore some of the cola bite associated with more popular brands.
• Possibly too much vanilla extract, may reduce in the future.
• No discernible pepper flavor. Either increase or drop.
• Noted cardamom presence that was pleasant but a little distracting.
• Straining was problematic. Cooling may have intensified cinnamon and nutmeg flavors:
  • Add sugar with solids
  • Strain while hot through tea towel
• Some caramel color might make this seem more cola-like. Need to investigate sources.