Talk about a blast from the past. We are making it a mission to bring our childhood dreams of grape soda (sans the artificial coloring and chemicals) back into our lives. Remember when life seemed so…simple? Walking home from school, running across the blacktops to the neighbor’s house barefoot, the smell of hot dogs grilling and the crisp, sweet, tangy spark hitting your tongue of good old-fashioned grape soda. We would say to cue the nostalgia, but instead, we are taking action in recreating this drink and all the memories that come with it.
Grab your pen and paper and jot down what you’ll need:
- 1lb fresh purple grapes
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ juiced lemon
- Fresh lemon zest
- Sparkling water
- Cheesecloth
– Start by putting your washed grapes, water, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest into your favorite big pot. Allow the pot to simmer for 25 minutes until the grapes are soft and mushy. Help the process by smashing the grapes as they simmer away.
– Once you have this thick, hot mixture – it’s time to puree! Put all contents of the pot into a food processor – we recommend this one. Allow the mixture to blend thoroughly, so the grapes are fully pureed.
Use a clean, large bowl and cover it with cheesecloth, taping it down on the sides. Gently pour the puree through the cheesecloth and use a spatula to lightly press down and get as much syrup drained as possible without any pulp. Discard cheesecloth and unwanted contents.
You now have your grape syrup! Time to let it cool down completely in order to get the best results.
To complete your homemade simple grape soda, grab your go-to glass and fill it with ice. Pour one-to-one equal halves both grape syrup and sparkling water. Garnish by slicing a few grapes lengthwise and pop them on top and finish off with a dusting of lemon zest.
Pop. Sizzle. Bliss.
