Pepper Soda

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 ml) water
• 6 prunes
• 6 cubes of ginger that are ¼ in (0.67 cm) in width
• 20 pitted frozen cherries
• 1 lemon, zested
• 1 orange, zested
• 8 mint leaves
• 1 tsp (5 ml) anise seed or 2 star anise pods
• 1 tsp (5 ml) allspice
• 1 tsp (5 ml) cloves
• 1 tsp (5 ml) coriander seed
• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
• ½ cup (120 ml) white sugar
• 10 mg caffeine (optional)
• Carbonated water, as needed

Method

1. Combine the water, prunes, ginger, cherries, zest, mint, anise, allspice, cloves, coriander, vanilla, and sugar in a saucepan.
2. Boil the mixture until it becomes a thick syrup.
3. Strain the syrup, discarding the solids, and stir in the caffeine. You should have about 5 oz (150 ml) syrup.
4. To make the finished soda, mix 1 volume of syrup with 5 volumes of sparkling water.