Homemade Root Beer with the SodaStream

01/15/2013

Homemade Root Beer with the SodaStream

Let's start by saying that making soda freaks me out a little bit. It's a fermentation process that with beer and wine doesn't bother me but making soda that the little one is going to drink, it's a different story. We have tried homemade root beer with little success, I think the yeast was dead to begin with and it just lead to a sad day when our soda was flat. BUT then I got:

the Sodastream for Christmas. The goal was knock out the 2 liters of bought soda while creating great unqiue flavors. This helps control the artifical flavors, colors and amount of sugar intake.

Here is the Rootbeer Recipe we tried.

1oz Sassafras Root

1 oz Sarsaprilla Root

1/2 oz Licorice Root

1/2 oz Dandelion Root

1/2 oz Burdock Root

1/2 oz Juniper Berries

2 quarts water

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

Bring water to a boiling, then turn down to simmer and let herbs/roots steep for 1 hour. Add Brown Sugar and stir to dissolve. Strain the liquid into a container and let cool completely.

Using the SodaStream, carbonate the water and use 1 1/2 cup to 2 cups of root beer mix.

The herb mix can be used again, so add another 2 quarts of water and repeat.

This makes about 4 liters of soda for us, because my daughter likes a stronger taste, I could have made more because I didn't need it as flavorful.