As I shared in my vlog, The Artisan Soda Workshop is going to be my last cookbook review. I said yes to it because I thought recipe testing from a cookbook of drinks would not be as daunting as making pies or casseroles.
And I was curious. Homemade Fresca? The idea of making a healthy but tasty version of Fresca without any artificial sweeteners appealed to me so much, I had to try it.
The Recipe
Grate the zest of one grapefruit.
Juice the grapefruit. I just used a fork to squeeze into the fruit to get the juice out.
Stir in 2 tbsp of agave syrup.
Put in a mason jar and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
Run syrup through fine mesh sieve to remove zest.
To make soda, stir 2 tbsp grapefruit syrup into a 10 oz glass of seltzer.
I did hit a snag here. I tried to make my own carbonated water with my U-Fizz but first time was not a charm.
Foodie Results
Yes, it was completely flat but how was the flavour? Did it taste like Fresca in any way?
Absolutely not! OMG, it was so bitter! It just tasted like diluted grapefruit juice. I thought the recipe seemed to simple to be true. Even with the carbonated water, it would not have helped (since it is pretty much flavourless). Adding bubbles to grapefruit juice is not Fresca. Very disappointing.
Because I had technical issues with the seltzer I am not going to give this recipe a rating but wow, Reg would not even drink this! I had to hide it in a smoothie so it did not go to waste. I hope this is not a reflection as to what is to come because so far, I am not impressed.
My hubby loves Fresca, although I don’t care for it much as I even find the canned stuff kind of bitter. Curious to see what else you brew up from the book.
True Confession time! When I was a first-year university student living in residence, I drank Fresca because it was the bottom canned drink in the pop machine in our building. That meant it was the only one within reach when I stuck my hand up the chute and so it was easy to steal it. Hey, I was a penniless student! Sort of a university Jean Valjean really. The worst part of it was that I hated Fresca, but thieves can’t be choosy, eh?
Of course, all pop machines now have those theft-prevention shields so this could not be done today. Bastards.
Interesting! I don’t mind the canned stuff Ava but grapefruit can be bitter, it’s true.
Debra, you are such a rebel, I love it! Hope I brought back fond nostalgic non-Javert memories. Oh you don’t like Fresca! Oh that part sucks.
Yes, bastards. All of them.