The Artisan Soda Workshop Book Review

I have always had a bit of a weakness for soda.  I have tried to curb my bad habit, seeing as it is not the healthiest beverage to be drinking on a daily basis.  I have switched to natural soda as much as possible but have you ever seen the price for a 6 pack of natural soda?  WOW!  Not cheap!  I have a Soda Stream, which I love but can’t afford to stock up on 20 different flavors of syrup.  So, along comes a book for making natural soda at home and I am intrigued!  Read on for more information about how you can make your own natural soda and my review of The Artisan Soda Workshop: 75 Homemade Recipes from Fountain Classics to Rhubarb Basil, Sea Salt Lime, Cold-Brew Coffee and Much Much More.

The Artisan Soda Workshop

Title:  The Artisan Soda Workshop

Subtitle:  75 Homemade Recipes from Fountain Classics to Rhubarb Basil, Sea Salt Lime, Cold-Brew Coffee and Much Much More

Author:  Andrea Lynn

ISBN:  978-1612430676

Publisher:  Ulysses Press; Original edition (July 31, 2012)

Format/Length:  paperback 144 pages

My Rating: 5

From the Publisher:

People love soda. But why settle for the corn syrup-sweetened, artificially flavored, mass-produced brands available in stores when one can easily create customized, organic, fabulously fizzy creations that are as fun to make as they are delectable to drink? With over 25 beautiful color photos, The Artisan Soda Workshop guides readers into a new culinary world with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions on how to make the perfect glass of pop. The palate-pleasing, thirst-quenching flavors mix a wide range of exotic ingredients including fruits, herbs, and spices — many not traditionally used in soda. Thanks to the home-brewing process described in this book, it’s simple to adjust the amount of sugar and intensity of flavor to create beverages that delight the maker, family members, and party guests alike. All one needs to get started is this book and a home carbonator, which are now inexpensive and widely available. Leaving nothing out, The Artisan Soda Workshop even contains tastier and healthier versions of classic fountain drinks like cola, root beer, and ginger ale.

About the Author:

Obsessed about food from an early age, Andrea Lynn has always been happiest when in the kitchen dabbling with ingredients, making a career in food always in the cards. As a freelance writer and recipe developer, Andrea Lynn’s articles and developed recipes have appeared in print and online for numerous publications. After a stint working at a New York Times three-star restaurant, she transitioned into cooking as a personal chef. She has worked as Senior Editor for Chile Pepper magazine and edited recipes for Art Culinaire. Andrea Lynn has a degree in English-creative writing from Agnes Scott College, in addition to a culinary degree from the Institute of Culinary Education.

My Review:

This is a cute little book that is jam packed full of good recipes.  The author starts out with a brief introduction that includes information about why you would want to make your own soda.  She really stresses the natural ingredients in homemade soda and the fact that you can control just how much sugar you want to put in it.  She discusses a few of the basic tools you will need for making the syrups (potato masher, strainer, etc).  She recommends a Soda Stream unit for making the sodas but points out that you can use store bought seltzer water.  I have a soda stream and can tell you it is incredibly easy to use and a great way to make cheap, carbonated water.  You don’t NEED one for these recipes but it makes them alot easier to make and more convenient.

I love that the recipes use all sorts of different sweeteners including agave, honey, raw cane syrup, maple syrup or regular sugar.  They each have their own characteristics when it comes to flavor so your resulting syrups will also carry a touch of flavor from the sweeteners.  The author starts out with ‘basic’ soda flavors like cola, lemon-lime, etc but quickly moves into unique pairings like kumquat with rosemary or blackberry lavender.  When you are making your own sodas, the possibilities are truly endless when it comes to flavors!

Along with traditional syrups there are also things like aqua frescas, shrubs, and even some concentrates for adding to alcoholic drinks like the Hot Buttered Bourbon.  You can use the syrups for icecream floats, cocktails, or many other drinks.  Personally, I think some of them would go great just drizzled over a bowl of oatmeal!

There are several very attractive photos scattered throughout the book and the recipes are very easy to follow.  If you are interested in switching to a more natural diet but don’t see yourself giving up soda, I think you will really appreciate this book!

Disclaimer:  In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received one copy of this book  in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Some of the links in this post may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.