A long list of Ayurvedic spices and celestial goodness? Yup. It’s home-made cola, inspired by Dublin’s best barista and mixologist. (Hi Alex).
Whatever you’re into … Jesus, Allah, ACDC or Dumbledore, you can’t deny the reverie here. It’s all-powerful and pervading.
Home-made Cola
Makes 500ml cola cordial
5 medium unwaxed oranges
4 small unwaxed lemons (3 big ones)
600ml water
270g-300g light muscovado sugar
1 large cinnamon stick
6 cloves
1 vanilla stick
½ teaspoon ground All Spice
2 bay leaves (optional)
Sparkling water, to top
Prepare your cordial by juicing and zesting the oranges and lemons. Bring to a gurgling boil, and add the water, sugar, cinnamon stick and cloves. Now split the vanilla pod down the centre. Using a sharp knife, scrape out the sticky black seeds (which looks like black sap). Add this, and the empty vanilla pod, to your bubbling pot. Sprinkle in the ground all-spice – don’t panic if you can’t find this because you can swap it out for 2 bay leaves, a little ground coriander seed and ground nutmeg.
Boil for 45 minutes, or until dark and viscous.
Strain into an airtight sterilised bottle. Store in the fridge for up to 8 weeks.
To serve as cola, use ¼ cordial to ¾ sparking water in each glass and add some ice to the party. If it’s too sweet, add as much fizz as you fancy.
Groovy re-usable straw …
To wash, just rinse or stick it in the dishwasher! Made by my friend Jeannie in California (Jeannie is short for Genius, I think). Metal ones tend to freeze the bejaysus out of my lips.