Soda, Recommendations, Small Batch, Small Production, Unique, Interesting, Different, Flavors, Packaging, Ithaca Beer Company, Root Beer, Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray, Tonic, Maltin Polar, Galvannina Blood Orange Soda, Cheerwine, Jones Soda Co., Fentimans Curiosity Cola, Hard To Find, Rare Sodas, Italian, Great Britain, England, United Kingdom, Ithaca, New York, Venezuela, South America, North Carolina
Sodas That Pop!
While Coke and Pepsi compete for mass-market world domination, we think there are much more interesting sodas worth their liquid assets.
Travel the world, one bubble at a time, with these 7 unique soft drinks recommended by culinary insiders.
June 24, 2011
Ithaca Beer Company Root Beer
Made by a craft brewery in New York’s Finger Lakes.
Recommended by: Chef Anton Nocito (P&H Soda and Syrup Inc.)
Why: Made with natural Panama bark extract, hops, star anise, juniper berries and vanilla bean.
Buy: From these distributors and Soda Finder
Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray
First made in 1869 and was originally popular in New York delicatessens.
Recommended by: Mixologist Chris McMillian (Bar UnCommon, New Orleans)
Why: “The celery shares many of the same kinds of qualities as cucumber and has a peppery nature, which makes it suitable for a Bloody Mary.”
Buy: Amazon.com
MALTIN POLAR
Empresas Polar began production in 1941 in Anzoátegui, Venezuela.
Recommended by: Restaurateur Luis Quintero (El Cocotero, NYC)
Why: “It’s like the Venezuelan Dr. Pepper, more sweet and less tang.
Buy: The Latin Products
Galvanina Blood Orange
Started as an Italian mineral water company in 1901. For the soda, they hand-harvest blood oranges from small organic farms in Sicily.
Recommended By: Fentimans Botanically Brewed Beverages
Why: “An excellent beverage hailing from Italy. It has a unique, European quality about it.”
Buy: Available online and occasionally at Costco.
Fentimans Curiosity Cola
Brewed fermenting herbs and milled roots over seven days, the same ways since 1905.
Recommended by: Baker Mari Tuttle (Mari’s Brownies)
Why: “It's naturally carbonated because it's brewed, like a beer. It doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup, so it’s light, not cloying. In texture, it's more like a Mexican Coca Cola, and because of the ginger and herbs they put in it, it's refreshing!”
Buy: Amazon.com or Whole Foods.
cheerwine
Created in 1917 in North Carolina by a general store owner and now has a huge cult following.
Recommended by: Chef Howie Kleinberg (Bulldog BBQ, Miami)
Why: “A cherry soda sold in the South. It’s like a Dr. Brown’s on steroids.”
Buy: Amazon.com or at these locations.
Jones Soda Co.
Seattle-based company that uses pure sugar cane instead of high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener.
Recommended By: Fentimans Botanically Brewed Beverages
Why: “The use of fan created images on their packaging is a fun concept.”
Buy: From these retailers.
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