Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
Date: 1-10-95

From: Suzanne Herold

Italian sodas

This is a very easy drink to make and requires no special bar-type equipment. (At least not they way it is made here is Seattle to satisfy the masses.)

For a 12 oz. Glass add one shot of syrup (easily modify this to suit the taste of the individual) fill glass w/ ice and regular club soda and serve.

Adding half-and-half is a nice touch.
Some people then call it a "Creamosa", but there are just as many places that call it an Italian soda with cream.

From: M. L. Grant

I'd put half an inch or an inch of the syrup into a glass and add soda water to it. Much the same way as I'd make a kir (creme-de-cassis and dry, dry, white wine).

From: Janet Wilson

I make them with syrup (I can get black currant, raspberry, and lime at local grocers, and most deli's carry more exotic flavors...blackberry is nice), soda, and CREAM (half and half/coffee cream).

Into a tumbler filled with ice, pour about 1 T. of your syrup.
Add a splosh (about 2 T.) cream.
Top with soda water.
Stir, taste, and add more syrup if not sweet enough.

Enjoy...fabulous in hot weather!

(cream is optional...these are nice without cream too, but then are not strictly Italian Sodas, IMHO!)

From: Stephan Fassmann

I prefer to have it syrup, and soda stirred. Then tilt the glass and pour the cream on the side of the glass onto the top of the soda. The densities are different enough that you can have a separate layer for the cream and soda.

From: Dan Cohen

So-called French sodas. Add the syrup, then the water, then a few cubes of ice. Then add milk/half-half/cream for about the last half inch. Give in enough of a stir to allow the milk to work its way about half way down the glass. (For obvious reasons, this won't work with lemon, lime, or orange syrups...)

From: Viviane Buzzi

Actually, what most Italians do is just put a little syrup into a jug or individual glasses and then top up with mineral water, either gassy or otherwise. Nothing special to it at all. Very refreshing though. Some of the names they are known by are Orzata (almond flavored), Menta (mint) and Lampone (raspberry) although there are a number of other flavors around. Add some ice and you have a very cool drink for summer.

From: Dan Cohen

If you're ambitious, with a little practice, you can learn to get a couple of layers of different colored soda in a single glass -- add half the syrup -- say, lime -- to the bottom of the glass, add the water and ice, then add the other half at the top, and give it a GENTLE stir. The ice will slow down the diffusion of the stuff on top into the stuff on the bottom.

From: Joel Ehrlich

For decades, nay, centuries, people in the United States went to the local drug store, seated themselves at the long counter and had the "soda jerk" prepare a "phosphate" for them.

The soda jerk would take a glass of appropriate size, add 1/4" or so of syrup of the desired flavor and place the glass under the carbonated water (soda) fountain. He would then place a stirring spoon in the glass, push the knob away to obtain a needle jet and add a little carbonated water, stirring rapidly all the while. He would then pull the knob forward to obtain a full, soft flow and fill the glass.

That was a "phosphate", later known as a "soda". Carbonated water and syrup.

Many of those syrups are still available through restaurant supply houses. Many small cafes and restaurants serve ice cream sodas, floats and the like. These are nothing more than those self same sodas described above with the addition of some ice cream and (perhaps) some whipped cream.

Were I in your place, I would seek out a restaurant supply house. Most will be happy to overcharge you for those syrups while, at the same time saving you a fair amount of money and trouble (they'll get more from you than they would from a regular customer but you'll pay far less than you would at a specialty store).

From: Jennifer Hinds

Italian Sodas are served in many cafes here in Minneapolis (US). Part of what makes them fun is the many, many flavors (Orange, Hazelnut, Vanilla, Blueberry, Lime, Almond, Mint, Raspberry, etc....). I often order mixtures of flavors (such as orange and hazelnut). The cafes also offer "French sodas" which are sparkling water, syrup, a little milk, and often some ice. (I've no idea if these are actually made in France). Also a lot of people order the syrups as additions to coffee or hot chocolate. I love hot chocolate with a little orange syrup in it. I would see if any cafes in your area sell Italian sodas or French sodas. Although I've never seen a cafe that advertises it, many of them can be convinced to sell you a bottle or two of their syrups. Torrani is one popular brand here but I'm sure there are others.