Can you make homemade pineapple soda?

Can you make pineapple soda at home?

Yes, and you do not need a special machine. Sparkling water from a soda maker or a bottle of plain seltzer works. The easiest method is a pineapple syrup, which you mix with fizzy water as you drink.

Pineapple syrup method

One recipe from a soda-maker company uses this for one serving of syrup: 50 g sugar, about 67 g water and about 2.5 oz pineapple.

1. Put the pineapple, sugar and water in a small pot, bring to a boil and simmer for up to 15 minutes. The pineapple should look loose in texture and paler.
2. Let it cool, then strain through a colander or cheesecloth.
3. Pour 2 to 3 oz of syrup over ice in a glass.
4. Top with about 6 oz sparkling water and garnish with a pineapple wedge.

That recipe says the syrup keeps in a sealed container in the fridge for up to one month. Treat that as a guide and discard syrup that smells or tastes off. Scale the batch up if you want several glasses.

Quick version with juice

Fill a glass about two thirds with pineapple juice and top with sparkling water. It is less intense and sweeter, depending on the juice, and takes a minute. Store-bought juice already contains sugar, so you may not need to add any.

How do you adjust the taste?

• More syrup for a sweeter, stronger soda; less for a lighter one.
• A squeeze of lemon or lime sharpens it.
• The recipe offers a spicy twist with a little jalapeño simmered in the syrup.

Can you use the leftovers?

Yes. The recipe suggests steeping leftover pineapple peels and cores in a pitcher of water in the fridge for a few hours to make a lightly flavored water.

Is homemade soda healthier?

It is sweetened with sugar, so do not assume it is a health drink. You control how much sugar goes in, which is the main benefit. Keep it as an occasional treat, and avoid leaving syrup unrefrigerated.