OpenCola
Photo: Unukorno, CC BY-SA 3.0
OpenCola is a cola whose formula was published for anyone to use, change and share under the GNU General Public License. It began as a promotional stunt to explain open source software, then sold some 150,000 cans. The flavor comes from a blend of citrus, cassia, nutmeg, coriander, neroli and lavender oils, held in suspension with gum arabic. You make a syrup, then dilute it with fizzy water.
Instructions
Combine all the flavoring oils in a cup. Wear gloves while handling them, and use only food-grade oils.
Stir in the gum arabic with a spoon, then add the 3 mL of water and mix well. A mixer or blender running for 4 to 5 minutes works for this step. The gum arabic is what holds the oil and water together.
Keep this flavoring mixture in a sealed glass jar, in the refrigerator or at room temperature. It will separate as it sits, so mix it again before using.
In a one gallon container, combine 5 ml of the flavoring formula with the phosphoric or citric acid. Handle phosphoric acid with gloved hands and great care, since it is corrosive.
Mix in the 9½ cups of water, then the sugar. Stir until the sugar is incorporated.
If you want caffeine, add it while stirring and make sure it dissolves completely. Then add the caramel color and mix thoroughly to make the syrup.
To serve, mix 1 part syrup with 5 parts carbonated water.
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