How to make Root Beer

How to make Root Beer

Posted to %alfafda by pieceoftheuniverse on 26^th September 2000

Jacob wrote:

> We don't have root beer in Denmark, I think.

That's too bad. I happen to be drinking some root beer, and this is what it says on the ingredients label:

Water

High fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose

caramel color

sodium benzoate

citric acid

caffeine

artificial and natural flavours

acacia

Granted, it doesn't state what the artificial and natural flavours -are-, but I'm assuming its from some form of root, probably from a sarsaparilla tree. I would surmise that any root would do, in a pinch.

So. Gather all the ingredients, and toss them together. I've been told that the order the ingredients are listed in are often the order of intensity -- for instance: there's more water than citric acid, say, but far less acacia than corn syrup.

And don't worry about finding corn syrup in your local store, because you won't. But you've probably heard it said that "corn syrup" is nothing more than glorified sugar, so go ahead and grab some granulated white cane sugar and go with that.

Acacia is where the trouble starts to hit, though. It turns out that acacia is, in fact, a type of bark, so it looks like you won't need that dogwood root after all. Unfortunately, its main habitat is in the Australian regions, grown in America for the sole purpose of harvesting for this particular treat. Dang and doubledang. Pick that dogwood back up again, will you?

Fortunately, acacia is so powerful, you only need a drop or two. Dogwood's not as strong; you might as well toss the whole thing in a blender and let it ride. Throw in the sugar, a couple glasses of water, some coffee extract, a drop of caramel for colour, some sodium benzoate (basically, salt), some citrus (lemon will do), and set on high for a few minutes.

What you have is one of two things: 1) a completely destroyed blender, because it couldn't handle the idea of liquefying a root, or 2) a very thick brown liquid.

If you have the former, then I deeply apologize, and you can send me the bill. If the latter, then you need to add a bit more water, chill, and then drink.

Disgusting, isn't it?

Well, that's what you get for using substitute ingredients. The real thing is much better, trust us.