Soda

As you might have noticed, I'm a big fan of alternative-flavor sodas. Now, I hear, Jones Soda is making Dungeons & Dragons themed sodas. That's pretty awesome. If I weren't unemployed, I'd order some out of curiosity.

I did try one of the Jones Soda Thanksgiving flavor packs at one point. While most of the flavors were various shades of revolting (some, like the cranberry, were just boring), they were remarkable technical achievements. I have to admit that I'm curious as to what they think a Healing Potion (or Illithid Brain Juice) tastes like.

Angela and I went out for brunch the other day at a local diner, and I had a (minor) epiphany. We were talking about errands we needed to run. These included stopping at the grocery store. Among other things we needed to pick up some soft drinks, because we had some friends coming over. Someone at another table asked a waitress for maple syrup.

I immediately looked thoughtful and asked Angela if she'd ever heard of a maple soda. She looked at me like I was crazy. She does that when I talk about food.

When we went to the grocery store, I picked up some seltzer water. That afternoon, after it had chilled, I mixed up some maple soda. I just poured myself a glass of the seltzer and stirred in some maple syrup to taste. I probably used a bit less than two tablespoons.

It was good. Definitely mapley, but not overpoweringly so; it was sweet, but far from cloying. It tasted a bit like a DRY Soda flavor that doesn't exist. Angela thought it was a bit weird, but not bad. I liked it quite a bit.

Dry Lavender Soda is part of a line of all-natural, low-sugar beverages. It has a distinct lavender flavor and, perhaps surprisingly, I discovered that it makes an awesome braising liquid for chicken.