Howdy, y'all! Back with another recipe for you, and this one was kind of a real shot in the dark, I had no idea how it would turn out. Thankfully, it turned out FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!! Best part? This is actually an exceptionally simple recipe that can be adapted to a whole plethora of sodas!
You will need:
Got it all? Great! Let's get started!
And that's it! You can do this with pepper, celery seeds, cinnamon, mint, citrus zests, fruits, or just about anything you can make a simple syrup with!
You will need:
- Black peppercorns, whole
- Sugar, 2 cups
- Water, 2 cups
- A small sauce pan, maybe 1 qt?
- A metal spoon, fork, or whisk
- Cheesecloth or a strainer
- Seltzer water
- Jar, bottle, or similar storage vessel
Got it all? Great! Let's get started!
- Put the water in the saucepan over -High- heat
- Add in the peppercorns. How much you add is going to be dependent upon taste. You can also crack or grind some of the peppercorns, but definitely not all. And you really, really, really do need whole peppercorns. Pre-ground pepper has lost a lot of its volatile and essential oils, thus losing a lot of its flavor. However, I would say not less than 20-30 peppercorns. That's not as much as you think it is.
- Bring the water up to a boil, letting the peppercorns get a little hydrated and heated, allowing them time to flavor just the water itself.
- Once the water is boiling and you have let the peppercorns do their thang for a little bit, add in the sugar, stirring constantly. This is where the metal spoon becomes very important. Wood or plastic instruments, due to their irregular surface, can provide a catalyst for crystallization.
- Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved Optional:Let it go a bit longer on the heat, drawing out more oils and flavor from the pepper.
- Let the syrup cool, then strain into the jar. I let mine sit nearly 24 hours, because I didn't have any cheesecloth. Just cover it to keep the bugs out and it will be fine.
- When it's time to serve, simply pour a bit of the syrup into a glass, then add the seltzer water!
- ENJOY
And that's it! You can do this with pepper, celery seeds, cinnamon, mint, citrus zests, fruits, or just about anything you can make a simple syrup with!
I bet it would taste nice with ginger. Sounds interesting by itself, though! 
Cool!
Cool!