Drinks
20130924-sumac-soda.jpg

[Photograph: Yossy Arefi]

We have to hand it to the American Indians, using sumac in drinks is incredibly thirst quenching, perhaps due to its dry refreshing character, like a good white wine. Here is a modern take on "sumac-ade" to make a fun soda.

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About This Recipe

Yield: makes enough syrup for 8 to 9 drinks.
Active time: 5 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • For the Sumac Syrup:
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 tablespoons ground sumac
  •  
  • For the Soda:
  • 1 cup club soda or seltzer
  • 1/4 cup sumac syrup
  • 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lemon, plus 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Procedures

  1. For the Sumac Syrup: Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. All to cool to room temperature. Add sumac, stir to combine, and allow to infuse for 5 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Sumac syrup can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

  2. For the Soda: For each serving, combine 1 cup club soda, 1/4 cup sumac syrup, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a cup. Add ice and stir. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.