Orange Soda Syrup

• ⏲️ Prep time: 15 min
• 🍳 Cook time: 10 min
• 🍽️ Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp fresh orange zest (from 3-4 oranges)
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of sea salt (optional)
• 1 squeeze of lemon (optional)

Directions

1. Zest oranges with a microplane (skip white pith); juice them and reserve the juice.
2. Mix zest and sugar in a bowl; massage hard 1-2 minutes until sugar turns bright orange and wet.
3. Add zest-sugar mix and juice to a saucepan; heat medium-low, stir until sugar dissolves and it barely simmers (5-10 min); do not hard-boil.
4. Remove from heat and steep 20-30 minutes until cool.
5. Strain out zest through fine mesh; cool completely, bottle, and refrigerate (lasts up to 1 month).
6. For soda: 2-4 Tbsp syrup + 8-12 oz sparkling water over ice; stir and serve.