A natural version of the classic cola flavour! Lavender, orange, cinnamon, and chaga powder are a few ingredients needed to make herbal chaga cola.
Although I've never been much of a pop drinker, we like to keep a few bottles of cane sugar pop stashed away for 'emergencies'. I must admit I do enjoy it on rare occasions. On a recent trip to my favourite health-food store I picked up a bottle of a locally made herbal syrup.
As soon as I added it to our carbonated water and fell in love. After a bit of research and a few attempts of my own, I came up with this chaga cola using chaga powder. It's been my favourite summer treat for years now.
For some more summery drinks, try making your own carrot juice in the blender or juicer, easy strawberry juice, or refreshing mint watermelon limeade.
Ingredients
It's a pretty long list of ingredients, but mostly spices and citrus. This makes a good amount of chaga syrup that keeps in the fridge for a long time.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Sugar: I did test this recipe with alternative sugars and the only thing that works is cane. A little coconut sugar adds a nice hint of caramel, but trying to substitute it for any more of the cane sugar won't be successful. Brown sugar can replace coconut.
- Chaga powder: look for chaga powder in your local health-food store. If you can't find chaga powder, use reishi or a mushroom mix.
- Lavender: make sure it's food-grade organic lavender buds (or grow your own edible flowers). If you can't find it, just omit.
Step by Step
Step 1: combine the water along with the zests, chaga, lavender, and spices together in a pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn down to simmer on low for 20 minutes.
Step 2: stir in the sugars, then strain through a fine sieve.
Step 3: stir in the vanilla.
Step 4: decant into a jar or bottle and keep in the fridge.
If you can't see the recipe video, watch it here on YouTube instead.
Top Tips
- Use just a bit: like all pops, this isn't healthy, but it is healthier than pretty much every other option out there. Yes it does use cane sugar (other sweeteners just didn't work), but it takes just the smallest amount to make a deluxe homemade float, rum and chaga cola, or just tall icy glass of pop.
- Reduce the amount: if you're not sure you'll like it or just want a smaller batch, reduce it by half. If you tap or hover over the servings number in the recipe card, a slider will show up and moving that will automatically adjust the amounts.
- Skip the chaga: if you can't find chaga but still want to try this, leave it out and make a plain cola syrup! It's just as tasty with the spice combo, citrus, and ginger.
How to Store
Storage: keep in a clean glass jar in the fridge for at least a month. It usually keeps for longer, but if you see any sign of mould, toss it.
Freezing: transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. You can freeze in ice cube trays and use a cube whenever needed.
If you make this Chaga Syrup recipe or any other vegan drinks on Wholehearted Eats, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. For more WHE, follow along on Instagram or subscribe for new posts via email.
Recipe
Chaga Cola Syrup
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Fine mesh sieve
- Small saucepan
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- Zest of 2 oranges about 4 tablespoons
- Zest of 1 lemon about 1 tablespoon
- Zest of 1 lime about 2 teaspoons
- 1 tablespoon chaga powder
- 2 cinnamon sticks broken in half
- 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
- ½ star anise
- ½ teaspoon lavender blossoms
- ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 ¾ cup cane sugar
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the water, citrus zests, chaga, lavender, and spices to in a small saucepan and mix to combine. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to simmer on low for 20 minutes, covered.2 cups water, Zest of 2 oranges, Zest of 1 lemon, Zest of 1 lime, 1 tablespoon chaga powder, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger, ½ star anise, ½ teaspoon lavender blossoms, ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- After the mixture has steeped, turn off the heat and add the sugars. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pass the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove the solids. They can be composted.1 ¾ cup cane sugar, ¼ cup coconut sugar
- Stir the vanilla into the strained syrup. Store the syrup in a clean glass jar or bottle the fridge. It should last for at least a month.½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- To make the cola, start with a teaspoon of syrup per glass of carbonated water. Taste and adjust as needed. I like to use around 2 teaspoons for our fairly large glasses.
To maintain the health benefits of Chaga it may be better to simmer at 80C instead of boiling at 100C.
I will try the recipe today.