To make a Sunkist, you will need a few key ingredients and some specific steps. Let's break it down:
Ingredients:
– Carbonated water: This is the base of the Sunkist drink, providing the fizziness and refreshing quality.
– High fructose corn syrup: This sweetener is used to add a sugary taste to the drink. It is commonly used in soft drinks as a cheaper alternative to cane sugar.
– Citric acid: This ingredient adds a tangy and sour flavor to the Sunkist, balancing out the sweetness.
– Sodium benzoate: It serves as a preservative, preventing the growth of bacteria or mold in the drink.
– Natural flavors: These are the secret ingredients that give Sunkist its distinctive taste. The specific combination of flavors is a closely guarded secret.
– Modified food starch: This ingredient is used to thicken the drink and give it a smoother texture.
– Ester gum: It acts as a stabilizer, preventing the separation of ingredients in the drink.
– Caffeine: This stimulant is added to provide a slight energy boost to the drinker.
– Yellow 6 and Red 40: These artificial food colorings are used to give Sunkist its vibrant orange color.
Now, let's move on to the steps involved in making a Sunkist:
1. Carbonation: The first step is to carbonate the water. This can be done using a carbonation system or by adding carbon dioxide gas to the water under pressure. Carbonation gives the drink its signature fizz.
2. Sweetening: Once the carbonated water is ready, high fructose corn syrup is added to provide the desired level of sweetness. The amount of syrup used may vary depending on the desired taste and sweetness level.
3. Flavoring: After sweetening, natural flavors are added to give Sunkist its unique taste. The combination of flavors is a closely guarded secret, known only to the manufacturers.
4. Acidification: Citric acid is then added to the mix to give the Sunkist its tangy and sour flavor. It helps balance out the sweetness and adds a refreshing twist to the drink.
5. Thickening and stabilization: Modified food starch and ester gum are added to the mixture to thicken the drink and give it a smooth texture. Ester gum also acts as a stabilizer, preventing the separation of ingredients.
6. Preservation: Sodium benzoate is included as a preservative to extend the shelf life of the drink. It prevents the growth of bacteria or mold, ensuring the drink remains safe to consume for a longer period.
7. Coloring: artificial food colorings, specifically Yellow 6 and Red 40, are added to give Sunkist its vibrant orange color. These colorings are purely for aesthetic purposes and have no impact on the taste or flavor of the drink.
It's important to note that making a Sunkist at home may not result in an exact replica of the commercially produced drink. The precise combination of ingredients and flavors used by the Sunkist brand remains a secret. However, by following the general steps outlined above, you can create your own version of a citrus-flavored carbonated drink.