An Italian soda is a refreshing combination of flavored syrup and club soda or seltzer water mixed in a cup of ice. The addition of half-and-half or milk turns an Italian soda into a creamosa or French soda. It can also be made into an Italian Soda Float served with Premium Ashby’s Vanilla, French Vanilla, or Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.
Surprisingly, the Italian soda recipe we know today did not originate in Italy. Some sources credit an immigrant Italian family living in San Francisco during the 1920s with concocting the familiar syrup and sparkling water beverage. Using imported coffee flavorings from Italy, the family would mix up their Italian soda recipe in the back room of their grocery store. The drink soon became popular as an alternative to flavored coffees or espresso.
The key to a good Italian soda is quality syrup. Companies originally offered flavored syrups designed specifically for coffee; hazelnut, vanilla, caramel and amaretto, for example. With the Italian soda’s rise in popularity, many companies began producing flavors inspired by fruit, cola and liqueur extracts.
Italian Sodas and Creamosas are served in Shelby Twp, Michigan at Maceri’s Soup & Scoop, Pitas & Subs, Michigan’s homemade Soup Company and Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream Parlor located on the nw corner of 21 Mile and Hayes. www.soup-scoop.com
