Teresa's Recipes
Inca Kola - The Golden Kola
Experience the taste of Peru with a homemade version of Inca Kola, also known as 'The Golden Kola'. This vibrant yellow soft drink boasts a unique flavor, combining the sweet taste of bubblegum with a hint of zesty lemon. Its rich history and popularity in Peru make this beverage truly one-of-a-kind. Enjoy a refreshing glass of this effervescent delight and transport yourself to the heart of Latin America.
Ingredients
- A few drops Yellow food coloring
- 1/4 cup Fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 4 cups Water
- 1 cup, fresh or dried Lemon verbena leaves
Dietary Notes
- Servings: 6
- Dish Type: Beverage
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cooling Time: 3 hours
- Calories: 160
- Fat: 0g
- Carbs: 40g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Sugar: 40g
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized pot.
- Add 1 cup of fresh or dried lemon verbena leaves to the boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes to fully infuse the water.
- Strain the mixture into a large bowl to remove the leaves. Discard the leaves.
- While the mixture is still hot, add 1 cup of granulated sugar. Stir continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. This could take up to an hour.
- Once the mixture is cooled, stir in 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice and a few drops of yellow food coloring. Mix well until the color is evenly distributed.
- Refrigerate the mixture until it's chilled. This usually takes about 2 hours.
- Serve your homemade Inca Kola over ice. Enjoy this refreshing and unique beverage!
Tips
- If you don't have lemon verbena leaves, you can substitute them with an equal amount of lemongrass or lemon balm leaves.
- For a more natural version, replace the yellow food coloring with a pinch of turmeric. This will give the drink a lovely golden hue without any artificial additives.
- For a fizzy Inca Kola, add a splash of soda water just before serving.