Technique details at http://www.chefsteps.com/activities/fresh-juice-sodaThe sparkle and fizz of an ice-cold carbonated soda is the definition of pure refreshment. These days, sodas are mostly boring. But it wasn't always this way: From the late 1870s through the 1930s, sodas made fresh at the local fountain, called phosphates, were a staple of American culture. Fruit-flavored soft drinks were made to order by a soda jerk who added a sweet-and-sour fruit syrup enhanced with phosphoric acid to a chilled glass, and then filled it with carbonated water from the soda fountain. (The name "jerk," by the way, came from the action of flipping the fountain handle back and forth when adding soda water.) We've updated these non-alcoholic counterparts of cocktail culture with freshly prepared [pulp-free fruit juice](http://www.chefsteps.com/activities/pectin-free-juice) (the lack of pulp ensures just the right amount of effervescence and foam). We start by sweetening the juice with flavor-enhancing fructose sugar, and then we balance the taste with a mouth-watering blend of tart malic and phosphoric acids. After chilling the prepared juice, we carbonate it with a soda siphon. Our sodas are just as tart and delicious as old-fashioned phosphates, but with real juice instead of syrup, they take carbonated refreshment to a whole new level.At ChefSteps, we don't tell you how to cook, we show you—with recipes designed to inspire and educate, tested techniques for successful results at home, and a lively forum where you'll chat with other chefs and home-cooking enthusiasts. Visit ChefSteps.com for more videos, recipes, classes, and techniques. http://chfstps.co/1paXXVd Become a member and be the first to know about new recipes, special offers, and goings-on around the kitchen. http://chfstps.co/1paXXVd Like us on Facebook to stay updated on our latest projects. http://chfstps.co/1thBubbFollow us on Instagram http://chfstps.co/1nDs8Fj and Pinterest http://chfstps.co/1koB9kI for peeks inside the daily workings of our Pike Place Market kitchen lab. Read our blog for inspiring ideas and behind-the-scenes updates. http://chfstps.co/1rhTgh0Follow us on Twitter to stay up to speed on what's cooking in the ChefSteps kitchen. http://chfstps.co/1gMVbWA
