There are various extracts or complex recipes, but what would be needed to really hit the nail on the head for homemade cherry cola? It doesn't have to exactly replicate the commercial stuff, but I want it to have that essential kick. Nothing like the generic crap, like from the Refreshe copycat brand, and maybe not even like wild cherry pepsi.
Reading from "homemade soda" by Schloss, ALL cherry flavored concoctions are based on almonds. They remove the cyanide from bitter almonds which gives a more concentrated source of the same thing from cherry pits. I think this may be right, and actual cherry flesh or juice seems to pale in flavor from the almond based stuff which just shouts cherry. Maybe a remnant of cyanide adds some tingle?
They also say the origin of Coke came from Pemberton's French Wine Coca having to remove the wine due to Atlanta temperance laws. Cocaine leaf infused wine was popular in Europe and the US, so Coca Cola wasn't guilty of adding cocaine to the drink but subtracting the alcohol. He substituted Kola nut, and later had to de-cocainize their coca leaves.
"Fix the Pumps" book points to the company authorized to decocainize almost half a million pounds of leaves yearly for Coke, and names a company that sells these leaves legally for tea. So again, is something legal but close to toxic needed for the real, satisfying thing? The author on his artofdrink website seems to have backed off suggesting "extract of coca" and "extract of kola" according to his book for making cola, but...?
Reading from "homemade soda" by Schloss, ALL cherry flavored concoctions are based on almonds. They remove the cyanide from bitter almonds which gives a more concentrated source of the same thing from cherry pits. I think this may be right, and actual cherry flesh or juice seems to pale in flavor from the almond based stuff which just shouts cherry. Maybe a remnant of cyanide adds some tingle?
They also say the origin of Coke came from Pemberton's French Wine Coca having to remove the wine due to Atlanta temperance laws. Cocaine leaf infused wine was popular in Europe and the US, so Coca Cola wasn't guilty of adding cocaine to the drink but subtracting the alcohol. He substituted Kola nut, and later had to de-cocainize their coca leaves.
"Fix the Pumps" book points to the company authorized to decocainize almost half a million pounds of leaves yearly for Coke, and names a company that sells these leaves legally for tea. So again, is something legal but close to toxic needed for the real, satisfying thing? The author on his artofdrink website seems to have backed off suggesting "extract of coca" and "extract of kola" according to his book for making cola, but...?