Fermented Soda FAQs
1. What does “naturally carbonated’’ mean?
2. I want to avoid sugar. Why is it used in making soda?
3. Can you brew it to the point when it is almost sugar-free?
4. How about using alternative sweeteners?
5. Does it contain alcohol?
6. Why do you emphasize ‘ALWAYS KEEP REFRIGERATED’?
1. What does “naturally carbonated’’ mean?
There are two ways to make fermented drinks like our soda to have that fizzy, tongue-tingling taste. One is bottle conditioning (aka. naturally carbonated), the other force carbonation.
The former refers to the method of leaving capped bottles at suitable room temperature for an extended period of time so that they undergo what is called the ‘second ferment’. This process produces CO2 naturally inside the bottles, turning our drinks from being flat to bubbly with an unique depth in flavor.
With force carbonation, CO2 from outside sources is pumped directly to the huge vat that contain drinks, from which bottles and kegs are filled. This method only takes a couple of days.
At Daissy, we let Nature do the job. Our drinks are so much more flavoursome and refreshing this way!
2. I want to avoid sugar. Why is it used in making soda?
Without sugar, there is no fermentation, and without fermentation, there is no real fermented soda at all. By the end of the fermentation process, there is little sugar remaining. This is actually a good thing because that residual sugar balances the tanginess of the many acids the finished product contains, making it much more delicious.
3. Can you brew it to the point when it is almost sugar-free?
Yes, we can. At that point, the brew, however, may have already tasted like vinegar, which is appealing to not many people.
4. How about using alternative sweeteners?
Yes it is possible to use less sugar in the fermentation with the addition of other sweeteners like glucose and extracts from stevia. The drawbacks are that they result in a weird taste and despite sounding like natural ingredients as many breweries want them to, they are in fact highly processed substances.
At Daissy, we stick to using only cane sugar as it brings out the purest taste in the finished product, the way the beverage has been made traditionally.
5. Does soda contain alcohol?
As a traditionally fermented food, soda may contain a trace amount of naturally occurring alcohol. But did you know that even fresh produce like ripe banana or fresh orange juice has some alcohol as well?
6. Why do you emphasize ‘ALWAYS KEEP REFRIGERATED’?
Ours is a raw, living food containing live and active cultures so it keeps fermenting even when stored in fridge (at a snail’s speed though). At room temperature, it, however, ferments at a much faster rate and may get over fermented, becoming unpalatable. If left out too long, the liquid may gush out when opening or the bottle may explode in the extreme case.
For your enjoyment and safety, we recommend keeping the our drinks refrigerated at all times, best below 4oC/39oF.