Spring

Vanilla & Earl Grey Italian Cream Soda

by:
May 31, 2011
4
1 Ratings
Vanilla & Earl Grey Italian Cream Soda
  • Makes 5-6 8 oz drinks
Author Notes

The combination of vanilla and earl grey is one of my very favorites- and is employed in everything from popsicles to cookies. In the winter, I love to add homemade vanilla simple syrup to my earl grey tea, then cap it off with a dose of whole milk or half and half. This is the summer variation of my winter stand by.

In this recipe, I like to use a "left-over" vanilla bean. I find many recipes call for the seeds and I often have vanilla bean shells laying around. This is the perfect use for them. - Hilarybee —Hilarybee

Test Kitchen Notes

Sweet and bubbly, this Italian cream soda was surprisingly refreshing with just a touch of half and half. The vanilla and earl grey syrup was simple to make and came to life when mixed with the seltzer water. - jvcooks —jvcooks

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 Vanilla Bean
  • 3-4 Bags of Earl Grey tea
  • Seltzer Water
  • Half and Half or Whole Milk
Directions
  1. To make the simple syrup, combine the vanilla bean and sugar in a small saucepan. Rub the vanilla bean in the sugar, until the mixture is fragrant. Add the earl grey tea and water. If you want extra earl grey oomph, use four bags of tea. I like to use three, for just a hint of bergamot. Heat on medium low and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Turn off the heat, and use tongs to remove the tea bags. Leaving the tea bags in the mixture will make the syrup bitter. Allow syrup to cool before using. I like to let it sit overnight.
  2. To make the soda: Fill an 8 oz glass 3/4ths full with seltzer water. Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup syrup, depending on desired sweetness. Top with half and half.
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  • Heather Shelton Gardner
    Heather Shelton Gardner
  • susan g
    susan g
  • Hilarybee
    Hilarybee
  • Midge
    Midge
  • Sagegreen
    Sagegreen
Hilarybee
Dedicated locavore. I spend my weekends on the back roads (often lost!) looking for the best ingredients Ohio has to offer. I am often accompanied by my husband, Mr. Radar and our dog, Buddy. Born in West Virginia, raised in Michigan, I moved to Ohio for college and have lived there on and off since. I love to meet farmers and local producers. Cooking is an extension of this love. You can follow my move from government analyst to cottage industrialist and view the food I cook for my personal mad scientist on thistleconfections.com

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12 Reviews

Heather S.
Heather S. December 24, 2018
I made this today. I'm still waiting for it to cool. How do you store this?
 
susan G.
susan G. June 15, 2011
This drink was lovely. My Earl Grey (loose) didn't come through distinctly, and the first impression was that it tastes like root beer (an old favorite). I'm going to tinker with it a little more, but was very good just the way I made it. Thank you for an inspiring soda, and gateway to more.
I looked at the Old Wilmington Tea Company -- makes me wonder if we will live long enough to try all that we wish to!
 
Hilarybee
Hilarybee June 23, 2011
I'm glad you enjoyed it. If I do loose leaf, I actually grind it in my spice grinder and put it in a big tea bag. I think more flavor comes out that way. A cheaper, stronger tea might work well here. I've used regular old Twinnings several times and had good success.
 
Hilarybee
Hilarybee June 10, 2011
I've never heard of Chinese Monastery- is it a type of tea or a cocktail? I hope you give my recipe a try and report back!
 
susan G.
susan G. June 10, 2011
Chinese Monastery is a beautiful tasting tea, with vanilla and some floral ingredient. It comes from St. John's Herb Garden in Maryland. Years ago we sold it and all I've had of it since is memories. EG de la Creme (my mistake below) is the closest I've come. They are romantic without being sweet, just elegant. EG, the original, is a constant, and sometimes I add some Lapsang Souchong to it -- just a pinch, since the smoky taste is potent.
 
Hilarybee
Hilarybee June 11, 2011
I get an Earl Grey called John Grey Earl Tea from Wilmington Tea company that I really, really like. My local tea shop has a "creamy Earl Grey" that I also like, it seems to have more blue cornflower in it than most other EG tea I've had.
 
Hilarybee
Hilarybee June 11, 2011
Okay, so it is actually called "Lord John Grey". Here's a link. http://www.oldwilmingtontea.com/Lord-John-Grey
 
susan G.
susan G. June 9, 2011
I drink "Earl Grey a la Creme" and used to be able to find "Chinese Monastery." They fit this flavor profile, and I'll be delighted to have a summer fizz on the theme.
 
Midge
Midge June 3, 2011
How refreshing! Must give this a try.
 
Hilarybee
Hilarybee June 2, 2011
Thank you sagegreen and gingerroot!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen June 1, 2011
This does sound delicious!
 
gingerroot
gingerroot May 31, 2011
I love earl grey and this sounds delicious!