Okay, so, I’ve always been a huge fan of A&W Root Beer. I mean, who isn’t? That creamy, sweet, slightly spicy flavor is just unbeatable. But lately, I’ve been getting curious about what exactly goes into this magical concoction. So, I decided to roll up my sleeves and do some digging. This turned into a bit of a weekend project, and I gotta say, it was pretty fun!
First, I hit up the internet, just to see what the general consensus was. I found out that A&W has been around since, like, 1919! That’s crazy, right? They started as a tiny little Root Beer stand and now they are a big brand. Apparently, the recipe is a “closely guarded secret,” which makes sense. But the labels and the A&W website do give away some clues. Most sources seemed to agree that the main ingredients are carbonated water, some kind of sweetener, caramel color, and a bunch of natural and artificial flavors.
Then I started looking at some actual bottles and cans. One thing I noticed is that some list “high fructose corn syrup” as the sweetener, while others mention “cane sugar.” And get this – the ones made fresh at the restaurants supposedly use real cane sugar. I guess that explains why it tastes even better there! Also, there’s this thing called sodium benzoate, which I learned is a preservative. Keeps the root beer fresh, I suppose.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. I found out that the unique flavor of root beer comes from something called sassafras, which is a tree root. But I saw some conflicting info about that – I guess modern root beer doesn’t use it as much anymore, or maybe not in the same way. So I dug a little deeper and realized there’s a whole blend of “herbs, bark, spices, and berries” that A&W uses. They call it a “proprietary blend,” so it is impossible to know the exact things that they use to make the root beer.
I even stumbled upon a few attempts at homemade recipes. I was really tempted to try one, but I didn’t have all the ingredients. That’s definitely going on my to-do list, though. Imagine making your own root beer at home! Besides the basic stuff, it seems like quillaia extract is another ingredient that shows up sometimes. I’m not entirely sure what that does, but I’m guessing it adds to the flavor or the texture.
Oh, and I also checked out the calorie count. A 12-ounce serving has around 170 calories, and the bigger 20-ounce one has about 290. Not too bad, but definitely something to keep in mind. And obviously, all those calories are from carbs, no fat in this stuff.
My conclusion
So, after all this digging, what did I learn? Well, A&W Root Beer is a pretty complex mix of ingredients, with a history going back over a hundred years. It’s made with carbonated water, some form of sugar, caramel color for that classic look, preservatives, and a secret blend of natural and artificial flavors that probably includes all sorts of herbs, barks, and spices. No wonder it’s so darn delicious!
This little research project definitely made me appreciate A&W Root Beer even more. It’s not just a drink, it’s a little piece of history in a can. And the fact that they still make it fresh at some locations, just like in the old days, that’s pretty cool too.
Next time you crack open an A&W, take a moment to think about all the stuff that goes into that unique flavor. It might just make you enjoy it even more!
- The process of making A&W Root Beer is very interesting.
- The history of A&W Root Beer is quite long.
- It tastes very good.
Maybe next weekend, I’ll tackle another one of my favorite sodas. Who knows what I’ll uncover?
