Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this canned beverages thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a journey. I wanted to see if I could actually can my own drinks at home, you know, like sodas and stuff.
Getting Started
First, I gathered all the stuff I needed. This included:
- Canning jars (obviously)
- Lids and rings
- A big pot for boiling water
- A jar lifter (don’t want to burn myself!)
- Some basic ingredients for the drinks (sugar, fruit, flavorings, etc.)
- A pressure canner–very important.
The Messy Part
Then came the actual drink-making. I started by making a simple syrup, just boiling sugar and water together. Super easy. After that, I experimented with different fruits and flavors. I chopped up some strawberries, juiced some lemons, and even tried some weird combinations like cucumber and mint (don’t ask).
Once I had my flavors ready, I mixed them with the simple syrup and some carbonated water. I had to be careful not to make it too sweet or too watery. It was a lot of tasting and adjusting, tasting, and more adjusting.
The Canning Process
Next up, the scary part: the canning. I carefully poured my concoctions into the sterilized jars, leaving a little bit of space at the top. Then, I wiped the rims of the jars, put the lids and rings on, and tightened them just enough.
I carefully placed filled jars into the canner.I added water per the canner’s instructions, secured the lid and begun to bring the pressure up slowly, and followed the instructions specific to my altitude for processing time.
This part is crucial for safety, so I double-checked everything. The pressure canning part is what really makes sure everything is sealed and safe to store. I processed the jars using my pressure canner for about 20minutes.
The (Mostly) Success
After the jars were cooled down, I checked to make sure they were all sealed properly. Most of them were! You know that satisfying “pop” sound when you open a canned drink? I got that! Although, a couple of jars didn’t seal, which was a bummer. I just put those in the fridge to drink right away.
Overall, it was a fun, sticky, and somewhat successful experiment. I definitely learned a lot, and I’m excited to try different flavor combinations next time. Maybe I’ll even get all the jars to seal!
