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Originally Posted by Sun

Does anyone make any really interesting soft drinks?

I make ginger ale with my own ginger syrup.

Equal parts thinly sliced ginger (skin on), sugar, and water--I use 1 cup each--bring to a boil and then simmer for thirty minutes. Let cool, strain out the ginger. Use the syrup in soda, 2 oz syrup to 8 oz club soda. This makes a HOT drink, so I usually add in 2 oz peach juice concentrate to sweeten it more. Ginger and peach are a wonderful combo.

You can also spread those boiled sliced of ginger onto a bed of sugar; turn them a couple times in the next 8 to 12 hours. Voila--candied ginger, and also a gently flavored sugar for baking.

The thing which makes my ginger ale really interesting? It's the equivalent of a popular 12-hour anti-inflammatory. It WILL ease your aches and pains. (And by the same token, if you cannot take anti-inflammatories, you need to avoid drinking this ginger ale.) The candied ginger is not as strong but it also has anti-inflammatory properties.