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Technology

OpenCola - The best Alternative to Commercial Soda


Last week, I was looking for something to eat and I googled for Chowking online delivery. And for whatever weird reason, one of the searched links directed me to an opensource soda. It immediately caught my attention and eventually I forgot to make an order online. I just continued to browse the web and I got few details of this product that maybe helpful to you-if you want to make this on your own. OpenCola_pawns_Coca-Cola.jpg

Anyways, for some of the tech savvy people, when they hear the word 'opensource' they can easily relate to it as something that has to do with computer software or electronic hardware developement freely distributed under GNU General Public License(GPL). But hey, if there is OpenIndiana-a free Unix-like operating system, OpenOffice as office suite, and Openmoko for open-source mobile phones, including the hardware specification and the operating system, I bring to you, opencola, a brand of cola unique in that the instructions for making it are freely available and modifiable. Anybody can make the drink, and anyone can modify and improve on the recipe as long as they, too, license their recipe under the GNU GPL. That means you're free to use this recipe to make your own cola, or to make derivative colas. However, if you distribute derivative colas, you're expected to send email to the recipe's author, Amanda Foubister (amanda@opencola.com) with your updates.

Like softwares, it also has versions. Initially, version 1.0 was released on 27 January 2001 and currently it is now version 1.1.3. This came into the scene as a promotional tool to explain free and open source software but the drink took on a life of its own and 150,000 cans were sold. The Toronto-based company Opencola founded by Grad Conn, Cory Doctorow, and John Henson became better known for the drink than the software it was supposed to promote. Laird Brown, the company's senior strategist, attributes its success to a widespread mistrust of big corporations and the "proprietary nature of almost everything."

So, is the the dark trade-secret of large company like coca-cola and pepsi has come to an end?

Up to this time, specially Coca-cola company presents the formula as a closely held trade secret known only to a few employees. This only means, that whatever variation you can do using the OpenCola recipe won't equate of that in Coca-cola products. But this doesn't mean that coca-cola is always the best. A lot of soda fan said that OpenCola exactly taste the same with that of coke and some even said that it's better. Of course, subjectivity could be a factor.

Okay, so much with the talking. See the details of the OpenCola recipe below.

Flavoring formula
3.50 mL Orange oil
1.00 mL lemon oil
1.00 mL nutmeg oil
1.25 ml cassia (cinnamon) oil
0.25 mL coriander oil
0.25 mL neroli oil (similar to petitgrain, bergamot, or bitter orange oil)
2.75 mL lime oil
0.25 mL lavender oil
10.0 g food-grade, NOT ART-GRADE gum arabic (thickener)
3.00 mL water

Concentrate formula
5 mL flavoring
17.5 mL 75% citric acid or phosphoric acid
2.00 L water
2.00 kg granulated white sugar
2.5 mL caffeine (optional as it won't change taste of drink)
30.0 mL caramel color

Preparation of The Flavoring
1. Mix the oils together.
2. Add gum arabic and mix completely.
3. Add water and mix well. For this step, use a hand mixer or blender to thoroughly mix together.
The flavoring can be made in advance and stored for use later. Place in a sealed glass jar and place in the refrigerator or keep at room temperature. When stored, the oils and water will separate. Just mix again before use. When used, the gum arabic will keep things together.

Preparation of Concentrate
1. Mix 10 mL of flavoring with the phosphoric or citric acid.
2. Mix the water and sugar and, while mixing, add caffeine if desired.Make sure that the caffeine is completely dissolved before moving on to the next step.
3. Pour the acid and flavoring mixture slowly into the water/sugar mixture. Adding acid to water reduces the risk of acid splashes, as opposed to the other way around.
4. Add caramel color and mix completely.

How To Make The Soda
1. Mix two parts of concentrate with five parts water. In other words, however much you use of the concentrate, use two and a half times as much water.
2. Carbonate the beverage. There are a few ways this can be accomplished:
a. Carbonate the beverage yourself.
b. Mix soda water directly with the concentrate, instead of water in the previous step.
c. Use a soda fountain that will combine the concentrate with carbonated water at the tap.

Have I tried it? Nope, but I will attempt to make one. If and only if, I could gather all of those ingredients from the local market.

Warnings. Caffeine can be toxic in high doses. Be careful not to add too much to your mixture. To be safe, keep the concentration below 100mg/cup.

Many of the oils needed for flavoring can irritate skin. Use caution when preparing. They can also dissolve the plastic lining of a refrigerator. Store them in a glass container.

Gum arabic is available in two forms: art grade and food grade. Be sure to get food grade Gum arabic, or you could have a very unpleasant toxic reaction.

Phosphoric acid will burn if it comes into contact with you. If you do get acid on you, flush the affected area with water for at least 15 minutes and get medical attention.

Lavender oil can cause many dangerous side effects, so you may want to leave this out.





Source: wikihow & wikipedia, www.colawp.com

Also read: Former Coke Executive slams share stomach campaign

Marisse

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Marisse

A simple girl with a simple dream-to become a renowned professor. I did not finish college due to financial misfortune. I may not be lucky enough to be part of a rich clan in the Philippines, but I made myself independent and I am on my own since high school. I am a trying hard blogger. I have a lot of grammar issues but I will continue to persevere and learn new things everyday to be a more effective blogger in the community.

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