6.26.2009

"Apple" Seltzer

It's not fall but I figured I could work this out and have it squared away for a fall winter menu item. I've been throwing around the idea of "apple"seltzer for a while and I have been trying to figure out a way to make it taste good. Everyone has seen alka-seltzer, you drop 2 in a cup and you get instant effervescence. The main reaction is sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. When you add citric acid and baking soda to a warm liquid this is what happens



The reaction causes it to boil instantly, to a cold liquid it has the alka-seltzer fizz effect. The idea is to make an intense dehydrated apple powder and mix this with the citric acid and baking soda. The guest will recieve a glass of hot cider and then they drop the tablets in or the servers french it for them. Kind of like a mini volcano in your glass. If we can find a happy medium between the apple flavor and the baking soda we should be in business. I think dropping the tablet into an already flavored, clarified liquid will help. It will still look like it water but have enough flavor to combat the not so pleasant nuance of baking soda.
I've been looking for a small pill press to form the tablets but no luck on finding anything affordable yet. I will have to find something with enough compression power to shape the tablets. Maybe a small mold and a vice would work or a shot loader. We'll see what happens.

3 comments:

  1. What about capsule gel caps that will dissolve in water? Just fill them with the powders.
    Or a straw filled with powder like a pixie stik.
    Not exactly alka, but...
    Great idea. Maybe drop it into a tart chardonnay to create 'apple champagne'... or cham-pipple.

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  2. chris windus6/26/2009 11:18 AM

    I like the straw and gel capsule idea, I would love for them to be in that Alka seltzer tablet form, but at least I could have the effect. Have to keep searching.

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  3. For shaping the pills, maybe try using one of those geared citrus juicer things, and just make the molds that will fit in the citrus cups.

    Or those button-makers that stamp some design onto a pin-on button.

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