Homemade Cola With Spiced Oolong Tea

Name: Homemade Cola With Spiced Oolong Tea
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h 45 min
Total time: 3 h 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup loose-leaf oolong tea; 4 cups hot water; Peel of 1 lemon; Peel of 1 orange; 3 dried black limes; 5 star anise pods; 1 cinnamon stick; 1/2 cup dried bitter orange peel; 1 cup cane sugar; Juice of 1/2 orange; Juice of 1/2 lemon; 1 tsp vanilla extract; Crushed ice, for serving; Soda water, for serving; Lime bitters, to taste; Lime juice, for serving

This homemade cola combines a complex spiced oolong tea syrup infused with black limes, star anise, cinnamon, and citrus peel, carbonated to create a sophisticated cola that rivals commercial versions with layered flavor.

🌍American 🏷️Homemade soda 🏷️Cola 🏷️Soda syrup 🏷️Oolong tea Citrus

🏷️

🏷️Spiced

-0:00

thatdudecancookonTikTok

Total

3h 5m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$29–$48

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by thatdudecancook

-0:00

thatdudecancookonTikTok

Ingredients

1/4 cup loose-leaf oolong tea
4 cups hot water
Peel of 1 lemon
Peel of 1 orange
3 dried black limes
5 star anise pods
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup dried bitter orange peel
1 cup cane sugar
Juice of 1/2 orange
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp vanilla extract
Crushed ice, for serving
Soda water, for serving
Lime bitters, to taste
Lime juice, for serving

16 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Steep the oolong tea in hot water for 15 minutes.
2
Strain the tea into a larger pot.
3
To the pot, add the lemon peel, orange peel, black limes, star anise, cinnamon stick, and dried bitter orange peel.
4
Cover the pot and simmer over low heat for 2.5 to 3 hours.
5
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a container, discarding the solids.
6
While the mixture is still warm, stir in the cane sugar, orange juice, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until the sugar is fully dissolved. This is your cola syrup.
7
Chill the syrup in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until completely cold.
8
To make a drink, fill a glass with crushed ice.
9
Pour a few tablespoons of the cola syrup over the ice.
10
Top with soda water.
11
Add a few dashes of lime bitters, a drop of vanilla extract, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
12
Stir gently and enjoy.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Steep the oolong tea with all spices and citrus peels in hot water for at least 10-15 minutes to fully extract flavor before straining and sweetening.
Use fresh lemon and orange peels (avoid the white pith) for the initial steep to capture bright citrus oils that balance the darker spice notes.
Chill the finished syrup completely before carbonating—warm syrups won't hold carbonation as effectively.
Start with a lower carbonation level and adjust to taste, as over-carbonation can make the drink too sharp and hide the delicate tea and spice notes.

Substitutions

Loose-leaf oolong tea → black tea or white tea (results in a lighter, less floral base)
Black limes → lime zest + a pinch of smoked paprika (approximates complexity but less authentic)
Star anise → fennel seeds or anise extract to taste (similar licorice note with different intensity)

Storage & make-ahead

Store the cooled syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week; carbonate fresh batches as needed for best fizz retention.

Equipment

Carbonation system (SodaStream or similar) · Fine-mesh strainer · Glass bottles for storing syrup

Common Questions

Can I make the cola syrup ahead of time?

Yes, the spiced oolong tea syrup can be made several days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you're ready to carbonate.

What's the purpose of black limes in this recipe?

Black limes (loomi) add a tangy, slightly smoky, and complex citrus note that deepens the cola flavor beyond what fresh citrus alone can provide.

Do I need special equipment to carbonate the cola?

You'll need a carbonation system like a SodaStream or similar device to add the fizz to your finished syrup and water mixture.

Can I adjust the sweetness?

Yes, the 1 cup cane sugar can be reduced if you prefer less sweetness, or increased slightly if you want a more syrupy consistency before carbonation.