If you love Fanta, you really love Fanta. There’s no convincing you that another orange soda is “basically the same.” It’s not. Fanta fans are loyal, and that bright, candy-like, slightly fizzy orange flavour is a personality. So when someone says they made Fanta gelato without using Fanta at all, you have to stop and read that twice. That’s exactly what Instagram creator Solmaz Saberi did. And yes, orange soda lovers are obsessed.
This Creator Recreated The Iconic Fanta In Gelato Form
View this post on Instagram
In her video, Solmaz begins by saying something interesting: she doesn’t want the volume of soda and doesn’t care about the bubbles. What she wants is the flavour memory. You know that specific orange soda taste, that bright, slightly tangy, candy-style orange that reminds you of vending machines, hot afternoons, and neon labels? That’s the goal.
And instead of pouring Fanta into a machine, she decides to build that flavour from scratch.
While most people would start with juice, she started with the peel. Solmaz took orange and mandarin zest and rubbed it with sugar. Then she let it sit. Slowly, the sugar pulled out all the citrus oils from the peel. The mixture turned glossy and deeply fragrant. This method is called oleo saccharum, she reveals. It sounds fancy, but it simply means pulling citrus oils into sugar.
Next, she added freshly squeezed juice and a bit of lemon. But here’s where it gets interesting.
She explained that the real Fanta-like tang comes from two acids:
- Citric acid: the sharp citrus brightness
- Malic acid: the candy-like sour punch
When you combine both, you get that unmistakable soda snap. She waited until the gelato base was fully aged and cooled before adding the acids. Finally, she churned the mixture into gelato, and the texture looked silky and scoopable. The colour was bright, bold orange. She even topped it with bright blue sour shards for extra drama.
Also Read: Did You Know The Tiny Holes On Lids Of Coffee Takeaway Cups Are Not Just For Design?
Orange Soda Fans Are Calling It Genius
The comment section exploded. Some people said they needed a scoop immediately. Others said they could almost taste it through the screen. One comment read, “OMG the colour is mesmerising.” Another called her a genius. Many were fascinated by the oleo saccharum method. One follower even shared that they use the same trick for orange cake.
This video wasn’t just about gelato, it was about nostalgia. People felt transported back to school vacations, summer afternoons, cold soda bottles, and sticky fingers.
Would you take a bite?
Cover Image Courtesy: Solmaz Saberi/Instagram