How to Make Thai Sala Italian Soda

What you need

• tall glass
• measuring jigger
• bar spoon
• straw

Method

1. Fill a tall 16 oz glass generously with ice

2. Measure and pour 1 oz of sala syrup into the glass

   The syrup settles at the bottom and forms the flavor and color base of the drink

3. If you want a sweeter drink, add half an ounce of golden sugar syrup

   Omit this step if you prefer a lighter result

4. Top the glass with soda water

   Pour slowly over the ice to preserve the layered look

   Expert tipUse plain soda water, not 7up — the creator notes that 7up is too sweet and will overpower the sala syrup

5. Garnish with a slice of lemon on the rim of the glass

6. Add a straw and serve immediately

Why this works

Building the sala syrup at the base and topping slowly with soda water creates a natural gradient that looks striking before the guest stirs. Choosing plain soda water over a pre-sweetened carbonated drink preserves full control over sweetness, so the sala syrup can express its character cleanly. The optional golden sugar syrup lets you dial sweetness to order without altering the sala flavor itself.

Where beginners go wrong

1. 1

   Drink tastes too sweet

   Skip the golden sugar syrup entirely and make sure you are using plain soda water rather than a sweetened carbonated drink like 7up

2. 2

   Syrup mixes in immediately and the drink looks flat

   Pour the soda water very slowly directly over the ice rather than straight into the syrup to slow down mixing and preserve the layered effect

3. 3

   Sala syrup is not available

   The creator explicitly suggests substituting strawberry, pineapple, or mango syrup using the same 1 oz quantity and the same procedure

What you should taste

The sala syrup delivers a fragrant, floral sweetness that the creator describes as refreshing across all three drinks in the series. Soda water keeps the finish light and effervescent without competing with the syrup.

FAQ