I grew up in an area with a lot of post-Soviet immigrants, and would regularly see various syrups in stores (raspberry, elderflower, cherry, strawberry). I have always tried to keep a bottle of syrup as an alternative to soda, but I wonder is this very common in other parts of the US? Is this just some holdover Euro thing my parents/community kept a preference for these things? I know that syrups are very common in cocktails and bartending, but are thehy used more generally?
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I feel like dry powders are more common outside of cocktails. Things like Gatorade, lemonade powders etc.
I do use a Crystal Lite zero calorie syrup that has caffeine though.
>I know that syrups are very common in cocktails and bartending, but are thehy used more generally?
Can honestly say I’ve never had a syrup or been offered a drink with one outside of a bar. Chocolate or strawberry milk when I was a kid is the only thing that comes to mind.
It’s not that common at all. You will not find squash/cordial/dilute type drinks in your average American supermarket. I’ve seen it sold at the Indian supermarket, and IKEA has the Lingonberry and Elderflowers syrups.
We have drinking syrups that we use to flavor our pop to make it taste fancier if that’s what you’re talking about.
We have things called [water enhancers](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Water+enhancers) which are much more concentrated, so they only take a small quantity to flavor a glass of water, and don’t have the heavy dose of sugar that creates the viscosity of syrups. They may or may not contain an artificial sweetener.
There are also larger, less concentrated [Italian syrups](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=italian+syrup) that are common in some coffee shops for flavoring coffee (in suitable flavors like vanilla and hazelnut) but also in other boutique ice cream shops and some restaurants.
If I saw someone drinking syrup, rather than using it as a breakfast condiment, I’d consider calling the police. It’s not common at all.
We have something we call “Italian soda” in the coffee shops by me. It’s different syrups with tonic water added. I get the raspberry ones. But idk if it’s actually Italian
We have Torani syrups in about a million flavors. I dont know if those are the same concept. They are used to make Italian sodas.
What are “drinking syrups”? Are they added to water, alcohol, or are they a standalone beverage? Never heard of them.
The only drink syrups I own are the flavored ones that go in coffee. I only use a small amount just to add a bit of different flavor.
I don’t think the beverage syrups you describe are that common. We do have frozen concentrate of some juices that you dilute with water, but I think I’ve only done this once in my life.
I’d say very uncommon. Don’t know a single person besides me that uses them, lol.
I make my own soda though, only reason.