Maryland Mint Phosphate

Whenever I have visitors in Philadelphia I like to show them the little historic tricks and treats of the city. This past weekend, when my mother and stepfather came to visit, one of those historic treats included a Maryland Mint Phosphate at the Franklin Fountain in Old City. I first learned about the Maryland Mint Phosphate (a retro soda) in a guide book for the city of Philadelphia. At first, I was drawn to the Maryland Mint Phosphate purely because of the name--I am a Baltimore girl, after all--and then, it was the florescent green color of the liquid pictured on the glossy page. So when I visited the Franklin Fountain and noticed that there was no Maryland Mint Phosphate on the menu, my heart sank. "Do you possibly know how to make a Maryland Mint Phosphate?" I asked, hopefully. The girl behind the counter stared at me blankly. Then, to my sheer delight, a young soda jerk by the name of Jeff stepped up and said that he remembered the recipe. Thanks, Jeff!

The Maryland Mint Phosphate (pictured here with a chocolate soda) is a mixture of Creme de Menthe and ginger flavored soda water with a little phosphoric acid for pizzazz. 

The verdict: I am not a soda drinker, so the Maryland Mint Phosphate came as a bit of a shock to my system. In fact, the phosphoric acid felt just plain strange going down my throat. Having said that, I can see why people would have fun with these beverages. The Franklin Fountain has a ton of different combinations to make your own soda or you can order pre-designed phosphates like the Japanese Thirst Killer Phosphate, which includes grape juice and Angostura Bitters. If you have a retro soda fountain nearby, maybe you should give it a shot. I know that I'll be going back for more.

Happy adventuring!