History

Moxie was invented in 1884 by Maine-born Dr. Augustin Thompson of Union, marketed initially as Moxie Nerve Food. It is among the first sodas commercially produced in America. The bitter gentian-root note divides drinkers sharply; Mainers grew up with it, outsiders find it medicinal. In 2005, Governor John Baldacci signed Moxie into law as Maine's official state soft drink. The annual Moxie Festival in Lisbon Falls, second weekend of July, draws 30,000-plus fans. Portland diners and burger counters keep Moxie on tap or in glass bottles; it's drunk straight or mixed into a Moxie float with vanilla ice cream.

Make it at home

Yield 2Hands-on 20 minTotal 24 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 10g dried gentian root (sold at apothecaries and homebrew suppliers)
  • 4g wintergreen leaves (dried)
  • 3g sassafras root bark (or 1/2 tsp sarsaparilla extract)
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 2 cloves
  • 1 small cinnamon stick
  • 1L water
  • 350g caster sugar
  • 1/2 tsp citric acid
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1L cold soda water (for carbonation; or use a SodaStream)

Method

  1. Bring water to a simmer with gentian root, wintergreen, sassafras (or sarsaparilla), citrus zests, cloves and cinnamon stick.
  2. Reduce heat to very low. Steep 25 minutes; the liquid will turn dark amber and smell strongly medicinal.
  3. Strain through a fine sieve into a clean jug. Discard solids.
  4. Stir in the sugar while still hot; dissolve completely.
  5. Add citric acid and vanilla. Cool to room temperature.
  6. Refrigerate the syrup at least 12 hours (aging mellows the harsh edges; the soda industry calls this the cure step).
  7. To serve: mix 100ml syrup with 250ml ice-cold soda water in a tall glass; stir gently. Pour over ice if desired.
  8. For a Moxie float (a Maine tradition): pour the cold soda over a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass mug.

Tip from the editors. Gentian is the soul of Moxie; don't substitute. The 12-hour aging step is what mellows the bitterness from medicinal to pleasantly bitter.

Where to eat moxie

Moxie in Portland

Becky's Diner ★ 4.3

BrunchAll-day breakfast, working waterfront$$$10-22old-portDaily 05:00-21:00Walk-in only

Becky's Diner on Commercial Street has run on the working waterfront since 1991, opening at 05:00 for the fishing crews and the breakfast queue behind them.

Order: Short stack with bacon and a cup of clam chowder.

Tip: Cash and card both fine. Queues longest 09:00-11:00 weekends; early arrivals get the counter seats.

390 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101

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