Edible Toronto

Soda That's Good for You?

• Photo by Sarah Wiggins

• Darren Portelli found his way to soda as a matter of personal well-being.

• The yacón root.

• Portelli is experimenting with growing his own yacón tubers, which he hopes to one day use in his sodas. The plant, which can grow up to two metres high, is easy to grow, but only in climates that aren't susceptible to severe frosts.

• In addition to the yacón root, Crazy D's sodas include other unique ingredients, such as baobab fruit — high in antioxidants and well known in Africa — camu camu, a cherry-like fruit grown in South America.

• Portelli keeps his production process tightly under wraps, but says he cold-presses ingredients to preserve nutritional value