Homemade Beep Drink Recipe - A very accurate replica recipe for a beloved Canadian juice drink favourite. Quick and easy nostalgia trip!
Originally published February 12, 2020. Updated on 6/6/2021
Ah, Beep.
I didn't know it was specific to Canada when I was growing up, or that it was *HIGHLY* regional within Canada - put out by a Nova Scotia Dairy, but licensed out to other dairies for production.
I just knew that it was a fun tasting "juice", and that it basically tasted like childhood.
It came about in the 1960s, was served at Canadian breakfasts and in Canadian lunch boxes for decades, then was discontinued in 2010.
People lost their minds, started up campaigns, and eventually it was brought back in 2012... but then discontinued again in 2015. RIP, “Beep”!
Homemade Beep Drink
When I was developing “More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from My Home and Native Land”, I received a bunch of requests for replicating Beep in the book.
Note: The recipe is in there, but is not called “Beep” - much like how every other trademarked / brand name is swapped out for something else!
If you’re new here, one of my “big autistic superpowers” is the ability to replicate foods by taste. It comes in really handy when you move far away from your favourite Indian restaurant and the dish you always ordered there (Chicken Shahi Korma), or are living in a country that doesn’t have your favourite wing sauce (Honey garlic sauce).
Sometimes, I can get REALLY wild with it, and replicate based on the ingredient list, nutritional info, and VERY detailed description of tastes and textures, as was the case with a friend of mine and Trader Joe’s Tofu Edamame Nuggets.
Replicating Beep
Anyway. When it comes to replicating, I don’t necessarily need the source material at hand, if it’s something I’ve very familiar with, as I have a great sense of taste memory.
It really comes in handy when you’re an expat craving the foods from home, let me tell you!
Anyway, yes, I had a bunch of requests for coming up for a recipe for Beep, and on the surface, I thought it would be relatively easy - it's just a juice blend, right?
Well, the complete lack of recent exposure to the source material was a minor - but easily remedied - obstacle, but then there was the issue of source material ingredients.
... I had no idea that it was only 25% juice, or that it contained both canola oil and modified corn starch. Bizarre!
So, while I couldn't bring myself to design a recipe for a juice drink that includes oil and modified corn starch in it (ick), I could - and DID - put together a juice blend that tastes extremely similar, and will definitely scratch that itch.
A Note on Citric Acid
I did include citric acid in place of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), as it's a more common kitchen ingredient. This brightens the taste up, but isn't necessary, if you don't already have some on hand.
Citric acid is available from home brewing stores, can sometimes be found in canning sections of grocery stores, and is readily available on Amazon - you can buy some here!
A little citric acid goes a long way, so if you’re buying it specifically for this recipe, expect to have a lot left over.
Never fear, there are other recipes you can use it in, right here on the blog!
Homemade Jolly Rancher Candies, Homemade Wine Slush Mix, and Fuzzy Peach Cocktail, are all great ways to use your citric acid!
This recipe is one of many fantastic Canadian recipes in my cookbook, "More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from my Home and Native Land”.
"More than Poutine" is a Canadian cookbook like no other - written by a Canadian living away, it includes both traditional home cooking recipes, as well as accurate homemade versions of many of the snacks, sauces, convenience foods, and other food items that are hard to come by outside of Canada!
Order your copy here on this site, through Amazon, or through any major bookseller!
More Canadian Comfort Food!
Whether you’re a Canadian in the US or not, we could all use some comfort food these days. Here are some Canadian Favourites!
Back Bacon / Canadian Bacon
Canadian Popcorn Seasoning Recipes
Clodhoppers
Confetti Bars
Dill Pickle Dip
Doughnut Holes - Timbits!
French Canadian Pea Soup
Homemade Deep N Delicious Cake
Homemade Wunderbars
How to Make Peameal Bacon and Back Bacon
Maple Butter Tarts
Montreal Bagels
Persians Recipe
Poutine, My Way!
Puffed Wheat Squares
Replica Swiss Chalet Sauce
Tiger Tail Ice Cream
Looking for even more Canadian recipes? Check out our full Canadian Recipes list!
Share the Love!
Before you chow down, be sure to take some pics of your handiwork! If you Instagram it, be sure to tag me - @CelebrationGenerationCA - or post it to My Facebook Page - so I can cheer you on!
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Well, the published nonsense, anyway!
Homemade “Beep” Juice Drink
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Water
- ⅔ Cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Citric Acid Optional
- ½ Cup Orange Juice
- ⅓ Cup Apple Juice
- ⅓ Cup Apricot Nectar
- 2 tablespoon Pineapple Juice
- 2 tablespoon Prune Juice
Instructions
- Measure water, sugar, and citric acid (if using) together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from heat, allow to cool.
- In a large beverage container (1L or more), mix remaining ingredients.
- Add sugar syrup, stir well to combine.
- Chill until use, shake/stir before serving.
Nutrition
More Recipes that Remind me of Gramma
Since originally writing this post, my gramma has sadly passed... but her memory lives on.
Here are a few recipes that remind me of her, whether as something she taught me to make, a replica of a retail treat we used to enjoy together, or one of my own recipes that she would request whenever I’d visit, as an adult.
Gramma's Perogies Recipe
Homemade Marshmallow Cones
Honey Dill Dipping Sauce
Paska - Ukrainian Easter Bread
Baking Powder Biscuits
Grandma's Potato Salad
Easy Butterfly Cupcakes
Breakfast of Champions
French Canadian Pea Soup
Sponge Toffee
Ann
Man! I wish I had that super power! I can see a beep slushie in my future. Thank you
Lee Anna
I grew up in the 70s and living in Saskatchewan, I remember our milkman use to deliver this orange nectar to our home. I would sit on the stairs and ask him to bring more than my mom wrote in the note she left him in the side milk door. He would just laugh and pat me on the head.
Tom
Our milkman delivered Beep in the 60s in Nebraska. I'm excited to try this. Showing up I always thought there was a touch of prune juice in it.