Moxie soda is a beloved New England soft drink first created in 1876 as a medicinal beverage. It¡¯s flavored with gentian root, giving it a bitter flavor, with hints of cola, root beer, and Dr Pepper, which is what you should substitute if you can¡¯t find Moxie where you live. It¡¯s the secret ingredient in these beans, giving them a complex, sweet, and fruity flavor.