Soda Water: How Much Do You Know?

Soda Water is carbonate water, sometimes referred to as sparkling water, and is plain ole’ water which has been sparkled with carbon dioxide. It is the principal ingredient of most “soft drinks” and “pop.”. Carbonation produces carbonic acid, which produces soda pop.

Soda water, sometimes called club soda, was produced in the past in the home by using a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charged” with carbon dioxide. Although it is possible for small amounts of table salts and sodium trace minerals to be present, club soda is often virtually the same as plain carbonated water. These additives could possibly make the taste of home made soda water a bit salty. There are many areas in which this process occurs naturally, resulting in carbonated mineral water.

Some believe that sparkling mineral water may sometimes cause a little dental decay. Normal water poses less potential dental problems than sparkling water, but the difference does not present a major problem. A much higher rate of tooth decay is caused by regular soft drinks than by sparkling water. The rate is so low it suggests that carbonated drinks may not be little or no factor in causing dental decay.

Ground water, usually from artesian wells, is often filtered among layers of minerals; these layers contain various carbonates; the water absorbs carbon dioxide gas released by the carbonates. This produces natural sparkling water. Sparkling mineral water is created if the filtered water picks up enough different minerals to add a flavor.

Basically, water + carbon dioxide = soda water. Sparkling mineral water is a naturally-occuring product of carbonation. In the year 1794, a jeweler invented a different kind of device — one to produce artificial carbonated mineral water.

A taste test of several carbonated drinks was conducted; it was deemed that Perrier, a sparkling natural mineral water, kept its fizz the longest.

Consumers feeling seltzer to be a bit harsh may prefer the more gentle fizz of club soda. During the taste test, compared to standard carbonated water, club soda seemed to be milder, as well as a little sweeter.

Club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer and carbonate water have no calories, which make them a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water.

If one mixes water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine, the carbonated result is called tonic water. Originally, quinine was added to tonic water to help cure or prevent malaria. Today it is often used in combination with gin and lemon or lime to make an alcoholic drink.

These are some of the basic facts about soda water.