When carbon dioxide gas has been added to water, it is said to be carbonated; soda water is carbonated water, and generally referred to as sparkling water. It is the number one ingredient of most “soft drinks.”. Soda pop, loved my many, is basically carbonic acid — the product of carbonation.
Soda water, which is also referred to as club soda, was produced in the past in the home by using a seltzer bottle filled with water and “charged” with carbon dioxide. Club soda can be the same as plain carbonated water; however, small amounts of table salts and/or sodium trace minerals might be present. These additives could make the taste of home made soda water slightly salty. This process also occurs naturally in some areas, and produces carbonated mineral water.
Sparkling mineral water can sometimes cause a little dental decay. While the potential problem of sparkling water is greater than still water the problem remains low. Tooth decay occurs at a much higher rate for users of regular soft drinks versus users of sparkling water. The rate is so low that one wonders if carbonated drinks may be little or no factor in causing dental decay.
Artesian wells can be the source for waters that filter among layers of minerals in the ground; the layers contain forms of carbonates, and the waters absorb the carbon dioxide gases released by those carbonates. Natural sparkling water is what results. Shoud the water also pick up enough different minerals to become flavored, it becomes sparkling mineral water.
Basically, soda water = water + carbon dioxide. A naturally-occuring product of carbonation is sparkling mineral water. In 1794, a jeweler invented a device to produce an artificial carbonated mineral water.
A taste test of several popular carbonated drinks determined that Perrier (a sparkling natural mineral water) kept its fizz the longest.
For consumers who believe seltzer to be a bit harsh, club soda offers an alternative, with a gentle fizz. Club soda seemed to be milder, and a little sweeter, than the standard carbonated water during the taste test,.
Having zero calories, club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water are a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water.
Tonic water is a type of carbonate drink; it contains water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine. Quinine was originately added to tonic water to help cure or prevent malaria. Today, to make a well-known alcoholic drink, it is often mixed with gin and lemon or lime.
These are some of the basic facts about soda water.