Soda Water Made Simple
Soda Water is carbonate water, sometimes referred to as sparkling water, and is plain ole’ water which carbon dioxide gas has been added. It is the predominant ingredient of most “soft drinks.”. Soda pop, loved my many, is basically carbonic acid — the product of carbonation.
soda water
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. Club soda is often just the same as plain carbonated water; however, in some cases, it can have a small amount of table salts and sodium trace minerals. These additives could make the taste of home made soda water slightly salty. In many areas this process is a natural occurence and produces carbonated mineral water.
A little dental decay may sometimes be caused by sparkling mineral water. Potential dental problems with sparkling water are admittedly greater than normal water, but not dramatically so. Drinking regular soft drinks can cause a much higher rate of tooth decay than drinking sparkling water. The rate is so low that one wonders if carbonated drinks may be little or no factor in causing dental decay.
Water coming from the ground – usually from artesian wells – can be filtered among layers of minerals containing forms of carbonates and absorb the carbon dioxide gas released by those carbonates. The resulting substance is natural sparkling water. Sparkling mineral water results in cases where the filtered water picks up enough different minerals to add a flavor.
Soda water is not complicated; it’s just water and carbon dioxide. A naturally-occuring product of carbonation is sparkling mineral water. In the year 1794, a jeweler invented a different kind of device — one to produce 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. As part of the taste test, club soda seemed to be milder, and a little sweeter tasting, than standard carbonated water.
Club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water have a great advantage over soda pop and tonic water — no calories. Not even if flavored at home with flavor for carbonated water.
If one mixes water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine, the carbonated result is called tonic water. Quinine was originately 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.
Soda water? These simple facts show us it’s not so complicated after all.
