Soda Water: What Is It?
Soda water, or sparkling water, is a carbonated water — that is, plain water to which carbon dioxide gas has been added. It is the primary component of most “soft drinks.”. The process of carbonation results in soda pop — that is, carbonic acid.
By using a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charged” with carbon dioxide, soda water (club soda) was produced in the past in the home. Club soda can be the same as plain carbonated water; however, it is possible for small amounts of table salts and sodium trace minerals to be present. These additives could possibly make the taste of home made soda water a bit salty. The naturally-occuring process in some areas produces carbonated mineral water.
Sparkling mineral water sometimes causes a little dental decay. Sparkling water’s potential affects on dental problems are slightly greater than with non-sparkling water, but the problem is not a major one. Regular soft drinks are apt to cause a much higher rate of tooth decay than sparkling water. The rate is so low it suggests that carbonation of drinks may, in fact, not be a 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 outcome is usually called 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 basically just water and carbon dioxide. You are probably familiar with sparkling mineral water — a naturally-occuring result of carbonation. In 1794, a jeweler made a device to produce a carbonate artificial mineral water.
A taste test was conducted on several carbonated drinks; Perrier, a sparkling natural mineral water, was judged to keep its fizz the longest.
For consumers who believe seltzer to be a bit harsh, club soda provides a more gentle fizz. Club soda seemed to be milder and a little sweeter, during the taste test, than the standard carbonated water.
Club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water have zero calories, making them a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water.
Tonic water is a type of carbonate drink containing water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine. Quinine’s original use in tonic water was medicinal — as an additive to help cure or prevent malaria. Today it is commonly mixed with gin and lemon or lime for a popular alcoholic drink.
These basic facts and terms help us have a clearer understanding of soda water.
