When carbon dioxide (CO2) gas has been added to water, it is said to be carbonated; soda water is carbonated water, and mostly referred to as sparkling water. It is the number one ingredient of most “soft drinks.”. This process of carbonation has a happy result — carbonic acid, enjoyed by millions as soda pop.
If one takes a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charges” it with carbon dioxide, the result is club soda — or, soda water. Club soda may be virtually the same as plain carbonated water; however, a small amount of table salts and/or sodium trace minerals may be present. These additives could possibly make the taste of home made soda water a bit salty. This process also occurs naturally in some areas, and produces carbonated mineral water.
Sparkling mineral water can sometimes cause a little dental decay. Sparkling water’s potential affects on dental problems are somewhat greater than with normal water, but not dramatically so. Regular soft drinks cause tooth decay at a rate much higher than sparkling water. The rate is so low it suggests that carbonation of drinks may not be a significant factor in causing dental decay.
Ground water – 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. This produces natural sparkling water. If, during filtration, the water picks up enough different minerals to add a flavor to the water, it becomes sparkling mineral water.
At its root, soda water is just water and carbon dioxide. Sparkling mineral water seems very special, but it is just a natural product of carbonation. In 1794, a jeweler invented a device to produce an artificial carbonated mineral water.
A taste test of several 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 has a more gentle fizz. As part of the tasting test, it was found that club soda seemed to be milder and a little sweeter tasting than standard carbonate water.
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.
Tonic water is a type of carbonated drink that contains water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine. Originally, quinine was added to tonic water for a medicinal purpose — to help cure or prevent malaria. Mixing it with gin and lemon or lime creates a popular contemporary alcoholic drink.
These are just a few of the facts and names used for soda water.