Sparkling water, sparkling mineral water, soda, carbonated water, tonic water: what’s the difference?

Take a stroll down the beverage aisle at the grocery store, and you’ll find a monument to soda. As drinkers around the world look for new options, like non-alcoholic beverages, the popularity of soda seems to know no bounds. In 2023, The highly competitive global carbonated water market is valued at $38.13 billion and is expected to grow to $108.35 billion by 2032.That’s a lot of bubbles.

But not all sparkling waters are created equal. In this somewhat nebulous category, you’ll find sparkling water, mineral water, soda, seltzer, and tonic water. They’re all incredibly fizzy and refreshing, but each has its own unique properties. To learn about the differences and best uses for them, I spoke with Jason O’Brien, co-owner of Virtual Cocktails Drinkwell.co and Rob’s ReportCocktail columnist for The Voice, as well as Dr. Brian Kwok Lee, food scientist, food industry consultant and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered.

What is the difference between sparkling water, sparkling mineral water, soda, carbonated water and tonic water?

The term “sparkling water” refers to any water that contains gases, regardless of how it is brought into that state. Sparkling water, mineral water, soda water, seltzer water, and tonic water are all slightly different examples of sparkling water. The term sparkling water is also sometimes used interchangeably with sparkling water as a catch-all term for any type of sparkling water.

Sparkling water

Sparkling water is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide, which gives it its fizzy taste. In addition to purchasing sparkling water, you can also make your own using Tabletop soda makerlike SodaStream. But long before SodaStream became popular in the United States, An Englishman named Joseph Priestley discovered how to add carbonate to water artificially in the 1770s.Eventually, a Scottish physician named John Nooth improved on Priestley’s design, replacing Priestley’s pig bladder with glass bottles, giving us what we know today as sparkling water.

sparkling mineral water

O’Brien explains that sparkling mineral water is naturally sparkling. “Mineral water is any naturally carbonated water from a protected underground spring that contains more than 250 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved minerals, such as sodium, magnesium, calcium or potassium,” he says.The FDA states that Mineral water must contain at least 250 parts per million of dissolved solids in its natural state to qualify as mineral water. The specific mineral content is what gives each type of sparkling mineral water its distinct flavor and level of carbonation. The terms “sparkling water” and “mineral water” are often used interchangeably, although this is technically incorrect. Mineral water can sometimes, but not always, be sparkling water—whether the carbonation occurs naturally or with the addition of carbon dioxide—and not all sparkling water is mineral water.

soda drink

“Soda is carbonated water that contains salts such as sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, or sodium citrate to give it a slightly salty, mineral flavor,” says Kwok Lee. These compounds are not naturally occurring, but are instead added by the manufacturer.

Seltzer

Unlike soda and mineral water, sparkling water is carbonated water that does not contain minerals. To make sparkling water, water is infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure to produce carbonation. The term “sparkling water” is often used interchangeably with “sparkling water,” although there is some debate among beverage professionals about whether or not this is technically correct.

It is interesting to note that in the United States, Jewish immigrants in New York helped popularize soft drinks. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marginalized and unable to access clean water from the Croton Aqueduct that supplied water to other New Yorkers, Jews in New York opened their own soda companies, and by 1899, 90% of New York’s soda companies were owned by Jews.

tonic

It was tonic water. It was created in the mid-19th century. Erasmus Bond devised a way to make the antimalarial quinine more palatable. Because quinine tastes bitter, manufacturers added sugar, making the mixture resemble a soft drink, like ginger ale or Sprite. Tonic also has an astringent property, and Kwok Lee says it’s best paired with citrus or fruit flavors because the acidity helps to reduce the astringency.

There are many legends about how gin became so closely associated with tonics, but they are difficult to verify. What we do know is that doctors administered bitter quinine (as a tonic) with alcohol as a way to make it more palatable, and lemon garnish is a natural complement to both tonics and gin. The first recorded reference to gin and tonics comes from Eastern Sports Magazine In 1868, it was described as a cocktail enjoyed in the hot tropical climate of Lucknow, India.

What are the best uses for sparkling water, sparkling mineral water, soda, seltzer and tonic water?

Each of the five sparkling waters mentioned above has its own unique taste, mineral content and nutritional value, so their uses and applications vary.

When it comes to making cocktails, the amount of carbonation is the biggest factor in choosing a sparkling water, says O’Brien. “You want a lot of strong carbonation,” he says. “In something like Tom Collins Or a Mojito“Sparkling water is only a third of the way up and you need to lift twice its weight to get the whole thing fizzy and lively, so you want as much carbonation as possible,” O’Brien adds. Sparkling mineral waters rarely have enough carbonation to achieve this, so seltzer or soda would be a better choice.

However, O’Brien notes that the minerals in some of these waters can tone down the bitterness and add a distinct flavor to other flavors, “so Campari soda or Americano “Drinking soda water will be clearer and less bitter than drinking soda water or plain water, and it doesn’t have the same bad effect on regular drinks, like vodka soda.”

The sodium content in soda helps offset bitterness in culinary applications, too, adds Kwok Lee. “Sodium salts are very good at inhibiting bitter receptors and activating umami receptors, which is why salt is always added to savory dishes,” he says. “Soda is best used to make more delicate fried and savory foods because the sodium content helps enhance the umami flavor.” Adding soda to the mix for foods like Tempura It also slows down the rate of gluten formation, which helps extend the shelf life of the batter, according to J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. In this chiffon cake recipeBaking soda is used to create light, fluffy crumbs.

Tonic water is in a category of its own, and the only suitable substitutes are other carbonated drinks, such as Sprite or ginger beer. “But nobody drinks gin and Sprite because it’s not as good as gin and tonic,” says O’Brien. “The two are perfect together.” Tonic water’s bitter-sweet flavor also makes it a great choice for cocktails like the espresso tonic And a Pims and tonic.

If you’re just looking for a good sparkling water to drink, go for it. Of course, there are many sparkling waters with added flavours, such as lemon, lime and grapefruit, but even unflavoured sparkling waters have a wide range of flavours across different brands, thanks to their different mineral compositions. For example, the sodium content in Topo Chico makes it a great accompaniment to spicy and rich foods like nothingWhile the bicarbonate content of Gerolsteiner pairs well with rich sauce dishes like Arrabiata Pasta. Simple sparkling water will be perfect for light foods like: The only enlightenerso the delicate flavours of the dish can shine, while the bitter-sweet tonic water pairs well with the strong flavours of the cold meat board.

Can you use sparkling water, sparkling mineral water, soda, seltzer, and tonic water interchangeably?

Sparkling water, seltzer water, and sparkling water can be used interchangeably, either to drink as is or to mix into cocktails. O’Brien says the subtle differences in taste are what make him choose one over the other. “The mineral content is a minor concern,” he says. “As long as it has enough carbonation, salty water like seltzer and unsalted water like sparkling water are interchangeable.” Because sparkling mineral water tends to have lower levels of carbonation, it’s best not to use it in place of other carbonated waters in cocktails and other drinks that require a lot of fizz. And as mentioned above, due to the unique flavor and sugar content of tonic water, it’s not a good choice for swapping out other types of sparkling water.

Ready Meals

Carbonated water is a category that includes sparkling water, sparkling mineral water, soda, seltzer, and tonic water. Sparkling mineral water and carbonated water contain mineral compounds, but mineral water derives its mineral content naturally from underground springs, while carbonated water has mineral content added to it by the manufacturer. Carbonated water is carbonated water that does not contain minerals. Sparkling water is a type of carbonated water that may or may not contain minerals, but the term is often used as a catch-all term for all types of carbonated water. These types of carbonated water are used interchangeably, with slight differences that give them their distinct carbonation and flavor. Carbonated water is the most distinctive carbonated water because it contains a bitter compound called quinine, as well as added sugar, making it more like a soft drink.