Club Soda, Seltzer, Sparkling Water, and Tonic Water: A Complete Comparison

Written by Resurchify | Updated on: July 13, 2022

Everyone is very much aware of club soda, seltzer, sparkling water, and tonic water when it comes to enjoying a drink on a hot summer afternoon or evening at any group party or at home. You might have noticed being asked what product you would prefer; now, the question arises whether all of them are the same or different and what makes the difference if you go for one product over another. We will find all the answers to these questions in this article. We will also put light on some fun beverage recipes you can make with these products and enjoy along with your friends and family.

What Are These Products All About?

Basically, all these products are made of carbonated water, which means all of them contain carbon dioxide gas in them. Carbon dioxide gas may be infused artificially under pressure or maybe found naturally from some springs or wells. You might find small bubbles when you pour these products into a glass of water; it is because of the presence of carbon dioxide gas, which produces effervescence or release of gas in the form of bubbles from water. As it releases gas, it also produces a hissing sound, which makes it more fun and makes you burp after you drink the whole glass. If you are new to the club, you may not notice a lot of difference in the way all these products make a difference while making your cocktail or mocktail. Club soda, seltzer, sparkling water, and tonic water are all carbonated water but not the same. Let us understand how-

Seltzer

Seltzer is made by carbonating plain water, which is also commonly known as soda water. It is the simplest form of carbonated and has no taste, just like plain water, without minerals. Interestingly, its name was derived from the seltzer town of Germany, which is famous for the mineral springs the town possesses. In the older days, during the 18th century or much before that, the naturally carbonated water was bottled and sold and used commercially in the name of seltzer. But in modern days, companies are using artificial methods to carbonate seltzer; some also use normal filtered water to make the products, while some have flavored options as well. Companies may use artificial fruit flavoring agents or essential oils to enhance the flavors and make them more fun once used to make refreshing drinks. It is a cheap alternative to other carbonated water.

Top 10 Brands Which Sell Seltzer

There are a few brands that sell the best Seltzer in the market, with the best fizz to give your drink a kick. Check out these brands-

Hard MTN DEW Baja Blast
White Claw Surge Variety Pack
Topo Chico Hard Seltzer
Good Company Hard Seltzer
Willie’s Superbrew Sparkling Pineapple & Lime
Truly Margarita Style Pack
Bud Light Retro Summer Variety Pack
Jose Cuervo Playamar Tequila Seltzer Grapefruit
Karbach Brewing Ranch Water
White Claw Hard Seltzer Variety Pack

Club Soda

Club soda is very much similar to that of seltzer but with added minerals. Minerals like sodium citrate, potassium sulfate, disodium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and sometimes sodium chloride. These may vary from brand to brand and gives the club soda a distinct salty taste because they are the best option for cocktails. Many people use seltzer and club soda alternatively depending on the availability of the products, and both can be used in place of another without much difference in the drink.

Top 10 Brands Which Sell Club soda

Some of the best brands selling clubs are as follows-

Canada Dry Club Soda
Pellegrino
Perrier Mineral Water
Schweppe’s Club Soda
Seagram’s Club Soda
La Croix
Voss Sparkling Water
Sparkling Ice
Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water
Arrowhead Springs Sparkling Water

Sparkling Water

Sparkling water or sparkling mineral water is very different from club soda and seltzer. Instead of being artificially carbonated, sparkling mineral water is naturally carbonated. They come from springs or wells, where carbon dioxide occurs naturally and makes the water have bubbles naturally and sparkle. There are some companies that add more carbonation to enhance the sparkling effect of the sparkling mineral water. In addition, as they occur naturally, they have all the natural minerals like sodium, magnesium, calcium, etc. it will, depending upon the source of water and the area the water comes from. For this reason, sparkling mineral water does not go well with cocktails; rather, they taste the best when mixed with wine.

Top 10 Brands Which Sell Sparkling water

Private label
Sparkling Ice
La Croix
Perrier
Bubly
Polar Beverages
San Pellegrino
Topo Chico
Schweppes
La Croix Curate

Tonic Water

When it comes to carbonation, tonic water is quite similar to that of other carbonated waters; the only thing that makes it different from others is that it contains quinine, a compound extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree, giving it a bitter taste. Did you know that quinine is helpful to treat malaria, and hence in the older times, tonic water was used to treat malaria majorly? To get rid of the bitter taste of tonic water due to the quinine content, sweeteners and added flavors are used. Hugh fructose corn syrup and sugar are commonly used sweeteners in tonic water, which makes it the only carbonated water type which contains sugar and hence calories. Tonic water goes best with vodka and gin-based cocktails.

Top 10 Brands Which Sell Tonic Water

There are many tonic water brands on the market, but few have a rich flavor and fizz, which makes each sip of your cocktail worth it; check them out-

Fentimans Traditional Tonic Water
Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water
Fever-Tree Tonic Water – Naturally Light
Jack Rudy Cocktail Company Classic Tonic
John’s Premium Tonic Syrup
La Nostra Acqua Tonica Di Chinotto
Liber Tonic Syrup
Llanllyr Source
Portland Syrups, Rose City Tonic

Which One Is A Better Option?

When it comes to nutritional properties, seltzer, club soda, and sparkling mineral water of them are equal and can be a good and fun alternative to just plain water. Seltzer, club soda, and sparkling mineral water equally hydrate like plain water. However, consuming too much tonic water must be avoided as they contain sugary flavoring agents and are high in calories, which can increase the blood sugar level and can cause a problem for type 2 diabetes. But as mentioned earlier and going by the products, these beverages contain carbonated water, which can cause stomach upset if consumed beyond limits. So it is always suggested to take plain water on priority and not go with this carbonated stuff all the time.

10 Selected Fun Beverage Recipes To Enjoy Summer

Summers are overhead, and a cool soothing drink is all we need to cool ourselves and beat the heat; and making them with carbonated water gives them a fizzy and fun taste. Moreover, you can make these fun summer drinks with natural fruit juices and get all the hydration with a fruity punch. It is not compulsory to add alcohol to make it fun; natural home ingredients can still do the job. So get ready to tranquil your thirst this summer with refreshing drinks. The only thing you need to do yourself here is to prepare the drink with your favorite brand.

The Classic Mojito

All you need is fresh lemons, mint leaves, sugar, your favorite club soda, and some crushed ice or ice cubes. Cut some fresh lemon and squeeze half of it into a glass. Take freshly chopped mint leaves and add them with some granulated sugar. Mix them well and allow all the flavors to blend. Now add crushed ice or ice cubes will also do the cooling work, and add your club soda at last. Garnish with a slice of lemon and mint leaves. Your classic mojito is ready to enjoy a hot summer afternoon.

Moscow Mule Mocktail

Yes! You read that right. You can have the epic Moscow mule without vodka in your traditional copper mug. Get yourself half a cup of ginger beer (non-alcoholic), fresh lime juice, and club soda. Mix all the ingredients in your copper mug and add crushed ice. Garnish with sliced lime and lime wedge.

Sweet Watermelon Mint Summer Spritzer

Summers and watermelons always go hand in hand; they are refreshing, hydrating, and loaded with nutrients. What if you make yourself a mocktail with some watermelon cubes? Consider taking the sweet and ripe red watermelons to make the best of this drink. Cut the darkest-colored watermelon roughly into small sizes and try to remove the seed as many as possible. Put them all in a blender and add 5-6 fresh mint leaves; squeeze half a lemon and club soda or any sparkling water. Blend them all and strain the blend. Add crushed ice and garnish with fresh mint; enjoy with your family and friends on the hot summer afternoon or any time of the day.

Cucumber Mint Lemonade

Cucumbers are a great way to stay hydrated in summer with their refreshing flavor. This drink is easy to make and is loaded with vitamin C. To make this:

Shave a completely fresh cucumber and add them all to a jug.
Add honey, little sugar, and chilled sparkling water.
Squeeze a whole lemon and chop fresh mint leaves.
Put some ice if you want and garnish with sliced cucumber.
Italian Soda

Want to have the taste of Italy at home? Well, you have to try this out then! You need some raspberry syrup and mix one and a half tablespoons of syrup with a glass of club soda or sparkling water. It is suggested not to use tonic water for this, as the syrup is already sweet. You can add more syrup if you like. Garnish with mint leaves and enjoy the drink chilled.

Fresh Ginger And Lime Tonic

Ginger is known for its refreshing peppery and sweet taste, and health benefits. Try this one and turn this pungent yet sweet thingy into a luscious drink! Slice 50 grams of freshly peeled ginger and freeze them. Once they are frozen, put them into a blender, add water, and grind them until you find no lumps. The consistency should be a little watery, so it becomes easy to strain out the ginger juice. Pour the mixture into a sieve and squeeze all the juice out to get half a cup of ginger juice. Take four glasses and add crushed ice in all of them, two tablespoons of ginger juice, and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Fill 1/4th of the glass with tonic water and stir the mixture. Top the drink with some sparkling water to add the fizz, and enjoy the drink. If you prefer it to be sweet, you can add some honey and get a whole new flavor to the drink along with the sweetness.

Simple Fruit Soda

This one is simple, and anyone can make it with any type of fruit juice. All you have to do is add fruit juice with some tonic water and blend it the way you want. You can try out crane berry juice or pomegranate juice, or even orange juice. Tonic water is usually used for alcoholic beverages, but you can try this out.

Pineapple Strawberry Sunrise

Chop small cubes of ripe and sweet pineapple and strawberries, mash them and add them to your class. Add fresh orange juice and sparkling water. Add two drops of vanilla and enjoy the exotic summer drink. You can also add some chopped fruits to enjoy them after the drink is over.

Coconut Mojito

This one is an interesting one. It’s basically the classic mojito but with a touch of fresh coconut milk and water. Crush a few mint leaves at the glass bottom and add some sugar and lemon juice. Add a drizzle of fresh coconut water, coconut milk, and sparkling lime water. Mix them all and garnish with ice cubes and mint leaves. It’s a pack of nutrients and hydration with a mild coconut flavor. You’ll definitely enjoy it!

Nigerian Chapman

Slice lemons, fresh grapefruit, orange fruits, and cucumber and place them in a container. Pour your black currant juice concentrate, orange juice, lemonade, limeade, and sparkling water over the sliced fruits as per your serving size. Depending on your container, you can go for 1 part sparkling orange juice, 1 part sparkling lemonade, 1 part sparkling limeade, 1/2 part blackcurrant drink concentrate, and some Angostura bitters. Stir everything and enjoy your drink.

These were some of the selected best drinks ever tasted with carbonated water. The amazing part is that you can go on doing experiments with different ingredients and invent your type of summer drink. You never know when you will come up with something new which you and your whole family may enjoy.

How Good Is This Fizzy Water?

Effect On The Cells

Carbonated water is a good alternative to sugary drinks. And, of course, you will enjoy the burp after the drink. However, everything comes with some side effects, and so goes the same with carbonated water. They are actually not great for your health. To understand this better, let us go back to how they are made. As we read earlier, carbonated water is made up of infusing carbon dioxide gas under pressure to add that fizzy with bubbles. Some of them have added salt and added minerals to enhance the taste. However, there are natural springs and waterfalls, which produce this carbonated water, naturally, like Perrier and San Pellegrino, and also have these minerals, but the compounds are much softer. On the other hand, tonic water is different from all of these, which contains added quinine, along with sugar and high fructose corn syrups. So when water and carbon dioxide gas reacts, they produce a weak acid called carbonic acid, which has been shown to stimulate the same neuron receptors in your mouth as cinnamon and mustard, producing the tingling sensation in the mouth, which some consider an irritation while others enjoyment. Carbonic acid makes the pH of the water around 3-4, which is slightly acidic, which concerns some people, but as a matter of fact, drinking acidic beverages does not make the body more acidic. Our kidneys and lungs remove the extra carbon dioxide from our body, thereby ensuring that our blood always stays slightly alkaline, no matter what we eat or drink.

Effect On The Dental Health

Though it does not affect the cells s much, carbonated water may have a little effect on dental health as they are acidic in nature. The enamel of the teeth that protects our teeth is directly exposed to the acids present in the carbonated water. Studies have proved that carbonated water might damage the teeth, but this is less than the effect soft drinks have on our teeth. So conclusion, carbonated water has very little negative effect on dental health.

If you are still worried, then you can have your DIY fizzy drinks with your meals or rinse off your mouth after the drink or the whole meal.

Effect On Digestion

You will be surprised to know that carbonated water actually increases the digestion abilities in both children and adults. They also help you to feel fuller for longer than just plain water as it helps the food to stay in the first part of the stomach for longer, which can trigger a sensation of fullness. It can also help you with chronic constipation and other digestion-related difficulties like stomach pain.

Effects On The Bones

Some people believe that carbonated water affects the bones negatively as they are acidic in nature. However, studies show that carbonation is not blamed here. Coke products are the only beverages that significantly cause lower bone mineral density. So, carbonated do not really have a bad effect on health. Unlike this clear soda water, cola drinks contain a lot of phosphorus. Researches pose that cola drinkers may have less calcium than phosphorus, which can cause potential damage to bone loss, concluding that carbonated water has no negative effects on bone health.

Conclusion

In the above article, we saw the difference between club soda, seltzer, sparkling water, and tonic water and noticed they are quite similar yet different from each other. You can make amazing cocktails and mocktails and enjoy them alone or with friends. However, they are no such evidence as to whether these carbonated waters are good or bad for health, but can I prove the digestion, swallowing, and aid constipation. Yes, they can be a good alternative to just plain water while making drinks, but it is a good way to keep you hydrated. So stay hydrated and keep yourself healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is carbonated water good for the heart?

There are no proven and solid studies about carbonated water being good goof for the heart. A study was conducted on a woman who had already gone through menopause. The results showed that drinking sodium-rich soda water decreased the bad cholesterol level, inflammations, and blood sugar levels, which can be good for heart health. The main point here is that there are such visible and potential health hazards caused by carbonated water, so that does not make carbonated water bad for the heart or any body part.

I have seen some people add soda water to chicken fries. Is that safe?

Yes, it is safe! Carbonated water has carbon dioxide. While frying the chicken, it releases small pockets of air that not only help the batter become really light but also extremely crispy. Make your batter with a cup of flour, spices, salt, and pepper and then add the soda water (sparkling water would be recommended) and give it all a mix. The proportion should be as such to make the batter neither too thick nor thin. Duck the chicken pieces and deep-fry them till they are cooked. Enjoy the crispy chicken fries with this amazing hack!

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