What is Soda Made Of?

Carbonated water is known as soda water. When you ask for soda water you will get a club soda or seltzer water usually.

Soda is made up of essential water, which can be naturally obtained in a usable form, or mains water which can be filtered in different ways or methods to obtain the final product and the filtration process depends upon the required beverage type. 

If it is in a drink, as a mixer, or enhancer, it can be used either way because the basic motto here is only carbonation. 

1. Calories in Soda Water 

Now, when we say soda water it means club soda or seltzer so basically this is just water that is carbonated; so effectively has zero calories.

All it has is infused minerals, so can be used in place of soft drinks to have a low-calorie beverage. 

2. Carbs in Soda Water 

As there is no sugar present there are no carbohydrates in soda water. This is why it is a very popularly used product and also used in all recipes because of no dietary issues with it.

It is helpful because it does not impart any flavor and color, so can be used as a base easily plus, it can be used with anything and soda water will start tasting like that product. 

3. Manufacturing 

Although there is a detailed list of ingredients that are used in making soft drinks which are mentioned below, they can be manufactured simply by using water, syrup, and carbon dioxide.

Just take the required and measured amounts of syrup and water and mix thoroughly.

Creating the syrup, however, is the requirement of the particular beverage you desire. Finally, carbonate the mixture, and it is ready.

You can also add any coloring or flavoring agent if you want. Indeed, nowadays you get soda machines for homes also. Where you can easily make your own carbonated drink or mineral water. 

Carbonation, on an industrial scale, is done by first lowering the tap water temperature to 8 degrees Celsius. A source of bicarbonate which is water soluble and basic is added to chilled water to raise the potenz hydrogen level.

The solution is then pressurized with carbon dioxide gas, which dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, hence lowering the solution’s pH.

This carbonated water is then put in a sealed container which is pressurized and even more carbon dioxide gas is added to keep water carbonated. 

You must have wondered why the soft drink or soda spills when you open the can.

So, when carbon dioxide is added to the beverage in the can it is at a very low temperature, and can hold a lot of gas a lot more than it can contain at a hot or normal temperature.

Now when you open the can which causes movement or the temperature rises, the gas escapes rapidly as small bubbles and thus the drink spills.

You must have observed a similar action with ice cream as well, when your pour soda over ice cream it bubbles.

This is because what we see with our naked eyes is a solid ice cream but microscopically it has very tiny ice crystals, so gas molecules from the soda sit on these crystals and become bubbles. 

4. Ingredients 

4.1. Carbon dioxide (CO2)

The element that adds fizz to soft drinks is this tasteless, inert, and non-toxic gas.

The amount of fizziness varies from beverage to beverage, so the amount of carbon dioxide is found low in fruity drinks, colas have medium levels, and tonics or other mixers have high carbonation. 

4.2. Water

It is the main ingredient of almost all drinks, regular beverages which goes up to 98% in low-calorie products and around 90% in regular beverages.

Some products especially use spring water or natural water but considering the volume, usually mains water after further treatment is used for production and moreover, water is the solvent in which all the ingredients of that beverage will dissolve. 

4.3. Fruit

Fruit is added to soft drinks in various ways like fruit juices, and citrus products including fruit skins, fruit puree, etc. 

4.4. Preservatives

Substances added to increase shelf life, are called preservatives. They slow down the growth of microorganisms like yeast or bacteria.

Not all soft drinks contain them, but anything with a substantial amount of shelf life does. 

4.5. Sugar

Soft drinks are usually sweetened by adding sugar that comes from beet or cane. This sugar is called sucrose.

Along with it glucose or fructose syrups are also used.  

4.6. Colors

Colors are added to soft drinks to make them more aesthetically pleasing. Also, they are recognized by their particular colors at times and thus help them maintain their identity.

Colors are usually three types natural, artificial, and caramels. Based on the drink and requirements they are used. 

4.7. Flavorings

What drives you to pick a specific soft drink is the characteristic taste or flavor, all soft drinks, and if not all then almost all of them have some or the other type of flavoring.

These can be both natural and artificial. 

4.8. Electrolytes

When we exercise our body fluids lose some electrolytes due to sweating like potassium and sodium.

Our body has certain salts like chloride, potassium, and calcium. These are essential for our nervous systems.

A lot of sports drinks contain electrolytes so the lost ones can be replaced with the help of them. 

4.9. Caffeine

Have you noticed that you kind of get a little energized after the consumption of a can of cola?

That is because of a substance called caffeine which increases alertness in humans. It is extracted from plants usually and added to soft drinks in different quantities. 

5. Final thoughts 

Therefore, soda making is based on the concept of carbonation using carbon dioxide gas and is most commonly found as seltzer or club soda.

Being colorless and flavorless it can be easily consumed straight or mixed with anything to enhance its fizziness while retaining its original taste.