Carbonated Drinks

The tiny bubbles that give fizz and tingle to carbonated drinks come from carbon dioxide, either contained in the liquid naturally or added to it artificially. Favorite carbonated beverages include sparkling water, soda pop and beer.

Sparkling water. If the label on the bottle says "naturally sparkling mineral water", the bubbles come from the same source as the water. If the label says "sparkling natural mineral water", the bubbles have been added; club soda or seltzer falls into this category. Despite advertising claims to the contrary, there is really little difference between naturally carbonated and carbonation-added sparkling waters. Few people can really tell the difference between an expensive imported brand and the cheapest supermarket brand. Your choice should be based simply on personal preference.

Soda pop. When sparkling water is combined with a flavored syrup, the result is soda pop. These vastly popular beverages are available in a wide choice of brands and flavors. You can also make your own soda pop from sparkling water and flavoring ingredients.

Storage. Sparkling water and soda pop can be purchased well in advance and stored for months on end. They should be refrigerated for several hours before serving. Once the bottle has been opened, the carbonation will dissipate quickly and the beverage will become flat and tasteless. Cap opened bottles tightly and store them in the refrigerator; use the contents as quickly as possible.

Beer. Beers can be divided into four main groups, based on alcohol content: regular, light, low-alcohol and non-alcoholic. Because they contain less alcohol and fewer calories than regular and light beers, low-alcohol and non-alcoholic types are currently increasing in popularity.

Collections of Carbonated Drink Recipes:

1. Chocolate Egg Cream

2. Coffee Cola Flip

3. Orange Julia

4. Strawberry Ice Cream Soda

5. Cola Fizz

6. Black Cow

7. Maple-Yoghurt Ice Cream Soda