Easy Guide to Food And Drinks

May 18, 2010

Soda Water: What Is It?

Filed under: Low Calorie — Tags: , , , — CakeAuthor @ 9:43 pm

sparkling water

Soda water, also referred to as sparkling water, and is plain water with carbon dioxide gas added — it has been “carbonated.”. It is the primary component of most “soft drinks.”. The product of carbonation is carbonic acid — familiar to us a soda pop.

soda water

Soda water, or club soda, can be produced at home by using a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charged” with carbon dioxide. Although it is possible for small amounts of table salts and sodium trace minerals to be present, club soda can be the same as plain carbonated water. These additives make the slight taste of salt home made soda water. This process, occuring naturally in some areas, produces carbonated mineral water.

It’s possible that, in some cases, a little dental decay might be related to sparkling mineral water. Potential dental problems with sparkling water are admittedly greater than normal water, but only slightly so. Tooth decay seems to be stimulated much more by regular soft drinks than by sparkling water. The rate is so surprisingly low, carbonated drinks may not be a factor in causing dental decay.

Water coming from the ground - usually from artesian wells - is often filtered among layers of minerals; these layers contain forms of carbonates, and the water absorbs the carbon dioxide gas released by the carbonates. The resulting water is called natural sparkling water. When the water also picks up enough different minerals to add a flavor to the water it becomes sparkling mineral water.

Soda water is basically just water and carbon dioxide. One natural result of carbonation is sparkling mineral water. A jeweler, in 1794, made a device to produce an artificial carbonated mineral water.

A taste test was conducted involving several carbonated drinks; Perrier, a sparkling natural mineral water, was deemed to keep its fizz the longest.

For consumers who believe seltzer to be a bit harsh, club soda has a gentle fizz. As part of the taste test, club soda seemed to be milder, and a little sweeter tasting, than standard carbonated water.

Club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water have zero calories, making them a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water. Not even if flavored at home with flavor for carbonated water.

The carbonated drink produced by mixing water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine is known as tonic water. Quinine’s first use in tonic water was as an additive to help cure or prevent malaria. Today it is commonly mixed with gin and lemon or lime for a popular alcoholic drink.

These are just a few of the facts and names used for soda water.

December 18, 2009

Soda Club (aka Sodastream) Conflicts Arise in Germany

Filed under: Food-And-Drink — Tags: , , , , — CakeAuthor @ 5:25 pm

In 2006, by claiming that Soda Club bottles were company property, not the customer’s (per standard customer contracts), Sodastream tried to stop a competing enterprise from refilling said bottles of carbon dioxide (CO2).

This effort failed in Germany, and now the same could happen in other countries.

Competition is needed in this market niche, both for environ­mental reasons (bottles should be refilled in the store, an operation that takes a mere 20 seconds); and for financial reasons (price could easily be halved). More info about refilling - and home refilling - of carbon dioxide bottles for home sodamakers here.

Still, one should consider that sparkling water made at home already costs but a fraction of store-purchased carbonated beverages, but things could be a lot better.

Here are the facts from bundeskartellamt in Germany:

http://www.bundeskartellamt.de/wEnglisch/News/Archiv/ArchivNews2006/2006_04_13.php

 

April 13, 2006

Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court confirms immediate enforceability in the Soda-Club case

Soda-Club GmbH, Wiesbaden (“Soda-Club“) may not use its dominant position abusively. Soda-Club had prevented competing suppliers from refilling Co² cartridges for water carbonating machines by claiming its ownership of the cartridges.

In February 2006 the Bundeskartellamt prohibited this conduct. Soda Club opposed the Bundeskartellamt’s immediately enforceable decision by applying to the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court for interim measures. In provisional proceedings the court has now confirmed the Bundeskartellamt’s decision in all material respects. Soda-Club is dominant in the market for refilling CO2 cartridges. Hindering competitors from refilling CO² cartridges represents an abuse of this dominant position. By this conduct Soda-Club prevents consumers from taking advantage of alternative refilling possibilities. Only the obligation to point out on labels on the company’s own cartridges that it is admissible to have them refilled by competitors was seen by the Higher Regional Court as a disproportionate measure.

Although Soda-Club can still appeal against the Higher Regional Court’s decision to the Federal Supreme Court, the Higher Regional Court’s decision implies that the numerous small and medium-sized bottling plants can now start to compete with Soda-Club and refill all cartridges circulating in the market.

July 10, 2009

Sodastream (Soda Club) fouled up in Germany

Filed under: Food-And-Drink — Tags: , , , , — CakeAuthor @ 11:20 am

In 2006, Sodastream (Soda Club) tried to stop a competing enterprise from refilling Soda Club bottles of carbon dioxide (CO2), by claiming that the bottles were their property and did not belong to the customer (per contracts that all customers had to agree to).

This didn’t work in Germany, and this could very well happen in many other countries.

Competition is needed in this market niche, both in the interest of the environ­ment (bottles should be refilled in the store, an operation that takes a mere 20 seconds); and for price, which could easily be halved. More info about refilling - and home refilling - of carbon dioxide bottles for home sodamakers here.

Consumers should consider that sparkling water made at home can already be had at a fraction of the cost of retail carbonated beverages; however, things could be a lot better.

Here are the facts from bundeskartellamt in Germany:

http://www.bundeskartellamt.de/wEnglisch/News/Archiv/ArchivNews2006/2006_04_13.php

 

April 13, 2006

Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court confirms immediate enforceability in the Soda-Club case

Soda-Club GmbH, Wiesbaden (“Soda-Club“) may not use its dominant position abusively. Soda-Club had prevented competing suppliers from refilling CO2 cartridges for water carbonating machines by claiming its ownership of the cartridges.

In February 2006 the Bundeskartellamt prohibited this conduct. Soda Club opposed the Bundeskartellamt’s immediately enforceable decision by applying to the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court for interim measures. In provisional proceedings the court has now confirmed the Bundeskartellamt’s decision in all material respects. Soda-Club is dominant in the market for refilling CO² cartridges. Hindering competitors from refilling CO² cartridges represents an abuse of this dominant position. By this conduct Soda-Club prevents consumers from taking advantage of alternative refilling possibilities. Only the obligation to point out on labels on the company’s own cartridges that it is admissible to have them refilled by competitors was seen by the Higher Regional Court as a disproportionate measure.

Although Soda-Club can still appeal against the Higher Regional Court’s decision to the Federal Supreme Court, the Higher Regional Court’s decision implies that the numerous small and medium-sized bottling plants can now start to compete with Soda-Club and refill all cartridges circulating in the market.

April 13, 2009

A Simple Explanation of Soda Water

Filed under: Low Calorie — Tags: , , , — CakeAuthor @ 6:33 am

Soda water, also referred to as sparkling water, and is plain water with carbon dioxide gas added. It is the principal ingredient of most “soft drinks” and “pop.”. This process of carbonation forms carbonic acid which is soda pop.

Soda water is also known as club soda; it can be produced at home by using a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charged” with carbon dioxide. 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 make the slight taste of salt home made . The naturally-occuring process in some areas produces carbonated mineral water.

In some cases, a little dental decay might be related to sparkling mineral water. Potential dental problems with sparkling water are greater than normal water, but only slightly so. Drinking regular soft drinks can cause a much higher rate of tooth decay than drinking sparkling water. The rate is so low it suggests that carbonation may not be a factor in causing dental decay.

Water coming from the ground - 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. Natural sparkling water is what results. If the water also picks up enough different minerals to add a flavor to the water it becomes sparkling mineral water.

Fundamentally, soda water is just water and carbon dioxide. Sparkling mineral water is a carbonation which is naturally-occurring. In 1794, a jeweler made a device to produce a carbonate artificial mineral water.

A taste test was conducted on several carbonated drinks; Perrier, a sparkling natural mineral water, was judged to keep its fizz the longest.

The gentle fizz of club soda may be preferred by consumers who feel seltzer to be a bit harsh. In one part of the taste test, club soda seemed to be milder and a little sweeter tasting than standard carbonated water.

Club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water do not have any calories; this makes them a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water. Not even if flavored at home with flavor for carbonated water.

Tonic water is a type of carbonate drink; it contains water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine. Quinine was originally added to tonic water to help cure or prevent malaria. Today it is commonly mixed with gin and lemon or lime for a popular alcoholic drink.

Understanding soda water is made easier by these basic facts and terms.

Fun With SodaStream Home Carbonation Systems

Filed under: Food-And-Drink — Tags: , , , — CakeAuthor @ 6:32 am

SodaStream is the name of a line of carbonation makers; the company began in 1903.

When different concentrated syrups became available in the 1970s and 1980s, drink machines were created that could add concentrates to create carbonated drinks in popular flavors. After a merger with Soda-Club the company marketed its product as a way to make healthy drinks for kids.

SodaStream’s drink maker is a small device that forces carbon dioxide into water, making it have a taste like soda pop. The system includes: a) a machine; b) a canister of carbon dioxide; and c) reusable beverage bottles (suitable for pressurizing). The bottle, when filled with water, is screwed on to the machine, and with a push of the button ejects compressed CO2 from a canister into the bottle, making sparkling water (also called ). There are a number of flavors which can be used to create regular soft drinks by adding a minute amount to the bottle of carbonated water. When the canister is out of CO2, you return it to the market and purchase a carbon dioxide (CO2) refill.

With so many categories of concentrate, different and unique flavors of soft drinks can be made. In the years when the systems were most popular, many well-known brands were available for SodaStream in the concentrates – such as Fanta, and Sunkist.

MilkStream, is a variation of the SodaStream, and was invented for making milkshakes. By combining ice cream, milk and Crusha syrup in a glass, inserting the machine with an extended wand into the glass, a frothy, delicious milkshake is made.

The very first machines were marketed to the upper classes of London, including, notably, the royal household. There were flavors with odd names, including the famous sarsaparilla introduced in the 1920s. In 1955 the first machine for home carbonation was produced.

SodaStream’s super popularity in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s is fueling its current association with nostalgia for those periods of time. The advertising jingle in 1970s was, “Get busy with the fizzy.” The slogan was so popular that the company added it to its logo. It was finally dropped in 1996 after 17 years.

Although commercially successful, the soft drinks made by these machines were perceived by some to be an inferior imitation of their commercial counterparts. One of the differences noticed was that in addition to slightly different flavors of the produced drink, the SodaStream machine bubbles are larger and shorter-lived. Today this has changed, partly because of Aromhuset flavors for carbonated water, and Sodastream now is the leader in sparkling water.

Today, SodaStream is part of Soda-Club, and a number websites offer the opportunity to purchase products and/or order or reorder supplies as needed.

Soda Water Explained

Filed under: Food-And-Drink — Tags: , , , , , — CakeAuthor @ 6:32 am

Soda water, or sparkling water, is a carbonated water — that is, plain water to which carbon dioxide gas has been added. It is the principal ingredient of most “soft drinks.”. Carbonation produces carbonic acid, which produces soda pop.

Soda water, or club soda, can be produced at home by using a seltzer bottle filled with water and then “charged” with carbon dioxide. Although it is possible for small amounts of table salts and sodium trace minerals to be present, club soda is often virtually the same as plain carbonated water. Such additives could possibly make the taste of home made soda water slightly salty. This process, occuring naturally in some areas, produces carbonated mineral water.

In some cases, a little dental decay might be caused by sparkling mineral water. Potential dental problems with sparkling water are admittedly greater than normal water, but not dramatically so. Drinkers of regular soft drinks risk a higher rate of tooth decay compared to drinking sparkling water. The rate is so low that carbonated drinks may be a much smaller factor in dental decay than commonly believed.

Water coming from the ground - usually from artesian wells - is often filtered among layers of minerals; these layers contain forms of carbonates, and the water absorbs the carbon dioxide gas released by the carbonates. Natural sparkling water is the result. On occasions when the water also picks up enough different minerals to become flavored, it becomes sparkling mineral water.

Soda water is not complicated; it’s just water and carbon dioxide. Sparkling mineral water seems very special, but it is just a natural product of carbonation. A notable date in soda water history is 1794, when a jeweler made a device to produce artificial carbonated mineral water.

When several carbonated drinks were compared in a taste test, it was found that Perrier, a sparkling natural mineral water, kept its fizz the longest.

Consumers who believe seltzer to be a bit harsh may find club soda to have a more gentle fizz. In one part of the taste test, club soda seemed to be milder and a little sweeter tasting than standard carbonated water.

Club soda, sparkling mineral water, seltzer, and carbonated water do not have any calories, making them a dieter’s choice over soda pop and tonic water.

If one mixes water, sugar, carbon dioxide and quinine, the carbonated result is called tonic water. Quinine was originally added to tonic water to help cure or prevent malaria. Today it is often used as a mixer with gin and lemon or lime for an alcoholic drink.

Soda water? These simple facts show us it’s not so complicated after all.

March 26, 2009

In Homebrewing, Overcarbonation Can Be Dangerous

Filed under: Food-And-Drink — Tags: , , , — CakeAuthor @ 4:46 pm

Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide is dissolved in water or an aqueous solution. This process yields the “fizz” to carbonated water and sparkling mineral water, the head to beer, and the cork pop and bubbles to champagne and sparkling wine.

The quality of carbonated beverages including soft drinks, seltzer and beer is affected by the amount of dissolved CO2 (the gas that causes carbonation) and the amount of carbonic acid in the drink.

Carbonation can occur as a result of natural processes: when yeast ferments dissolved sugars sealed in a pressure-tolerant bottle or keg; when underground volcanic carbon dioxide carbonates well water; or when rainwater passes through limestone into a cave and forms a stalactite. Or it can be done artificially by dissolving carbon dioxide under pressure into the liquid. while the term carbonation is often used for the artificial procedures, natural carbonation implies conditioning.

In most of the consumer beverages soft drinks (well known examples include 7 Up, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Fanta), carbonation is used to give “bite”. Contrary to popular belief, the fizzy taste is caused by dilute carbonic acid inducing a slight burning sensation, and is not caused by the presence of bubbles.It can be shown by having a fizzy drink in a hyperbaric chamber at the same pressure just as the beverage. This gives much the same taste, but the bubbles are completely absent.

Carbonation is sometimes used for reasons other than consumption for example: to lower the pH (raise the hydrogen ion concentration) of a water solution, and in the cleaning industry (Chem-Dry and Carbonated Solutions both use carbonated cleaning solutions for carpet cleaning)

In homebrewing, overcarbonation can be dangerous; it can result in bottles gushing or even exploding. Adding priming sugar or malt extract at bottling time to beer that has had its fermentable sugar content totally consumed is the safest approach to carbonation. Increasing the levels recommended for priming sugar for a given recipe is not good, as is using improper capping methods or inappropriate bottles. Beer may also be force-carbonated using a keg and special bottling equipment so that the carbonation level can be carefully controlled.

Carbonated water, also known as sparkling water, and seltzer, is plain water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved, and is the major and defining component of most “soft drinks”. The process of dissolving carbon dioxide gas is called carbonation. It results in the formation of carbonic acid (which has the chemical formula H2CO3). A large assortment of calorie free flavors to flavor sparkling water to great taste is sold at
http://allfreightfree.com

Smetimes earlier, soda water, was also known as club soda, which was made in home by “charging” a refillable seltzer bottle by filling it with water and after that adding carbon dioxide. Club soda may be identical to plain carbonated water or it may contain a small amount of table salt, sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate, or disodium phosphate, depending on the bottler. These additives are added in order to impart slightly salty taste to the homemade soda water. The process can also occur naturally to produce carbonated mineral water, such as in Mihalkovo in the Bulgarian Rhodopes.

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