Club Soda vs Seltzer
The difference between club soda and seltzer is in the act of adding ingredients to the drink. All over the world, carbonated water is being consumed by people in the form of cold drinks and soda. In fact, fizzy cold drinks with carbon dioxide gas under pressure added to them are a craze among people, especially kids. But, we are more concerned with club soda and seltzer; both are examples of carbon dioxide added water, and used by people in homes and in clubs to add to alcoholic beverages or to drink as such. There are scores of people who remain confused as they encounter club soda in some clubs and seltzer water in other clubs. Is there any difference between seltzer and club soda, or are they just different names for the same thing? Let us find out in this article.
Adding carbon dioxide to water is a process called carbonation that makes the water sparkle because of the presence of CO2 bubbles. Club soda is also, essentially, the same thing as seltzer as both being carbonated water, and if anything, it can be said that the club soda is made in factories while seltzer is naturally effervescent water. However, this distinction is not valid these days as even seltzer water is being man made.
What is Club Soda?
When it comes to club soda, it is carbon dioxide added to water under high pressure. Club soda also has some amount of sodium added to it. Other than sodium, sometimes, other additives such as potassium bicarbonate and potassium citrate are added to club soda to enhance the flavor of the drink. There is another interesting fact about these added ingredients in club soda. Not all club soda contains sodium. So, we understand that club soda is actually plain water with a number of mineral like ingredients. As a result, the taste of club soda is a little more mineral in taste as all those minerals are added to it. Still the taste is relatively clean. Club soda is used for everyday drinking and to make cocktails.
What is Seltzer?
Seltzer is also a carbonated drink. If we look at the name Seltzer, there are some interesting facts. Selters is a German town famous for its water springs, and Seltzer reminds one of these springs where water comes down with a lot of bubbles. Thus, seltzer water is a flavorless natural water containing CO2. So, actually the name has been created based on the town Selters in Germany. If one goes to Selters in Germany and tries to analyze Selters water, he finds that water coming out of the ground passes through layers of minerals that have some types of carbonate mixed with them. This carbonate gets added to the water making it fizzy.
The specialty that sets Seltzer apart from club soda is the fact that no additives are added to the Seltzer water as is done in club soda. It is just plain water that is carbonated. That is all. As a result, Seltzer has a very clean taste. However, you can find citrus flavors in Seltzer too. Seltzer is also used for everyday drinking and to make cocktails.
What is the difference between Club Soda and Seltzer?
• Carbonated or Not:
• Club soda is a carbonated drink.
• Seltzer is also a carbonated drink.
• Additives:
• Club soda has a number of additives such as potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, and sodium. However, not all club sodas contain sodium.
• Seltzer has no other additives as club soda does.
• Flavor:
• Since club soda has a number of other additives it tastes a little mineral. Still the taste is relatively clean.
• The absence of any other additives makes the taste of Seltzer very clean. You can find citrus flavors in Seltzer too.
• Uses:
• Club soda is used for everyday drinking and to make cocktails.
• Seltzer is also used for everyday drinking and to make cocktails.
• You can use club soda instead of Seltzer, and also you can use Seltzer instead of club soda.
These are the differences between club soda and Seltzer. As you can see, the difference between the two only exists in the additives.
Images Courtesy:
- Club soda by CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Seltzer by Mike Mozart (CC BY 2.0)
