Seltzer Water vs Club Soda

Be it seltzer, be it club soda or be it sparkling water, it all bubbles down to more or less the same basic composition - water and carbon dioxide. So what is all this brouhaha over Seltzer Water and Club Soda being different entities?

Before we get to the cynosure of this argument, let's understand the 3 methods by which carbonation of water takes place, followed by a brief description of the specifics of seltzer and club soda respectively. In that note, let's uncork the topic and let the bubbles out on what are the differentiating factors with respect to club soda vs seltzer water.

All those bubbles and fizz that are characteristic of carbonated drinks are the doings of carbon dioxide which dissolves with water under pressure. When you open a bottle of soda or any other effervescent beverage, the phenomenon of bubbles rushing upwards and the popping sound is nothing but carbon dioxide attempting an escape from its aqueous prison.

So, under what circumstances, natural or artificial, does carbon dioxide get dissolved in water? Well, there are three ways in which it can happen. Let's cast a cursory glance at each to understand the basic phenomenon of carbonation of water.

When such water comes to the surface in the form of mineral springs, they often have an effervescent quality. This naturally occurring effervescent water is what is bottled from source and sold commercially as sparkling mineral water.

Since such carbonation is induced by man, it cannot be specifically called a natural carbonation process. However, the tools for inducing carbonation are natural and nature occurring, hence the name. This form of carbonation is achieved with the help of yeast.

When yeast is added to a sugar containing liquid, it breaks down the sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol. Conducted in an airtight container, the carbon dioxide, instead of escaping, gets dissolved with the liquid under pressure created by its attempts to escape the confined environment of the airtight container.

Before we get to the points of difference with respect to Seltzer Water vs Club Soda, let's take a look at the specifics of each type of carbonated water. Seltzer water is a mixture of water and carbon dioxide - no more, no less.

It is manufactured by artificially introducing carbon dioxide to water by creating a pressurized environment till the carbon dioxide completely dissolves in the water. Club soda, on the other hand, is a little more than a simple concoction of water and carbon dioxide. Besides these two basic soda ingredients, club soda also contains sodium bicarbonate.

Sometimes, sodium chloride, sodium phosphate and sodium citrate and flavoring substances may also be added to it. These additives reduce the acidity of the carbonated water, rendering club soda less sharper in taste than seltzer water.

Therefore, the verdict on Seltzer Water vs Club Soda rests upon the fact that the only difference between these two form of carbonated water is the presence or absence of additives other than carbon dioxide to water.

Both are often used interchangeably for diluting alcoholic drinks, as additives to cocktails and as healthy and refreshing substitutes to fizzy, sugar-and-caffeine-laden soft drinks.