Sparkling water is water and bubbles; soda adds sugar or sweetener and flavourings; sparkling lemonade starts from lemon and fruit, with some sugar.
- 3 kinds of fizz
- Key the ingredient list
- Serving 355 ml
- 0% alcohol
Soda vs sparkling water vs sparkling lemonade: the short answer
All three have bubbles. What changes is what gets added to the carbonated water, and so the taste, the sweetness and how you use it. The table sums it up; the sections below go into detail.
Soda vs sparkling water vs sparkling lemonade
| What to compare | Sparkling water | Soda (pop) | Sparkling lemonade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | carbonated water | carbonated water | carbonated water |
| Flavour from | nothing, or a flavouring | flavourings, often colour | lemon juice and fruit |
| Sweetness | none if plain | sugar or sweetener | sugar, usually |
| With a meal | goes with anything | best on its own | stands in for a cocktail |
| In a cocktail | stretches, no flavour | takes over the mix | brings acidity and fruit |
Sparkling water, club soda, mineral water, tonic
Sparkling water is a catch-all term for several different bottles. They look alike in the glass, not on the tongue.
- Seltzer: water with added carbon dioxide. Neutral taste.
- Club soda: carbonated water with added mineral salts, for a slightly salty taste.
- Sparkling mineral water: spring water with natural minerals that give it a taste specific to its source.
- Tonic water: carbonated water with quinine and sugar or a sweetener. It is bitter and sweet, so it is not plain sparkling water.
- Flavoured sparkling water: check the label, some stay sugar free and some do not.
What a sparkling drink label tells you
To compare two drinks, read the ingredient list and then the nutrition facts table, serving for serving in ml. The list is ordered from the largest amount to the smallest: the second ingredient often tells you everything.
For example, our sparkling lemonades list filtered carbonated water, lemon juice, organic cane sugar, then the fruit or herb of the flavour. Their label says 25 g of sugars and about 100 calories per 355 ml can. It is a label fact, to compare with what you usually drink.
Read a label in 30 seconds
Serving size, sugars, ingredient list: the full guide to comparing two sparkling drinks without getting fooled.
Which one to pick for the occasion
There is no winner. Each one has its moment, and they mix very well together.
To sip all day
Plain sparkling water over ice with a lemon wheel. Nothing to measure, nothing to think about.
For an alcohol free apéro
A basil or lime and mint sparkling lemonade in a nice glass with plenty of ice.
For a cocktail
Sparkling lemonade brings acidity and fruit in one pour: no simple syrup or fresh lemon juice needed.
To set the sweetness
Half sparkling lemonade, half sparkling water: the bubbles stay and you choose the ratio.
The right glass at the right time
Sparkling water for thirst, sparkling lemonade when you want flavour without alcohol, a soda when that is what you feel like. The easy move is to keep the first two in the fridge and mix them by the glass.
Keeping the bubbles
- Keep sparkling water and sparkling lemonade very cold: the colder they are, the longer the bubbles last.
- Pour slowly over ice, down the side of the glass, to keep the fizz.
- Always compare two drinks on the same serving size in ml.
Soda vs sparkling water: your questions
What is the difference between soda and sparkling water?
Plain sparkling water is water with bubbles, no sugar and no flavouring. Soda adds sugar or a sweetener, flavourings and often colour.
Is club soda the same as sparkling water?
It is carbonated water with added mineral salts, which gives it a slightly salty taste. Tonic water is different: it contains quinine and sugar.
Is sparkling lemonade a soda?
It is a carbonated drink too, but its flavour comes from lemon juice and fruit rather than flavourings alone. Read the ingredient list to see what brings the taste.
Can I swap soda for sparkling lemonade in a cocktail?
Yes. It brings bubbles, acidity and fruit at once. Start with the same amount, then taste and adjust.
