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Soft drink

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A soft drink is a category of beverage that contains no alcohol.

Tumbler of cola with ice
Tumbler of cola with ice

Most soft drinks are carbonated, which means they contain dissolved carbon dioxide gas. These drinks typically include added sweeteners to provide flavor and energy. Makers use various substances for this purpose, such as sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Some people prefer diet sodas, which use sugar substitutes instead. Soft drinks can also include caffeine, colorings, and preservatives. The term "soft" is used to distinguish these beverages from "hard" alcoholic drinks. In many regions, the alcohol content must stay below 0.5% of the total volume to be legally called a soft drink.

The process of making a carbonated drink relies on the science of gas solubility.

Soda bubbles macro
Soda bubbles macro

Carbon dioxide is injected into a liquid under high pressure. Because carbon dioxide is only weakly soluble in water, it wants to escape the liquid. When the pressure is released, such as when opening a bottle, the gas separates from the solution. This creates small bubbles that make the drink appear effervescent or fizzy.

Carbonation levels vary depending on the type of beverage. Some drinks reach up to 5 volumes of gas per liquid volume. For example, ginger ale and colas typically have 3.5 volumes. Fruity drinks often have much lower levels of carbonation.

Soft drinks can be categorized by their ingredients and preparation methods. Many are made by mixing flavored syrups with carbonated water. Some historical variants, like phosphate soda, used phosphoric acid mixed with fruit syrup and ice. This was a popular soda fountain drink in the United States between 1900 and 1930. Other drinks are flavored with natural or artificial extracts. These can include lemon-lime, orange, grape, cream soda, or root beer. Some drinks are served cold with ice, while others are enjoyed at room temperature. They are packaged in many formats, including cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles of various sizes.

The history of these beverages began with fruit-flavored drinks in the medieval Middle East.

Priestley Joseph pneumatic trough
Priestley Joseph pneumatic trough

People there drank sharbat, which was sweetened with honey, sugar, or syrup. They used ingredients like pomegranate, mint, lemon, and tamarind. These Middle Eastern traditions eventually reached medieval Europe. In Tudor England, people drank a sweetened lemon drink called water imperial. Another version was a rosewater or cinnamon cordial called Manays Cryste. In 1676, the Compagnie des Limonadiers in Paris even held a monopoly on selling lemonade. Vendors in Paris would carry tanks of the drink on their backs to serve customers.

Modern carbonation changed everything for the beverage industry. In 1767, Joseph Priestley discovered a way to infuse water with carbon dioxide. He noticed that this treated water had a very pleasant and refreshing taste. Later, J. J. Schweppe developed a process to manufacture bottled carbonated mineral water. He founded the Schweppes Company in 1783 and moved it to London in 1792. By 1851, Schweppes was the official drink supplier for the Great Exhibition in London. During that event, the company sold over one million bottles of lemonade and ginger beer. Many famous brands followed, including Coca-Cola in 1886 and Dr Pepper in 1885.

Keeping the gas inside the bottle was a major challenge for early manufacturers.

Image-Codd bottle
Image-Codd bottle

If the pressure was too high, bottles could explode. If the seal was weak, the drink would go flat. In 1872, Hiram Codd invented the Codd-neck bottle to solve this problem. This bottle used a marble and a rubber washer to create a seal. The gas pressure inside the bottle forced the marble against the washer. This kept the carbonation trapped inside the glass. This invention helped the industry grow by ensuring drinks stayed fizzy for customers.

Soft drinks are a global phenomenon with many different names and uses.

In the United States, people use terms like "soda," "pop," or "coke" depending on their region. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, "fizzy drink" is a common term. In South Africa, they are called "cool drinks." Even the names of the drinks themselves change, such as "limonáda" in Czech or "malinovka" in Slovak. Today, soft drinks are available everywhere from vending machines to fast food restaurants. They remain a massive part of the global beverage industry.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Tumbler of cola with ice.jpg
Tumbler of cola with ice.jpg
File:016 Coca-Cola vending machine at Kyoto Station, Japan - コカコーラ 自動販売機.JPG
016 Coca-Cola vending machine at Kyoto...
File:Soda bubbles macro.jpg
Soda bubbles macro.jpg
Carbonated soft drink - japan - 2022 oct 20.webm
File:Priestley Joseph pneumatic trough.jpg
Priestley Joseph pneumatic trough.jpg
File:(1883) SCHWEPPES MINERAL-WATERS.jpg
(1883) SCHWEPPES MINERAL-WATERS.jpg
File:Image-Codd bottle.jpg
Image-Codd bottle.jpg
File:New York utility lines in 1890.jpg
New York utility lines in 1890.jpg
File:7-Up Bottlers Flavor jug.jpg
7-Up Bottlers Flavor jug.jpg
File:Hartwall Jaffa Greippi & Appelsiini.jpg
Hartwall Jaffa Greippi & Appelsiini.jpg
File:Soft drink shelf 2.jpg
Soft drink shelf 2.jpg
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