Whats the difference between tonic water and sparkling water

My recent obsession has been beverages. It all started with limoncello. Now, I’m creating cocktails at home and ordering unusual cocktails when I'm out. I’m buying shrubs and making my own. I’m also diving into many styles of beers that I’ve never tried before and hounding my beer-brewing friends to let me try everything they make.

Table of Contents Show

Club Soda
Seltzer Water
Tonic Water
Is tonic water better than sparkling water?
Does tonic water taste like sparkling water?
Is tonic water Healthy?

While playing with drink recipes, I realized I have never explained the difference between club soda, seltzer water, and tonic water. People wonder what is in each mixer and if they’re interchangeable. They all look the same—can they all be used the same way? Here's what to know.

Club Soda

Club soda is carbonated water that has added minerals like potassium bicarbonate and potassium citrate to enhance the flavor. It can also have added sodium, but not all club sodas contain sodium.

Seltzer Water

Seltzer water is also carbonated water, but it doesn’t have any additives, such as sodium. You can purchase flavored seltzers, usually in a citrus flavor, but plain seltzer is simply water that is carbonated.

Tonic Water

Tonic water is the least water-like of the three. It does contain carbonated water, but it has quinine to give it a bitter flavor and also a sweetener, usually high-fructose corn syrup or an artificial sweetener to make a “diet” tonic water. It’s more of a soda than a water.

Club soda and seltzer water are interchangeable in beverages, but tonic water will add sweet and bitter to whatever you’re creating. You shouldn’t substitute tonic water for club soda or seltzer water, nor should you substitute club soda or seltzer water for tonic water.

There you have it—a simple explanation about these three common drink mixers. Did you already know this, or did I teach you something?

Tonic water and soda water may look the same, but the two drinks are actually quite different. Tonic water contains quinine, which is an all-natural crystalline alkaloid. Quinine has many medicinal properties including analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Club soda, or soda water, generally has sodium bicarbonate and potassium sulfate added to it, though these ingredients do not have any medicinal benefits.

Originally, tonic water was given to people who were suffering from malaria. The addition of quinine to regular water proved to be an effective tonic for sick people -- hence, the name tonic water. The malaria remedy was eventually brought from South Asia and Africa to British colonial India where the British population took to mixing the tonic with gin in order to dilute the tonic's strong taste.

A lime in tonic water.

The tonic water that was once used to cure malaria is slightly different from what can be purchased today. When it was first concocted, this type of tonic was particularly bitter due to the excessive amounts of quinine. Today, sugar is often added to this type of water, and the amount of quinine has been greatly reduced. More often than not, those who enjoy tonic water enjoy it for its distinctive taste.

A bottle of soda water.

Soda water was developed in 1767 by Joseph Priestley. Priestley devised the concoction when he noted that carbon dioxide could effectively be added to water in order to create carbonation. During the earlier part of the 20th century, affluent people often had soda water siphons inside of their homes. These siphons could instantly create carbonated water, which was often served on its own or with strong alcohol such as scotch.

Tonic water has some medicinal benefits, while soda water typically does not.

Both tonic and soda water revolutionized the way that people drank alcohol. Prior to the invention of these beverages, alcohol was considered too strong to drink in polite company. When tonic and soda water were introduced, people were able to mix harsh alcoholic drinks with the water of their choice. The result was an increased amount of alcohol consumption.

First patented in the mid-1800s in England, tonic water is a popular carbonated beverage that contains quinine.

While the difference between the tonic and soda water is apparent, the two are often, mistakenly, used interchangeably. Tonic is best combined with gin, since it is a natural compliment to gin's piney taste. Soda water is at its best when it is used to dilute strong drinks, since it would immediately overpower the subtle taste of lighter alcoholic beverages. Both tonic and soda water have an interesting history, but they are only tempting to one's tastebuds if they are used correctly.

Is tonic water better than sparkling water?

And, based purely on sugar content, plain sparkling water, mineral water or soda water is certainly healthier than most tonic waters out there. That's because neither plain sparkling water, mineral water or soda water have sugar in them.

Does tonic water taste like sparkling water?

Tonic Water Because of the added sugary substances, it really is not much different than grabbing a soda. Tonic water contains something called quinine. This compound adds a bitter taste to the water.

Is tonic water Healthy?

Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink that may contain sugar and has little nutritional value. The quinine present in tonic water provides a distinctive bitter flavor. While not dangerous, tonic water does not have any benefits and could lead to an unnecessary increase in calorie consumption.