Why does this even matter? Because you might be paying extra for a “sparkling” label when you’re really getting seltzer. Marketing magic is real.
Fun fact: LaCroix is technically seltzer water. It’s artificially carbonated and has no added minerals. But nobody calls it that because “sparkling” sounds more glamorous.
And club soda? That’s the weird uncle who shows up with baking soda and salt. It’s carbonated water with added minerals for a smoother, less acidic taste. Bartenders love it for cocktails.
Tonic Water: The Imposter
We need to talk about tonic water. It looks like a bubbly water, but it’s not even in the same family. Tonic water contains sugar and quinine, a bitter compound from the bark of the cinchona tree.
Fun historical fact: British colonists in India mixed tonic water with gin to mask the bitter taste. That’s how the gin and tonic was born. Thank malaria for your happy hour.
So no, tonic water is not a health drink. It’s a cocktail mixer pretending to be water.
Seltzer vs Sparkling Water: What's the Difference? – Frizzlife
