Club soda vs tonic water vs sparkling water

A brief guide to the difference between tonic water, soda water and sparkling water

Walking down the water and soda aisle of the supermarket, have you often wondered the difference between tonic water, soda water and sparkling water? After all, they are ALL bubbly water right? Flavoured versions aside, surely you could just substitute one for the other? Well, read this first.

Table of Contents Show

A brief guide to the difference between tonic water, soda water and sparkling water
What is sparkling mineral water?
What is soda water?
What is tonic water?
What Is Seltzer Water?
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What Is Club Soda?
What Is Sparkling Water?
What Is Tonic Water?
Is sparkling water the same as club soda?
What is better for you club soda or sparkling water?
Is sparkling water better than tonic water?
Which is healthier tonic or club soda?

What is sparkling mineral water?

The carbonation in sparkling mineral water often occurs naturally in the springs from which the water is sourced. Like it's name, the waters will also contain small quantities of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sodium which can all add to the flavour of the water. However, some mineral waters can also have their effervescence added artificially.

What is soda water?

Soda water is at its core, artificially carbonated water with different types of salts added to it, e.g. sodium citrate and potassium bicarbonate. The process of carbonation comes from dissolving carbon dioxide in water, often through the use of force - think the Soda Stream. In America, you may see the term club soda used however, in Australia, soda water is primarily the term used to refer to this category. Seltzer is also a term often seen in America, which is used to refer to carbonated water but without any of the salts added to it.

What is tonic water?

Tonic water is in essence, carbonated water, sugar and quinine. A citrussy element is introduced often via the use of citric acid. The key difference is that tonic contains quinine, which introduces the bitter element in the drink and sugar. For more about tonic water, read our more comprehensive post here

Carbonated water in its many iterations can be confusing. There’s seltzer water, also known as soda water, (not to be confused with its boozy sibling, hard seltzer) and its whole host of flavored seltzer off-shoots. Then there’s club soda. And then there’s sparkling water, or sparkling mineral water, with its subtle flavors that range from salty to metallic. But are all of these refreshing, fizzy drinks the same? And where does tonic water fit into it all?

Though each of these bubbly beverages appears identical, each contains different flavor profiles and is made using different processes. To help understand the differences between them, we’ve compiled this, the complete guide to carbonated water, so you can know the differences between club soda, seltzer water, and sparkling water — plus tonic, too — once and for all.

What Is Seltzer Water?

Also known as soda water, seltzer is the simplest of these waters, made by carbonating plain water with carbon dioxide (CO2). Owing to its neutral profile, seltzer water is occasionally flavored using natural fruit essences and oils, as in popular brands like La Croix and Spindrift.

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What Is Club Soda?

Club soda is similar to seltzer water, but in addition to CO2, various minerals — including sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, disodium phosphate, and occasionally sodium chloride — are added. If a cocktail recipe calls for seltzer but you only have club soda on hand, there’s little perceivable difference between the two, and one can easily be substituted for the other.

Popular club soda brands include Canada Dry, Seagram’s, and Schweppes.

What Is Sparkling Water?

Sparkling water, or sparkling mineral water is rich in dissolved solids like potassium, sodium, and magnesium, hence the “mineral” in its name. Unlike club soda, these minerals occur naturally and are picked up as water filters through multiple layers of underground rock and sediment. The water’s bubbles, meanwhile, can be natural or artificially added.

Every brand of sparkling mineral water contains a distinct dose of flavor-giving minerals, so they all taste slightly different. Sparkling mineral waters don’t mix well in cocktails, but they do produce remarkable effects when paired with wine.

Popular sparkling mineral water brands include Perrier, San Pellegrino, and Topo Chico.

What Is Tonic Water?

Tonic water is seltzer water or soda water with the addition of quinine and sugar or other sweetener. For centuries, quinine powder has been used to prevent malaria. Its bitter flavor was so unpalatable to British officers based in 19th-century India, however, that they began mixing it with soda and sugar. Thus the first tonic water was born. It wasn’t long before U.K. officials started mixing the newly invented tonic with their favorite spirit, gin, creating the much-loved G&T.

Tonic water is the only style on this list that contains calories, because of its sugar content, but “light” versions are increasingly popular. In these styles, sweetness is provided by less-caloric, natural-fruit sugars.

While popular brands like Canada Dry, Schweppes, and Seagram’s also make tonic water, you’re likely to find Fever-Tree stocked at the world’s best bars.

Published: January 28, 2022

Is sparkling water the same as club soda?

Club soda is similar to sparkling water because it also has some minerals. However, the biggest difference between the two is that manufacturers add carbonation and minerals after the fact. They don't occur naturally in club soda like they do in sparkling water.

What is better for you club soda or sparkling water?

Sparkling water (1 oz.) contains no calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, or minerals. The advantage of club soda is that it is a better way to keep the body hydrated, since it has more minerals than regular water. However, there may not be any other nutritional benefits.

Is sparkling water better than tonic 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.

Which is healthier tonic or club soda?

Nutritional Content - Winner: Club Soda Besides this, club soda doesn't contain any calories, sugar, protein, fat, or carbohydrates. Tonic water contains more in its nutrition profile. It has added sugars, as well as calories and carbohydrates. It also contains sodium but no fat, fiber, or protein.