Is there a difference between tonic water and club soda

Is there a difference between tonic water and club soda

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Club soda and tonic water are two popular forms of carbonated soda water. Both have substances added to impart flavor to the pure carbonated water, and both are used for mixing drinks. The big difference between them is that tonic water contains quinine and sugar that give this beverage its distinctive sweetly bitter flavor, according to the Boston Globe. That means tonic water has calories while club soda does not.

Tonic History

Tonic water was developed in the 19th century by British colonists in tropical countries as a medicine against malaria, according to the Boston Globe. Quinine was the active ingredient. The colonists added gin and sugar to counter the bitter quinine taste, creating the drink known as gin and tonic. Tonic water sold today contains only 83 mg of quinine per liter, less than half a percent of the therapeutic dose. Club soda, by contrast, is simply carbonated water with minerals added to emulate the flavor of naturally carbonated mineral waters.

Ingredients

Tonic water, according to Schweppes, contains carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup and/or sugar, citric acid, natural flavorings (fruit extracts) and quinine, plus sodium benzoate as a preservative. Their club soda contains carbonated water, potassium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium chloride (salt). Other bottlers use different blends of minerals in their club sodas.

Calorie Counts

Tonic water typically has 83 calories per 8-oz. cup with 21.5 gm of sugar (7 percent of recommended daily allowance), 29 mg of sodium (1 percent of RDA) and 2.4 mg of calcium. A typical club soda, by contrast, has zero calories, 50 mg of sodium (2 percent of RDA), 11.8 mg of calcium and 4.7 mg of potassium.

References

Writer Bio

Herb Kirchhoff has more than three decades of hands-on experience as an avid garden hobbyist and home handyman. Since retiring from the news business in 2008, Kirchhoff takes care of a 12-acre rural Michigan lakefront property and applies his experience to his vegetable and flower gardens and home repair and renovation projects.

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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.

Is there a difference between tonic water and club soda
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.

Is there a difference between tonic water and club soda
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.

Is there a difference between tonic water and club soda
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.

Is there a difference between tonic water and club soda
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.

Can you substitute tonic water for club soda?

Club soda and seltzer water can be used interchangeably with little to no flavor change, but tonic water should not substitute club soda or seltzer. With its distinct bitter or citrus flavor, tonic water may drastically affect the flavor of the drink you are trying to make.

Which is better club soda or tonic water?

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.

Is club soda just tonic water?

Club soda has a more neutral flavor profile than tonic water, so it's primarily used to add a bubbly finish to drinks. Tonic water differs from club soda in that it also contains small amounts of quinine. Quinine, a compound from the bark of the cinchona tree, is what gives tonic its pronounced bitterness.

Does club soda and tonic water taste the same?

Tonic water and club soda can be very similar in appearance with a clear and fizzy look. However, the two mixers differ due to their contrasting ingredients, flavors, and uses in cocktails. As a result, they are not the same thing.