What is the difference between tonic and seltzer water

Q: How is tonic water different from sparkling water?

Tonic water is pretty bitter, and its known for its distinct taste. On the other hand, soda water utilizes pressurized carbon dioxide gas. Tonic water is pretty different compared to most bubbly, carbonated waters. In addition to its distinct taste, tonic water contains calories (unlike the other types of waters).

Q: Which is healthier seltzer or sparkling water?

Though theyre both a great way to stay hydrated or as a replacement for your average cup of tap water, the main difference between the two is the taste. In regards to health, neither of them have calories, and the mineral content doesnt make enough of a difference to drink one rather than the other.

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
What Is Seltzer Water?
Don't Miss A Drop
What Is Club Soda?
What Is Sparkling Water?
What Is Tonic Water?
Can I use seltzer instead of tonic?
How is tonic water different from sparkling water?
Is club soda and seltzer water the same?
Which is healthier seltzer or sparkling water?

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?

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

Can I use seltzer instead of tonic?

Tonic vs Seltzer If replacing a drink with tonic water that usually calls for seltzer, your drink may have a slightly bitter taste to it. However, since seltzer water has a clean taste, replacing your drink with seltzer in place of tonic water will not drastically change your cocktail or mixed drink.

How is tonic water different from sparkling water?

Tonic water is pretty bitter, and it's known for it's distinct taste. On the other hand, soda water utilizes pressurized carbon dioxide gas. Tonic water is pretty different compared to most bubbly, carbonated waters. In addition to its distinct taste, tonic water contains calories (unlike the other types of waters).

Is club soda and seltzer water the same?

Club soda is also carbonated with carbon dioxide, but unlike seltzer, it has the addition of potassium bicarbonate and potassium sulfate in the water. These minerals give it a slightly saltier taste than seltzer, which makes it a favorite of bartenders for mixed drinks.

Which is healthier seltzer or sparkling water?

Though they're both a great way to stay hydrated or as a replacement for your average cup of tap water, the main difference between the two is the taste. In regards to health, neither of them have calories, and the mineral content doesn't make enough of a difference to drink one rather than the other.