Sparkling sodas, commonly referred to as soft drinks in the United States for their lack of alcohol, come in a wide array of flavors, from unflavored club soda to cola, root beer, and ginger ale, to more exotic flavors such as pineapple, mango, or dandelion and burdock.
History: Many beer historians believe that soda originated as a very low alcohol variety of beer flavored with fruit, and may have actually been a precursor to full strength beer. However, true non-alcoholic soda originates from natural sparkling mineral water flavored with fruit. The first commercially marketed soda appeared in Europe in the 17th century, and was made with lemon juice and sweetened with honey. For a long time, soda was praised for its health properties for its primary ingredient, mineral water.
Food: Soda’s carbonation assists in the cleansing of the palate, which makes it a suitable beverage for fattier or oily foods. Fruit flavored sodas can be a great accompaniment to fruity dishes. Don’t forget about mixing soda with ice cream for the classic American treat – the root beer float.