Soft drink
From ArticleWorld
Soft drink is a term used for beverages containing sugars and/or carbonation, and/or acidic products. Soft drinks are refreshing, non-alcoholic drinks. These could frequently include juices or edible elements of fruits or plants. Soft drinks do not necessarily contain carbonic acid, but they usually do.
History
Soft drinks have been around for hundreds of years. Sale of soft drinks probably started in Italy in the 17th century. These drinks were made out of a mixture of lemon juice, sugar and water and were called lemonade. They were sold in ice-cream parlors after being chilled.
By the end of the 18th century, an English chemist discovered how carbon dioxide (CO2) could be added to water. This discovery marked the beginning of the soft drinks industry. In 1776 a Swede opened the first soft drinks factory but for a long time only the well-to-do could afford to buy soft drinks; they were out of reach of the common man.
Kinds of soft drinks
There are many different kinds of soft drinks. Generally they can be divided into broad categories of
- Soft drinks: This category includes all non alcoholic drinks, both carbonated and non-carbonated and consist of water, sugar and flavorings. They may contain additives: cola contains elements of cola nuts, tonic drinks are made from quinine extracts, while tea drinks contain tea extracts.
- Fruit juice based soft drinks: These drinks contain at least 10% fruit juice. The juice in such drinks can be that of oranges, grapes, blackcurrant, cherries, lemon, any other fruits or any combination of these fruits.
- Sports drinks: These drinks may be divided into two kinds – thirst quenchers and energy drinks. While the former typically supplement body fluids and minerals, the latter supply energy generally in the form of carbon hydrates.
- Pep drinks: These are usually referred to as smart drinks or energy drinks because they frequently have slightly raised caffeine content (150 to 350 mg per liter as compared to half that in most other carbonated drinks)