What are the ingredients in apple soda?

What are the ingredients in apple soda?

There is no single recipe, so look at a real label. The Manzanita Sol green apple soda lists: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, apple juice concentrate, natural and artificial flavor, citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), calcium disodium EDTA (protects flavor), Yellow 5 and Blue 1. Other brands vary, so treat this as one example, not a standard.

What does each ingredient do?

• Carbonated water: the fizzy base.
• High fructose corn syrup or sugar: sweetness; some apple sodas use cane sugar instead.
• Apple juice concentrate: a small amount for flavor in some brands; many apple sodas have none, so do not assume it is a juice drink.
• Citric acid: tartness.
• Natural and artificial flavor: the apple taste.
• Sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate: preservatives.
• Yellow 5, Blue 1: dyes that give a green color.

Does apple soda contain real apple?

Sometimes, but usually only as concentrate and in a small share. Check whether the label says juice and where it sits in the list; ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so items near the end are present in small amounts. A drink that names no juice gets its apple taste from flavorings.

Is apple soda healthy?

It is a soft drink. Sweetened versions contain added sugar, and the nutrition panel shows how much per serving; the page we read did not show calories, so check the bottle. The NHS advises that even unsweetened fruit juice should be limited to 150 ml a day, and a flavored soda is no substitute for fruit.

How do you choose one?

• Read the ingredient list for juice, sweetener type and colors.
• Compare sugar per serving between brands.
• If you want actual apple, sparkling apple cider or juice is closer than apple soda.

This is general information from a product label, not a ranking of brands.