What is apple soda and how is it made?
Apple soda is a carbonated soft drink with an apple flavor. Some brands use apple juice, others use added flavor, so the label tells you which one you have. It is usually made by mixing water, a sweetener, acid and apple juice or flavoring, then adding carbon dioxide. It is not the same as sparkling cider or sparkling apple juice, which are made from pressed apples.
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In this article
What is apple soda?
Apple soda is a fizzy, sweet drink flavored like apples. There is no single recipe or legal definition, so products sold under that name differ. Some taste like green apple candy, others like apple juice with bubbles. Colors range from clear to pale yellow, green or amber.
How is apple soda made?
Most bottled apple sodas follow the same general steps:
- Water is treated and mixed with a sweetener (sugar, corn syrup or a low-calorie sweetener).
- Apple juice concentrate, natural or artificial flavor, and an acid such as citric or malic acid are added for taste and tartness.
- Carbon dioxide is dissolved under pressure to make it fizzy.
- The drink is bottled or canned and sealed to hold the pressure.
Exact ingredients are not standard. Check the ingredient list: if apple juice is listed near the top, there is real juice in it. If you only see flavor, acid and sweetener, it is a flavored soda.
Apple soda vs sparkling cider vs sparkling apple juice
| Drink | What it usually is |
|---|---|
| Apple soda | Flavored carbonated soft drink; juice content varies by brand |
| Sparkling apple juice | Apple juice with carbonation |
| Non-alcoholic sparkling cider | Carbonated apple juice sold without alcohol |
| Hard cider | Alcoholic, made by fermenting apple juice |
Martinelli’s, for example, sells non-alcoholic sparkling apple juice and sparkling ciders and states they are pressed from 100% U.S. grown fresh apples. Other widely sold apple drinks include Appletiser, a sparkling apple juice brand of South African origin, and Cidona, a sweetened sparkling apple drink sold in Ireland. Availability differs by country.
What to check on the label
- Juice percentage: a drink that says 100% juice is not a soda. A soda may list only a small share of juice or none.
- Sugar per serving: compare the grams of sugar with the serving size. Cans and bottles often hold more than one serving.
- Alcohol: words like cider can mean an alcoholic drink in many countries. Look for the percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
- Caffeine: apple sodas are usually caffeine free, but check the label.
Serving tips
Serve cold over ice. Apple soda also works as a mixer for mocktails, for example with lemon juice and a slice of apple. We found no reliable official source for the history of apple soda, so we do not state a date or inventor.
People also ask
What is apple soda?
A sweet, carbonated soft drink with an apple flavor. Some brands contain apple juice, others only flavoring, so read the ingredient list.
How is apple soda made?
Usually by mixing water, sweetener, acid and apple juice or flavor, then dissolving carbon dioxide in it and sealing it in bottles or cans. Recipes differ by brand.
Is apple soda the same as sparkling apple juice?
No. Sparkling apple juice is juice with carbonation. Apple soda is a flavored soft drink that may contain little or no juice.
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