If you are an alert consumer, you know there are more beverage choices than ever. Before drinking that next high-calorie soda, stop and consider a healthier alternative.

SodaStream began operation in 1903. Giles Gilby invented a carbonation system; it made fizzy water from standard water, and was originally sold to the upper classes. Assorted flavours were introduced in the 1920s. These choices included cherry ciderette and sarsaparilla. It enjoyed vast success in the 1970s and 80s, becoming a big hit in countries such as the Germany, Australia, and the UK.

The company underwent numerous changes in ownership; during one period, SodaStream even became part of the Cadbury Schweppes empire. 1998 saw the company change hands for the final time when purchased by Soda Club, at that time Israel’s biggest supplier of SodaStream. SodaStream remained the name of the brand after Soda Club’s unsuccessful bid to change the brand from SodaStream to Soda-Club.

More recently Soda Club sought to reinvent the SodaStream brand. Focusing on the health and diet issues that are so prevalent in this day and age, SodaStream was relaunched with a new machine and many new flavours, concentrating on being a healthy alternative to fizzy, sugar-rich drinks such as Coca Cola and Pepsi.

In basic terms, the SodaStream product is a home carbonation kit, which allows you to change water into sparkling water, as well as allowing you to add low-calorie flavours such as cola and orange. A large assortment of calorie-free flavours to flavour sparkling water to great taste is sold at allfreightfree.com.

The SodaStream machine works by forcing co2 into a bottle suitable for pressurising that is filled with water. It is the co2 that turns the water into carbonated (sparkling) water. This process (dissolving co2) is known as carbonation. The can then be drunk on its own as sparkling water, or mixed with flavours to create tasty, healthy treats. Once the co2 canisters have been used up they can be sent back to Soda-Club who recycle the canisters by refilling them with co2 then sending them back out.

Regarding actual health and diet benefits gained from drinking SodaStream, the company maintains that all their flavours are completely sugar-free and contain a maximum of 2 calories per 100ml; this is, assuredly, good news for every parent concerned about a child’s diet.

The SodaStream machine adds only co2 to the water, meaning it does not have the added sugar that some bottled sparkling water contains; consequently, there is little, if any, difference from normal water.

SodaStream have made much of their environmental and health credentials, even going so far as to claim that every one litre bottle of SodaStream made saves three aluminum cans. Which in turn means that over 3 years, a family of four could slash their soft-drink-related packaging usage by over 90%. This is a popular claim, one that should stand them in good stead in this environmentally conscious age. Clearly, Sodastream has developed into a viable alternative to the big players in the soft drink world.

Filed under: Wine and Food by admin
No Comments »