We all love fizzy drinks, right? Who doesn’t? They are fun and let’s be frank, they are refreshing during hot summer days. Plus, you can choose between many flavors and aromas. Surely, you have your favorite drink by now, but what do you think about seltzer? It has generated buzz in the past few years, and in this text, we will tell you why.
What is Seltzer?
Let’s being with something plain – seltzer water. You are probably wondering how it differs from club soda. They must be pretty similar, right? Well, not exactly. Seltzer is plain water that includes carbon dioxide, which is responsible for those bubbles. Then numerous natural flavors are added that make it quite tasty. The main feature of it is that it doesn’t contain sugar, corn syrup, and other minerals, such as potassium sulfate and sodium bicarbonate.
Then, if you want to go a step further, you should try hard seltzer. That’s right, it includes alcohol, and it is produced in one of the two ways – it is either brewed, or alcohol is simply added to the water. You add a bit of a flavor to it, and there you have it – your new favorite drink.
Why is everyone going crazy about hard seltzer?
When it comes to alcohol levels, hard seltzer contains between 4% and 6% of it, depending on a brand, which is quite similar to light beer. If you don’t drink alcohol often, you may want to be careful, but what makes it so popular is the fact that it is healthier than other similar drinks. What are we talking about?
Nowadays, we are all trying to boost our health, so we pay attention to what we eat and drink. We look at the labels to understand what the meal or the beverage contains, and then we decide whether we should have it or not.
Well, there comes in the hard seltzer. We have already explained that it is basically water with carbon dioxide, mixed with natural flavors, and with a bit of alcohol. It means that it doesn’t contain any added sugar or calories. Simply put, it is the healthiest version of an alcoholic drink, even if it sounds too good to be true.
The sales skyrocketed
Over the past few years, the sales of seltzer skyrocketed, literally. Nowadays, you can get it almost anywhere. It has become a top product in stores all over the country, and it has become a very popular item on menus in bars and restaurants.
Interestingly, it seems that the pandemic made it even more popular, taking into consideration that according to research, one million households in the U.S. purchased it for the first time in April 2024. You don’t believe us? Let us put it this way. In 2018, there were 10 brands on the market. Today, there are 65 of them. Companies are continuously working on creating new flavors, and at the same time, they are also doing their best to make tasty drinks that are healthier than previously available ones.
Everyone loves White Claw
If you still haven’t tasted White Claw, then you are seriously behind on the latest trends. This brand is so popular today that the company actually has trouble keeping up with the demand. Between the summer of 2019 and July 2024, the brand recorded an almost 250% increase in sales of White Claw. If you want to learn about its popularity further, just investigate it on social media, and see how much attention it generates.
It is often compared to beer or vodka, but in reality, it is neither. It is made of seltzer water with a gluten-free alcohol base derived from the fermentation process, with a splash of fruit flavors. Some of the most popular flavors include lime, ruby grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, watermelon, etc. There is also a brand called “Pure Hard Seltzer,” which is actually unflavored.
As you can assume by now, this is not the only brand on the market, so if you want to learn about the best hard seltzers, visit the Seltzer Nation website, where you will certainly find a recommendation for your new favorite drink.
Is Seltzer water good for you?
Now, this is the question most people have. When it comes to seltzer water, it is definitely a healthier alternative to soda or tonic water simply because it doesn’t include sugar. Furthermore, many people wonder whether it can affect the health of their teeth, and there is a popular misconception that it is surely harmful. Well, this is not true. Yes, naturally, it is acidic when compared to still water, but according to research, it cannot cause gum disease and tooth decay, so it is much safer than sodas.
As we have already discussed, it doesn’t contain sugar or calories, so it doesn’t pose any risk to obesity. The fact is that it can make you feel full for longer periods of time, which means that it can reduce overeating. What’s more, it can also help you if you experience any digestive problems.
What about hard seltzer?
If you want to enjoy an alcoholic drink but avoid the intake of calories, this is the right choice for you. However, you have to keep in mind that since it contains no calories, it also means that it doesn’t include any nutrients. Yes, it includes fruit, but don’t fool yourself. This drink cannot replace your daily portion of fresh fruits. No one can say that this beverage is healthy and good for you, but instead, you should think of it as a better option when compared to other alcoholic drinks.
Finally, you should still make sure not to go overboard and binge drink it. It is what most people are tempted to do because it is super tasty. Nevertheless, keep in mind that it still contains certain levels of alcohol, so you should be careful about your intake. No amount of alcohol is good for you, so you have to be responsible.