What's the difference between flavoured sparkling spring water and ordinary pop?

[purplepoppy]

I always like to bulk buy cans of pop and put a few in the car for when needed. Today, I picked up a mix of cans labelled sparkling flavoured spring water because they were cheap, 65p each.

But it got me thinking, which is something I do occasionally. The ingredients are: carbonated water, flavourings, sweeteners, and preservatives. In other words, exactly the same as any other fizzy soft drink.

Sure, it's "spring water" but once you've added artificial flavouring/sweetener you've pretty much killed any alleged health benefits.

So what actually is the difference?

[Chazmatazz269]

“Pop”? I thought you were in the UK. Are you a transplant?
In the US, “pop” is primarily a midwestern term. Other regions refer to ‘soda’, which i adopted despite being a midwesterner, or ‘coke’. Which i find hilariously ignorant but somehow adorable. Ell oh ell!
https://brilliantmaps.com/soda-vs-pop-vs-coke-map-of-the-us/

So… what’s your deal? Is “pop” the common term in the UK or your region of the UK? Or are you a transplant from the US? Or did you adopt the term? Like i did soda?


What was your question, again?
😂😂🤣🤣

[purplepoppy]

One time in the UK we had pop men who'd deliver bottles of pop to your door. Both soda and pop are used but pop is far more common

[Jersey2]

Never knew that

[Caroline91]

@chazmatazz269 I was trying to explain to someone the other day that in California everything is "coke". Someone will ask "hey, would you like a coke?" and you'll answer "Sure, I''ll take a root beer"... or a sprite... or whatever. I'd never actually thought about it before that person asked me what we call soda here. It's like saying "Kleenex" for facial tissue.

[Chazmatazz269]

I’ve never gotten “coke” for soda in Cali. It’s usually soda, but i have heard “pop”. “Coke” is typically a southern thing.

[purplepoppy]

In Scotland they call it fizzy juice

[DryGermanGuy]

Far less sugar. And the dominating taste is still the water and not the added flavor.

[jennifer_bloom]

I heard a lot of healthy sounding products on the market are fake. They say the nutrition bars are worse than chocolate bars and apparently, almost 95% of the virgin olive oils on the market are fake and use other type of oils. Real virgin olive oil is spicy and should kick your throat with a tangy taste when you use it. And some types of real olive oil cost over $100 a bottle.

[Nikki1989]

There is a huge difference in their sugar content and nutritional profile.

[AI Opinion]

Flavored sparkling spring water and ordinary pop may seem similar, but they have distinct differences. Flavored sparkling spring water typically starts with natural spring water, which often contains minerals that add subtle nuances to the taste. This sparkling water is usually carbonated and lightly flavored without using real sugar.

Ordinary pop or soda is more sugary, often using high-fructose corn syrup or cane sugar, and can contain caffeine. The flavor profiles of pop are usually stronger. Pop often has more calories due to sugars. Flavored sparkling water is viewed as a lighter alternative. Enjoy both for their unique tastes and refreshment. 🥤✨

[fivebyfour]

In my part of the UK you never hear the word "pop", let alone "soda". Soda would mean soda water,,,

To me spring water means water from a spring rather than mains supply,,,

[Shiprex]

Syrup added that dissolve in water for artificial soft drink pop but perhaps less added extra separate ingredients not in a Syrup

[jahaims]

One is carbonated water and one is carbonated sugar

[Sal_Monella]

Sugar or artificial sweetener, preservatives and coloring.

[Iron_Man]

Soda have a lot more sugar in it and stuff added to it artificial flavors this is not as bad

[DCVsMarvel2]

Usually color, but I'm sure there's more too

[Anonymous]

I guess ordinary pop has more sugar and flavor.

[NoDecision]

The amount of sugar in them?

[exitseven]

About 5 bucks a 6 pack.