Carbonated Drinks Explained What They Are and How They Work

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No one can resist a bubbly fizzy drink every now and then. Whether you’re out with your friends, chilling at home or feeling really thirsty after a long day at work, there are times in life when nothing beats a refreshing fizzy drink.

But then, what are carbonated drinks? Most people are familiar with sodas of all kinds, yet no one really asks themselves how they work or how they’re made. This guide will make everything clear, so you know exactly what to expect in terms of variety, carbonation and other elements that give these beverages their signature bite and keep you reaching for the next sip.

1. What Are Carbonated Drinks?

You don’t need to be a science freak to understand what carbonated drinks are. Normally, these beverages are made as a flat liquid base without any fizz at all. Then, they’re infused with dissolved carbon dioxide or CO2. It’s gas that’s stored under high pressure to force it to bind with the liquid.

That’s why, whenever you open carbonated CBD drinks or other soft drinks, you’ll hear the gas coming out. Some of it still stays in the water. The CO2 is dissolved in the liquid when sealed. What comes out when you open the can is mostly pressure. Some of the gas will also escape through visible bubbles.

What gives that unique tingling sensation isn’t the CO2 itself, but the carbonic acid that’s created with those bubbles.

2. Key Things to Know About Carbonated Drinks

So, what are carbonated drinks? Simply put, these are beverages that contain dissolved carbon dioxide gas. You can infuse it in pretty much any drink. That’s why you’ll find it in water, beer, champagne and plenty of sodas alike.

The production process is easy to understand too. Most manufacturers inject their beverages with CO2 at very low temperatures, but also at very high pressure. They’re practically trying to maximize the dissolution before the can is sealed. The same process applies to bottles as well.

1. Natural or Artificial?

Some drinks are naturally carbonated, but you can’t expect this from sodas or other similar beverages. This process could sometimes apply to water. Basically, water could be naturally infused with CO2 while still underground. It’s a geological process.

As for the drinks you can find in every shop out there, they’re normally carbonated in an artificial manner. The same applies to beers, champagnes, sodas and so on. Even when it comes to water, most of the sparkling water available in commerce is artificially carbonated using pressurized tanks.

2. Extra Ingredients

The CO2 can be infused into any drink. It’s not an ingredient itself. Therefore, depending on the drinks you like, you could find all sorts of ingredients. From acids and sweeteners to juices and preservatives, each manufacturer has their own recipes to balance out the acidity of the carbonation.

Some drinks feature natural flavors and ingredients. Some others are based exclusively on artificial stuff. Some drinks may also come with beneficial effects, like CBD drinks in high concentrations meant for relaxation. The idea is that CO2 doesn’t affect the ingredients, composition or taste, but only the sensation.

3. How Carbonation Actually Works

Carbonation comes in more stages. What are carbonated drinks made of? Whatever the ingredients are, they don’t really affect carbonation, which is an independent process governed by physics.

The dissolution is the first stage. CO2 can dissolve into water when exposed to high pressure. It creates an unstable acid, which is also known as carbonic acid. It’s relatively weak but enough to alter the pH level slightly.

Now, when you open a container, whether a can or a bottle, you’ll hear that lovely hiss. This is another step in the process. The pressurized CO2 gas aims to escape the container. Some of it is in the drink, but there’s plenty of it in the empty space of the container as well.

As fresh air gets in, the gas in the empty space escapes instantly.

That’s when bubbles are created, which represent yet another step. The pressure is naturally released straight away. Then, the unstable gas starts reacting. While in the liquid, some of it escapes by creating small gas bubbles that rise to the surface.

That’s why a can or a bottle will lose most of the fizz if you leave it open for too long.

A drink will go “flat” when most of the carbon dioxide is out of it. The beverage gradually loses its fizz. Sure, it’s still fizzy for a few hours. In fact, if the container is sealed again, it may retain its fizz for a few days. But generally, it goes flat if not consumed within a few hours.

Finally, it’s worth noting that refrigeration can keep CO2 dissolved for longer periods of time. Leave an open can on the counter and you’ll lose the fizz by tomorrow since heat drives the gas out. Leave it in the fridge and you’ll still have some fizz left. That’s why many fizzy drinks are served cold to maximize the bubble retention. 

In the end, what are carbonated drinks? These are some basic drinks infused with CO2, nothing else. CO2 makes all the difference and is directly responsible for the fizz. Other properties or ingredients have nothing to do with the fizzy profile but work together to create the final flavor experience.