Soft Drinks Type

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SOFT DRINKS Definition of soft drinks A soft drink (also called soda, pop, coke, soda pop, fizzy drink, tonic, seltzer, mineral, sparkling water, or carbonated beverage) is a beverage that typically contains water (often, but not always, carbonated water), usually a sweetener, and usually a flavoring agent. The sweetener may be sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, sugar substitutes (in the case of diet drinks) or some combination of these. Soft drinks may also contain caffeine, colorings, preservatives and other ingredients. Soft drinks are called "soft" in contrast to "hard drinks" (alcoholic beverages). Small amounts of alcohol may be present in a soft drink, but the alcohol content must be less than 0.5% of the total volume if the drink is to be considered non-alcoholic. Fruit juice, tea, and other such non-alcoholic beverages are technically soft drinks by this definition but are not generally referred to as such. History of soft drinks Technically, a soft drink is defined as any drink other than plain water that does not contain alcohol. The first “soft drinks” were not made in factories but came naturally as they were mineral waters found in natural springs and geysers. Early societies would bathe in these natural springs believing that they contained health improving minerals. This theme of the health benefits of soft drinks follows its development throughout the ages. Later Arabic chemists developed sherbets. These Sherbets were the first juice and carbonation drink and were made from crushed fruit, berries, herbs or flowers. Muslim shopkeepers sold what they called a Sharob to the European traders coming through the Middle East. Out of the Muslim Sharob, came the French Sorbet. Around 1265, the Sherbet Dandelion & Burdock was introduced in England and was instantly very popular. This led to the development of other carbonated
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