Have you ever wondered how a simple thing like water can become so bubbly?
Mineral water, found in natural springs, gets its bubbles from carbon dioxide. Soda water imitates mineral water. 
How does water get infused with carbon dioxide to make the popular drinks many people enjoy today?

The following video resources offer the history of soda pop and explain how carbonated soda is made. You’ll find a few experiments tucked in there as well. Below the videos, you will find recipes for making your own healthier flavored carbonated beverages.

About: Introduction to Pop – The History of Soft Drinks – Find out how soda pop got its start. This site offers a timeline as well.

Herbs were added to unflavored mineral water and offered to people as a healthy drink. Today, many popular brands of soda are loaded with chemicals and artificial sweeteners. A healthier alternative is to make your own with natural ingredients. Here are some suggestions:

Note: You will need carbonated water, a.k.a seltzer water, for each of these flavored soda suggestions.

Apple, Grape, Orange, Lemon, or Fruit Punch Soda – Use a juice concentrate and exchange plain water with seltzer water.

Root Beer – Make your own root beer syrup with this recipe from Foodie with Family. Root Beer Float Day is August 6. Learn more about it here, on Fran’s World of Discovery. This post includes information and videos about root beer floats and its components.

Cola – Cola syrup can be purchased online and in stores.

Ginger Soda – Make a simple syrup by heating up equal amounts of sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved, then add two smashed, quarter-sized, pieces of fresh, peeled ginger to it. Allow everything to boil for a minute, cover and set aside to cool for 30 minutes. Strain the ginger out. Put 2 tablespoons of the syrup into a glass, add a cup of seltzer water, stir, add ice, and enjoy.

Chocolate Egg Cream – Chocolate soda makes up the base of this recipe, then milk is added to give it a creamy texture. You’ll find a delicious recipe for this old time treat here on Fran’s World of Discovery.