Drinks 2. Soft drinks

The syrup with water or “maidenhair syrup” was the most well known refreshment. It was mainly given to the children and to the ladies, while, in general, the adults’ preferred fresh mineral water. Nowadays, the commerce is well-supplied with juices and fizzy drinks. The syrups made at home are more and rarer. When we buy a bottle of juice or of cool drink for calming the thirst, we almost never think about the variety of existing drinks. We are coming to classify those in the following way:

1. Syrups and juices

2. Fizzy drinks

A. Mineral waters

B. Sweet soda pops

a. Sodas

b. Juices and refreshments

The syrups and the juices are produced by industries, and the method is about to squeeze the fruits. In order to converse better the syrup, it will be boiled or filtered, adding there some substances of conservation. As much in it as in the cider, the fruits are strained, in a way that the liquid remains completely free of particles. It is used to call the juice of oranges and fruits similar to the juice. This one is technically concentrated, facilitating that way the own transportation. By adding to that some quantities of water corresponding to the initial volume and substances of conservation; the one is packaged in the plastic packages or of waterproofed pasteboard, in vessels of tin plate or, still, in sterilized bottles. Among the fizzy drinks we distinguish: the mineral water (which contains carbonates and salts, being the natural mineral waters the best example) and the sweet soft drinks. In these, the sugar, the acids are added (generally citric acid), plus the aromatizing substances and other substances which give to them some taste. To the sodas some essences are added. Here are some examples taking part of those: soda-lemonade, soda pop, gengibirra and tonic water, which bitter taste is given by the quinine. The drinks based in the cola fruit (medicinal tree) contain phosphoric acid; a small quantity of caffeine makes a certain exciting effect. Generally, the refreshments are made of juice of citric fruits. Normally, those are condensed because they contain the pulp of the macerated fruit, but they are not strained.

The soft drinks accomplish other aims besides to refresh and to animate. They can be nutritious due to the high content of sugar and sound, thanks to the mineral salts and vitamins. Inclusive, sometimes they function as stimulants.