Summary
The article discusses the regional differences in the United States regarding what people call a soft drink: soda, pop, or coke. It explains the historical origins of these terms and how carbonated drinks evolved from health drinks in the early 1800s.
Key Facts
- In the Midwest, people often call soft drinks "pop."
- In the Northeast and Far West, these drinks are usually called "soda."
- In the South, "coke" is a common term for any soft drink, not just Coca-Cola.
- The process of carbonating water began in the late 1700s.
- Soda water was first marketed as a health drink in the early 1800s.
- Pharmacists used to sell flavored versions of soda water as remedies in the mid-1800s.
- The term "soda" likely comes from "sodium," once thought to have health benefits.
- Seltzer, a term for fizzy water, initially referred to a specific mineral water from Germany.
