Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get a handle on all the different fizzy drinks out there. You know, for… science. And maybe so I can finally win an argument with my buddy about what counts as a “real” soda. So, I started this whole “carbonated beverages list” project. Here’s how it went down:
Brain Dump and First Steps
First, I just grabbed a piece of paper and started jotting down every carbonated drink I could think of. This was a mess. I had Coke, Pepsi, Sprite… the usual suspects. Then I started remembering random stuff like ginger ale and that weird cream soda my grandma loves.
After my brain was pretty much empty, I figured I needed to organize this chaos. So I created lists.
Getting Organized (Kind Of)
I started putting the drinks into some general groups:
- Colas: All the Coke and Pepsi variations, plus some generic store brands.
- Citrus: Sprite, 7-Up, Mountain Dew… all those lemon-lime-ish things.
- Fruit Flavors: Orange soda, grape soda… you get the idea.
- Other: The category.
Filling in the Gaps
Then came the part where I actually had to think a bit. I remembered a few more, like:
- Root Beer.
- Cream Soda.
- Ginger Ale.
I realized there were TON of different brands and variations. Like, regular Coke, Diet Coke, Cherry Coke… it’s a rabbit hole! I tried to get most of the major ones, but I’m sure I missed some.
The “Is This Really a Carbonated Beverage?” Debate
This is where things got a little philosophical. I started wondering about things like:
- Club Soda/Seltzer Water: Are these just plain bubbly water, or do they count? I decided to include them, just because.
I decided to keep them separate, though. They’re not really “flavored” in the same way as the others.
The End Result (For Now)
So, I’ve got this pretty long list now. It’s not perfect, and I’m sure there are a million more drinks I could add. It’s definitely a work in progress, but it’s a good start. I’m thinking of adding a section for “regional” sodas next – you know, the ones you only find in certain parts of the country. That’ll be another adventure!
