What is the difference between sparkling water and seltzer water?

The rise of La Croix has heralded a new popular love for seltzer water—but if you look closely at the writing on a can of La Croix, you'll see that it's technically sparkling water, not seltzer. read more

The main difference between seltzer and sparkling water comes down to where the carbonation comes from. If the carbonation is artificial, it's probably seltzer or club soda and regulated like a soda. If the bubbles are naturally occurring, straight from the source, it's sparkling water. read more

The terms carbonated, sparkling, soda and seltzer water often get used interchangeably, but they're not precisely the same. They are all clear waters with effervescence, but the mineral content varies, and the bubbles may occur naturally or be added with carbon dioxide. read more

Carbonated water — water into which carbon dioxide has been dissolved — is a broad term that encompasses all fizzy waters; it's used interchangeably with sparkling water and soda water (a prewar term for the same thing). read more