This is the brand name of carbonation systems for home use. They were invented during the early 1900s to add carbon dioxide (CO2) to drinking water. In those days these were called “apparatus for aerating liquids”. The more recent versions allow for adding flavored concentrates and before you know it – you’ve got homemade carbonated, flavor drink or soda.

The very first machines manufactured were rather large and were sold to the larger households from the upper classes of London, including the royal household. There were flavors with odd names, one being the famous sarsaparilla introduced in the 1920s. The commercial carbonation machines were also introduced in the 1920s and were very well liked. The first smaller machines for home carbonation was produced in 1955.

With so many forms of concentrate, various and unique flavors of soft drinks can be made. In the times when the systems were most favored, many well-known brands were available for SodaStream from the concentrate such as Fants, and Sunkist.

During the early 1990s, the company merged with Soda-Club and has since relaunched using a marketing plan targeted more in the direction of overall health or healthiers drink for children or families.

Today there are considerable competing brands of syrups for SodaStream. Aromhuset as is the Premium brand and their Zero (sugar free) series taste like they was sugar sweetened. Take a watch at their Zero Indian Tonic at amazon UK.

The SodaStream drink maker comes with a canister with CO2 which is pushed into water which makes the water fizzy. The complete product features a machine, co2 canister, and many reusable drink bottles especially designed for pressurizing. After filling a bottle with water, you screw it on the machine, push a control button, and make sparkling water. Carbonated sparkling water is also referred to as seltzer water. There are different flavors of concentrated syrups which allows the consumer to create regular or diet pop (or soft drinks). When the canister is empty, you return it and buy a whole new canister of CO2.

The popularity on the SodaStream throughout the 70s and 80s in the United Kingdom and currently are associated with nostalgia for those time periods. The advertising best tonic water jingle in 1970 was “get busy with the fizzy” and was so very popular, that the slogan was added to their logo. It was ultimately dropped in 1996 after 17 years.

MilkStream is actually a machine made through the same company for making milkshakes. You simply add milk, soft ice cream and syrup in a tall glass, insert in the machine and a wand extends in the tall glass to whip up a foaming, tasty milkshake.

Today, SodaStream is part of Soda-Club and there are many web sites where they can be purchased and all sorts of the supplies can be ordered and reordered as required.