BlogHer and Crystal Light Water Way Challenge
Well, I did it: I tried creating a carbonated beverage out of Crystal Light.
You see, I love carbonation. My attraction to diet soda is nearly all because of the bubbles. For awhile, I drank just club soda, but I do prefer some taste. I know my dentist would say that carbonation helps rot my teeth. And the doctor would say carbonation would cause tummy trouble. But I reach for carbonation when I'm feeling ill - I think it settles my stomach - and honestly, drinking tea has had more of a negative impact on my teeth than carbonation has, especially since the sodas I drink aren't the heavy sugar variety.
During the Water Way Challenge I've reached for soda less often than before, but I haven't gone a full day without at least one. I really crave those happy bubbles on my tongue and in my tummy. Interestingly, though, the taste of the soda has seemed a bit "off" recently since I am so used to drinking either Crystal Light or water. But, I chug it down anyway because the carbonation is comforting.
The next logical step was to see if I could create a Crystal Light "soda."
I used Pomegranate Lemonade for my experiment. I put the powder in my glass first, then slowly poured Club Soda down the side so the powder wouldn't explode. Sure, it bubbled up a bit, but didn't expand into a flurry over the side of the glass. After I stirred it up, I tried it.
Verdict?
Tasty!
It is like one of those "old-time" Italian sodas, but without the super-sugar. The photo at top right looks a little vibrant or neon, but that is because I shined a flashlight through the back of the glass to really capture the bubbles. (As "proof" that I used carbonation, I guess.) I guarantee you that the actual beverage did not glow by its own power (unlike some glow-in-the-dark candies we somehow acquired last Halloween.)
The club soda I used was generic grocery store carbonated water. This same chain has "seltzer water" which contains potassium and something else. A different chain has exactly the opposite: their "seltzer" is carbonated water, but their "club soda" has other ingredients in it. I purchase whatever is straight-up carbonated water with nothing else added.
Perhaps I will try the Crystal Light plus carbonated water on some of the other flavors. It worked pretty well with Pomegranate Lemonade, but I think I'll dilute it a bit next time, perhaps using two cans of club soda to one packet of powder. This result isn't surprising given that I preferred to dilute the same flavor while using still water.
So there you have it - Crystal Light can be carbonated!
My guess is that adding the powder to the liquid wouldn't work - and I'd be nervous about using a home carbonating machine for this, although if someone has one I'd love to hear the result!
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* My introductory post to the Water Way Challenge - which links all the posts I've done while doing the Challenge, and includes my Challenge Widget to show how much water I've been drinking.
* Crystal Light Water Way Challenge official site
* Blogher's Water Way Challenge Group
* Crystal Light official site
