SodaStream was created in 1903. Giles Gilby invented a carbonation system which made standard water into fizzy water; it was originally sold to the upper classes. New flavours were introduced in the 1920s. Sarsaparilla and cherry ciderette were among the new choices. It enjoyed widespread success in the 1970s and 80s, becoming a big hit in countries such as the UK, Germany and Australia.

SodaStream underwent numerous changes in ownership, at one stage even being part of the Cadbury Schweppes empire. 1998 was the year the company changed hands for the final time when purchased by Soda Club, which at that time was the biggest supplier of SodaStream to Israel. Soda Club made a bid to change the brand from SodaStream to Soda-Club, but the name of the brand remained SodaStream.

More recently Soda Club sought to rename the SodaStream brand. Focusing on the health and diet issues that are so prevalent in this day and age, SodaStream was relaunched with a new machine and many new flavours, concentrating on promoting a healthy alternative to fizzy, sugar-rich drinks such as Coca Cola and Pepsi.

In basic terms, the SodaStream product is a home carbonation kit, which allows you to change water into sparkling water, as well as allowing you to add low-calorie flavours such as cola and orange. A large assortment of calorie-free flavours to flavour sparkling water to great taste is sold at allfreightfree.com.

The SodaStream machine process forces co2 into a bottle suitable for pressurising and which is filled with water. It is the co2 that turns the water into carbonated (sparkling) water. Carbonation is the name we give to this process of dissolving co2. The carbonated water can then be drunk on its own as sparkling water, or mixed with flavours to create tasty, healthy treats. Once the co2 canisters have been used up they can be sent back to Soda-Club who recycle the canisters by refilling them with co2 then sending them back out.

Regarding actual health and diet benefits gained from drinking SodaStream, the company assures consumers that all their flavours are completely sugar-free and contain a maximum of 2 calories per 100ml; this is, assuredly, good news for every parent concerned about a child’s diet.

The SodaStream machine adds only co2 to the water, meaning it does not have the added sugar that some bottled sparkling water contains, so there is no significant difference between it and normal water.

SodaStream have made much of their environmental and health credentials; they claim that each litre bottle of SodaStream saves three aluminum cans. The result? Over a 3-year period, a family of four could slash their soft-drink-related packaging usage by over 90%. This is a significant claim, one that in this environmentally conscious age will stand them in good stead. Obviously, Sodastream has developed into a viable alternative to the big players in the soft drink world.