I’m not going to lie guys – Sometimes, I crave soda. It’s not the sweet flavor that I’m dying for, it’s the sparkly consistency and the joy of something “special” to drink. You know I never drink diet soda, so I’m constantly on the lookout for a fun, festive, healthy-ish beverage, especially when the sun comes out. My current go-to is Dry Sparkling Soda.
I have to tell you the story of Dry, because I think it’s truly awesome. Founder & CEO Sharelle Klaus is a foodie through and through. She found her passion in food pairings (beverages obviously included), but she felt so limited when she was pregnant. But she wasn’t going to let a lack of wine or cocktails stop her from creating a great pairing. So she started to work with chefs in her hometown to discover how to use unique flavor notes to create sparkling beverages that are simple and unexpectedly palate pleasing. Thus came Dry Sparkling.
And when Sharelle says unique flavor notes, she really means it. Say no to “cola” or root beer flavors, friends. Dry Sparking’s line up includes Fuji Apple, Cucumber, Ginger, Lavender, Vanilla Bean, Rhubarb, Rainier Cherry, Juniper and Blood Orange – Truly a flavor to go with any plate! Plus, if you visit http://www.drysparkling.com, you can get pairing ideas and mixology recommendations!
Now, let’s talk sugar, because I know it’s the first thing to come to mind when you’re talking soda. An average can (12 fl oz) of cola, without caffeine has 39g of sugar. Let’s put that into perspective: According to the American Heart Association, the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons) for women, and 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons) for men. So with just one can of uncaffeinated soda, you’re getting nearly 1.5x the recommended amount of sugar.
Dry Sparkling has 11g – 19g per bottle depending on the flavor – Totally within the AHA’s recommended serving. I look at Dry Sparklings as a treat – I’m not going to have one every day, but they are a LOVELY luxury for celebratory moments or if I need a little boost 🙂
I’ve seen Dry Sparking sold all over the place – Whole Foods, Lassens, Ralphs, Target, Bevmo … But definitely visit http://www.drysparkling.com/find-dry/ to find where Dry is sold near you!