Who doesn’t love fizzy, sparkling, and sweet soft drinks on a hot summer day? Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper are all popular soft drinks in the USA, loved by adults and children with their meals, especially with fast food. However, many people aren’t aware that the iconic Coca-Cola was also made from a mixture of amaro and vermouth (amaro being an ingredient used in many Italian sodas).
Italian sodas aren’t much different from American sodas as they were also concocted as a medicinal tonic to provide recreational benefits. It contained aromatics and flavors from various botanical extracts that were also used to create bitter liqueurs.
With the boom in the economy, these sodas became increasingly popular in Italy after World War II. With a distinct flavor and aroma to this date, these sodas can be found easily at restaurants, coffee bars, and grocery stores. Some Italian soda brands have developed exceptional quality of these classic sodas that have also become popular among Americans.
If you are looking for Italian soft drinks to try with your friends or just want a different taste from the ordinary, you need to try out the following Italian soft drinks listed below.
Various Italian Soft Drinks Loved by All
San Pellegrino Sanbittèr
This delicious red Italian soda is easily available at a majority of Italian-American stores and is a type of bitter Italian soda. The Sanbittèr was first released in the 1960s and was later acquired by San Pellegrino in the1970s.
The bottle for the soda is simple and reminds one of the bottles designed and manufactured in the 1960s. The mildly carbonated drink has a fantastic flavor of grapefruit and orange and carries a wonderful sweetness. Aside from the sweetness, the soda has an amazing orange and grapefruit flavor and a spicy floral aroma.
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Lurisia Chinotto
A distinct flavor profile of many Italian sodas, Chinotto is a classic that is loved by all. The soda has a bitter citrus flavor and a refreshing tartness that comes from the myrtle-leaf orange tree. Even though many companies produce chinotto sodas, Lurisia is an Italian brand famous for its high-quality mineral water that makes the best one.
The star ingredient of this drink is the slow food-protected Savona chinotto that originates from China but is now cultivated near the Italian Riviera. The most outstanding quality of this Italian soda is how it tastes like the peel and has the tartness of citrus. Overall, this hazy, amber-colored soda has an extraordinary sharp flavor that can appeal to all ages and tastes.
Crodino
Made from natural spring water from the town of Crodo, Crodino is an iconic Italian soda brand highly popular in Italy. It is flavored with a range of aged spices, aromatic roots, and bitter orange peels.
When you take a sip of the drink, you will be able to note the distinct spiciness of the drink owing to the aged cardamom, clove, and nutmeg present.
Crodino has a beautiful sunset orange color and comes in an exceptional bottle shape. It is the perfect summer drink to have with your friends in a glass full of ice and a tart orange slice.
With a memorable earthy bitterness and vibrant citrus flavor, this drink is bound to become your favorite to beat the heat.
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St. Agrestis Phony Negroni
If you don’t want to drink alcohol but are still craving the refreshing taste of cocktails, you must try the St. Agrestis’ Phony Negroni. The St. Agrestis’ Phony Negroni has carbonation similar to beer, but the taste is quite sweet due to cane sugar and various added aromatics.
The drink consists of almost 30 types of botanicals, out of which seven are different kinds of citrus, and also includes unusual ingredients such as hibiscus and juniper.
People who try the St. Agrestis’ Phony Negroni for the first time are awe-struck by the unexpected carbonation and how it adds a wonderful mouthfeel along with the sweet taste of the soda.
Stappi Red Bitter
Stappi Red Bitter is the best drink to try if you haven’t had Italian soft drinks before. The word Stappi is derived from the Italian word stappare, which means “uncork.”
The name can also be thought of as a nod to the popping sound of a bottle. Stappi is one of the bitterest tasting Italian soft drinks that are sweet to the taste but incredibly dry on the tongue. The taste of the drink can be best described as a red bitter with delightful bubbles that are amazing and, sometimes, aggressively refreshing.
Stappi has a delicious flavor that will remind you of a carefully prepared cocktail that doesn’t fail to delight you with fizziness and a range of sweet and bitter ingredients.
Casamara Club: Onda
The drink comes packaged in a beer-like bottle and is one of the amaro-inspired Italian sodas everyone loves. If you want a delicious soda while relaxing in front of the TV or grilling steaks leisurely, you need to have a Casamara Club: Onda.
This non-alcoholic drink is a combination of bitters and soda and is quite dry on the tongue. It has a stylish bottle that carries a refreshing lemon spritz along with some herbs for a delightful flavor.
As you taste the soda slowly, you will be able to detect hints of chinotto, juniper, sage, rhubarb root, lemon, and Mediterranean sea salt.
People who haven’t tried an exciting soda flavor similar to Casamara Club: Onda before, are bound to be surprised and will find themselves craving more with the first sip.
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Italian Soda Brands – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most popular soft drink brand in Italy?
The most famous Italian soft drink brands are Estathé and Sanbittèr. Statista’s 20202 statistics show that Estathé has almost 1.4 million fans while Sanbittèr has 426 thousand fans.
What is Italian soda called?
Italian sodas are often called creamosas as they contain different flavored syrups mixed with seltzer water or club soda.
Why are Italian sodas so good?
Italian soda has a more natural taste than regular soda as it contains herbs and aromatics instead of artificial ingredients, such as in regular soda. This is why Italian sodas are much healthier than regular sodas.
REFRESHING ITALIAN SODAS!! TORANI FRIDAY!!
Just having a little fun today and sharing how to make delicious, creamy Italian sodas with some of my favorite sugar-free Torani syrups. We hope you try these Italian sodas sometime soon and like them just as much as we do!
Summary
Italian sodas are not significantly different in taste from regular sodas but have a more natural aroma and mouthfeel.
Some of the most famous Italian soda brands contain aromatics, such as juniper, cardamom, and even hibiscus, but almost all have a bitter and sweet flavor.
There are minimal to no artificial ingredients in Italian sodas, meaning you can enjoy them with your favorite Italian subs without the guilt.
If you want something different to try that is much healthier than regular soda, you should choose one of the Italian sodas mentioned above and taste if its incredible taste beats the flavor of typical soft drinks.
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My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.
