# The taste of seltzer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-taste-of-seltzer/303586>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 12, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-taste-of-seltzer/303586 "2005-05-12T18:52:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-taste-of-seltzer/303586/1 "2005-05-12T18:52:13Z")

</div>

What exactly am I tasting when I drink seltzer (after all, it’s just water with CO[sub]2[/sub], right?), and why does flat seltzer still have this taste?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-taste-of-seltzer/303586/2 "2005-05-12T19:24:18Z")

</div>

I believe that the dissolved carbon dioxide reacts with water, forming carbonic acid. You may be tasting that.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-taste-of-seltzer/303586/3 "2005-05-12T19:46:49Z")

</div>

Plus a little salt.