The best brands of natural soda are made with real fruits and free from artificial sweeteners or white refined sugar. Also see the best brands of natural cola and a glass of summer lemonade.
Square Root Soda is a brand of natural soda made with fresh fruits, made in small batches in East London. The company (founded by a biologist and a chemist) makes sodas that are not sickly sweet in ‘grownup flavours’ including non-alcoholic ready-made drinks. Packed in glass bottles or tins, the gift packs are sent in cardboard packaging. The range includes classics like classic lemonade, ideal for summer days.
Fruits are sourced from local farmers (including Yorkshire rhubarb – not for people intolerant to oxalic acid) and strawberries from the same peeps that grow for Wimbledon). The company are such fans of Sicilian lemons that people are measured in lemons (their tallest team member is 32.2 lemons tall!)
The Elderflower Soda offers up a traditional English berry that has a unique flowery taste (many people say elderflower soda is a lovely teetotal alternative to a white wine spritzer). It’s believed that Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross made from elder wood. Or go for the slightly more exotic soda flavours like Lime & Lemongrass.
Square Root also offers no-alcohol versions of Negroni (spicy citrus Italian cocktail) and Latin mojito. The gin & tonic uses tonic water with juniper and botanicals of coriander, cardamom, Persian dried lime, Sicilian lemon peel and licorice. Check medications, due to possible interactions for quinine (if pregnant, avoid quinine and licorice).
You can find square root soda in good shops. Or order online with free delivery, for orders over £25. Refer a pal and earn £5. Trade orders are welcome, just sign up to get started.
Rapscallion Soda (Scotland) makes soft drinks with raw cane sugar in an electric factory in sustainable packaging. The range includes Burnt Lemon, Dry Lime and Ginger, plus seasonal Strawberry and Scottish Blueberry or Cranachan (raspberry cream soda).
Genie Drinks is a company founded by two friends, who were fed up of sugary sodas, so decided to create their own, based around kombucha Tea. The range includes Dry Apple and Fiery Ginger.
Olipop (US) offers natural sodas in 9 flavours including strawberry or cherry vanilla, ginger lemon and classic grape.
Soda Folk (UK) makes the finest sodas, made with authentic ingredients. The range includes vegan cream sodas, cherry soda and dessert sodas like blueberry muffin and jam roly poly!
Lovely Drinks (Somerset) makes beautiful artisan sodas in a village, just outside the city of Bristol. Developed by a couple who had no intention to start a soft drinks company, the ‘accidental birth’ began when stumbling across a relative’s recipe for elderflower champagne. Foraging local bushes nearby, experiments began by adding roses, and the first sip told them that this was too good a business opportunity to miss!
Although originally just a hobby, sales at local markets and festivals led to the establishment of this unique little indie business, and now the company sells its drinks in many shops and restaurants, and even in National Trust properties. The recipes remain handcrafted, sourcing only the best ingredients for a beautiful blend of natural flavours. The elderflowers are still hand-picked from local hedgerows! Sold in cases of 24 bottles, enjoy free delivery if you can’t find them in local shops (the company uses a specialist liquid delivery service, so the drinks arrive in pristine condition). The range includes:
- Garden Lemonade (refreshing fizz with Sicilian lemons)
- Raspberry Lemonade (a sharp fruity fizz)
- Elderflower Presse (an English summer classic)
- Elderflower Rose (with English rose petals)
- Cucumber Mint Fizz (light & refreshing)
- Original & Sour Berry Cola (avoid caffeine for pregnancy)
- Ginger Beer (with fresh lime juice)
Lovely Drinks Tonic Waters
The brand also makes a nice range of tonic waters. Avoid quinine for pregnancy/nursing, abnormal heart rhythm, kidney or liver disease or low blood sugar). Choose from:
- Indian Tonic Water (with a dash of lime juice)
- Low Calorie Tonic Water (still plenty of flavour!)
- Cucumber Tonic Water (with organic cucumbers)
- Garden Tonic Water (elderflowers & roses)
