Carbonated milk or soda milk is a

carbonated soft drink A soft drink (see #Terminology, § Terminology for other names) is a class of non-alcoholic drink, usually (but not necessarily) Carbonated water, carbonated, and typically including added Sweetness, sweetener. Flavors used to be Natural flav ...

. It can be made from powdered milk or fresh milk, and often has added flavor. In addition to modified

mouthfeel Mouthfeel refers to the physical sensations in the mouth caused by food or drink, making it distinct from taste. It is a fundamental sensory attribute which, along with taste and smell, determines the overall flavor of a food item. Mouthfeel i ...

, carbonated milk also has a longer shelf-life than similarly processed flat milk and a different flavor. It is sold by several companies and is most popular in Asia.

History

Fermented milk has been part of human diet for several thousand years and is consumed worldwide. Kefir and kumis, both effervescent fermented milk beverages, have been produced since ancient times. Kefir originates from the Caucasus and can be produced from any kind of milk. It is consumed in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Central Asia and has been produced since at least 2,000 BC. Kumis is traditionally produced from mare's milk, but may also be produced from camel's or cow's milk. It is popular in Central Asia and Turkey. Its production has been described since at least 500 BC, though it may have been produced since the Bronze age. While traditional fermented milks are still consumed, other kind of carbonated milk have appeared in modern times. In the Victorian era, milk was mixed with soda water to produce a medicinal beverage. This beverage was consumed by cyclists as a refreshment and influenced the Punjab tradition of Doodh soda, a drink of milk mixed with Sprite or 7 Up. In the United States, carbonated milk has been promoted as a way to reduce dairy surpluses. Carbonated milk has also been developed to compete with the rise of sodas and the declining popularity of milk. It has remained unpopular and is a specialty product.

Manufacture

Carbonated milk can be produced by fermentation and other methods. With fermentation, yeast is added to the milk, producing a yogurt-like

effervescent Effervescence is the escape of gas from an aqueous solution and the foaming or fizzing that results from that release. The word effervescence is derived from the Latin verb ''fervere'' (to boil), preceded by the adverb ''ex''. It has the same l ...

beverage. Along with

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...

, the yeast also produces

lactic acid Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has the molecular formula C3H6O3. It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as wel ...

aromatic compound Aromatic compounds or arenes are organic compounds "with a chemistry typified by benzene" and "cyclically conjugated." The word "aromatic" originates from the past grouping of molecules based on odor, before their general chemical properties were ...

s and a small amount of

ethanol Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is an Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol, with its formula also written as , or EtOH, where Et is the ps ...

. Examples of carbonated milk beverages produced using fermentation include

kefir Kefir ( ; alternative spellings: kephir or kefier; ; ; ) is a Fermented milk products, fermented milk drink similar to a thin yogurt or ayran that is made from kefir grains, a specific type of mesophilic SCOBY, symbiotic culture. It is prep ...

and

kumis ''Kumis'' ( , ), alternatively spelled ''coumis'' or ''kumyz'', also known as ''airag'' ( ), is a traditional Fermented milk products, fermented dairy product made from mare milk. The drink is important to the peoples of the Central and East ...

. Aside from fermentation, carbonation can be produced by physical or chemical means. The "dry" method involves adding powdered milk to a liquid, which then produces carbon dioxide when the two are mixed. Another method involves physically mixing or injecting the milk with carbon dioxide to produce the carbonated beverage. Finally, milk can be mixed with soda or sparkling water.

Characteristics

Flavor

Carbonated milk can have flavor added to it, such as strawberry, peach or root beer. It can also be sweetened, using a sweetener such as sucrose, aspartame or high-fructose corn syrup. Carbonation has been shown to increase the perceived intensity of flavorings and sweetness, as well as bitterness and chalkiness at higher levels.

Texture

Unfermented carbonated milk is thinner than uncarbonated milk and thus does coat one's tongue or upper lip. It has been described as being more refreshing and similar to club soda.

Shelf life

Carbonation increases the shelf life of both raw and pasteurized milk. A similar effect has also been demonstrated with UHT milk. The means by which carbon dioxide reduces spoilage is unknown, but suggested mechanisms include displacement of oxygen, acidification and direct effects on microbial metabolism due to cellular penetration. Carbonation has a similar preserving effect on other dairy products, such as butter, yogurt and cheese. Because of dairy's high susceptibility to spoilage, carbonation has been suggested as a simple means of preservation. With liquids such as milk, this can be achieved using injection or by filling the container's

headspace Headspace may refer to: Science and technology * Headspace gas chromatography, a technique in analytical chemistry * Headspace or ullage, the unfilled space in a container * Headspace technology, the gaseous constituents of a closed space abo ...

with carbon dioxide.

Popularity and availability

Carbonated milk is most popular in Asia. Vio is a mix of flavored milk and carbonated water made by The

Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. It manufactures, sells and markets soft drinks including Coca-Cola, other non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, and alcoholic beverages. Its stock is lis ...

. In India, it is sold primarily by large brands, including Nestle,

Amul The Anand Milk Union Limited commonly known as Amul is an Indian dairy brand owned by the cooperative society, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), based in Anand, Gujarat. GCMMF is controlled by 3.6 million milk producers. ...

and

Britannia The image of Britannia () is the national personification of United Kingdom, Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used by the Romans in classical antiquity, the Latin was the name variously appli ...

Milkis Milkis () is a South Korean soft drink produced by Lotte Chilsung, a South Korean beverage company. It combines many of the common elements of traditional carbonated beverages such as sugar and carbonated water with milk to create a creamy tas ...

is a South Korean brand of carbonated milk, which is also sold in Taiwan and other nearby countries.

References

Milk-based drinks Chinese drinks Hong Kong drinks Japanese drinks Korean drinks Carbonated drinks {{Soft-drink-stub