If you’re looking to make natural sparkling water at home, the journey can be both rewarding and simple. However, for health-conscious individuals or those seeking to avoid added sugars, unnecessary flavors, or artificial ingredients, the challenge can be a little trickier. The good news is that there is a way to achieve natural carbonation without compromising your health goals.

One of the most natural ways to carbonate water is by fermenting it using yeast. Typically, yeast feeds on sugars, releasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the process, which is what gives sparkling water its signature bubbles. However, when you’re trying to avoid refined sugars and added flavors, the options for feeding the yeast become more limited.

So, can you make sparkling water with just water, yeast, and a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup? The answer is yes! Honey and maple syrup both contain natural sugars—fructose, glucose, and sucrose—which are essential for yeast fermentation. When you add a small amount of yeast to water mixed with honey or maple syrup, the yeast begins to consume the sugars, producing CO₂ and creating a natural fizz. This method keeps the ingredients simple and healthy, providing you with naturally sparkling water without resorting to artificial sweeteners or flavorings.

Keep in mind, though, that while honey and maple syrup can be effective, they may add a subtle hint of flavor to your water. The amount of sweetener can be kept low to minimize this, but even so, you might detect a slight natural sweetness. For many, this is a small trade-off for avoiding added sugars or artificial sweeteners, especially when aiming for a clean, health-forward beverage.

What about stevia?

As a popular natural, zero-calorie sweetener, stevia might seem like an ideal candidate. Unfortunately, stevia doesn’t work for yeast fermentation. Yeast requires fermentable sugars, and since stevia doesn’t contain any, it cannot feed the yeast or produce the necessary CO₂. As a result, you’ll need to add a natural sweetener if you want to achieve carbonation with yeast.

For those seeking to incorporate natural sparkling water into gluten-free recipes—like waffles or pancakes—this method can be a game-changer. Sparkling water can add a light, airy texture to batters, helping them rise and become fluffier. Since honey and maple syrup are already natural choices for sweetening waffles, using them to carbonate water makes for a seamless integration into your recipe.

Conclusion

You can create natural sparkling water with just water, yeast, and a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. It’s a straightforward way to keep your ingredients simple and healthy, while still enjoying the benefits of natural carbonation.

Experience the Irish Carbonic difference

If your business relies on CO2 products, then you should rely on Irish Carbonic. We offer a complete range of CO2 and CO2-related products. Here are some of the products and services we provide:

• Beer line cleaning
• Beer line service
• Berg liquor control
• Bulk CO2 (industrial and beverage grade)
• CO2 tank refills
• Dry ice (available for pick-up or delivery in the Rochester and Buffalo areas)
• Expert beer line installation
• Helium tank rental
• Mixed gases
• Soda & juices

If you are a business owner in either of our service areas, you can trust Irish Carbonic to provide timely and reliable service. Our technicians and staff will provide the products you need and the expertise to help keep your business running efficiently. With Irish Carbonic, you get expert planning, reliability, and personalized service. Whatever the size of your establishment, you can depend on us to keep you stocked and up and running.

Our proven track record

Irish Carbonic has been in business since the 1930s. Since our inception, we’ve been taking care of businesses in Buffalo, Rochester, and beyond with our customer-first approach. With Irish Carbonic:

• You set the schedule. We’ll be there to deliver whenever you need us.
• You get fair and honest pricing.
• You get innovative problem-solving.
• You get exceptional safety standards.

In addition to working hard for you and the success of your business, Irish Carbonic is proud to be a certified women-owned business enterprise—a distinction very few businesses in the US have achieved. For all these reasons and more, you should choose Irish Carbonic.

Join the Irish Carbonic family

Irish Carbonic serves homes and businesses in New York (in and around Buffalo and Rochester) and Ohio (in and around Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Dayton). We’re the most reliable provider in the region. Click here to find out if you’re in our service area.

Irish Carbonic is proud to be a fourth-generation, family-owned, certified women’s enterprise.

Contact us today to experience firsthand the personal touch the Irish family brings to every home and business.