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A drink, or beverage, is a liquid which is specifically prepared for human consumption. In addition to filling a basic human need, beverages form part of the culture of human society.

Contents 1 Water 2 Alcoholic beverages 3 Non-alcoholic beverages 4 Soft drinks 5 Fruit juice 6 Hot beverages 7 Miscellaneous 8 Measurement 9 See also 10 References

Water

Despite the fact that all beverages contain water, water itself is not classed as a beverage. The word beverage has traditionally been defined as not referring to water.

Alcoholic beverages

An alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains ethanol, commonly known as alcohol (although in chemistry the definition of "alcohol" includes many other compounds).

Beer has been a part of human culture for 8,000 years.^[1] In Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and many other European countries, drinking beer (and other alcoholic beverages) in a local bar or pub is a cultural tradition.^[2]

Asian countries (e.g., Sri Lanka and India) produce several varieties of alcoholic beverages (e.g., palm wine).

Non-alcoholic beverages

Non-alcoholic beverages are drinks that usually contain alcohol, such as beer and wine, but contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. This category includes low-alcohol beer, non-alcoholic wine, and apple cider.

Soft drinks

The term "soft drink" specifies the absence of alcohol in contrast to "hard drink" and "drink". "Drink" is nominally neutral but often connotes alcoholic content.

Beverages such as soda pop, sparkling water, iced tea, lemonade, squash, and fruit punch are the most common soft drinks. Milk, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, milkshakes, and tap water are not considered to be soft drinks.

Some carbonated soft drinks are available in versions that are sweetened with a sugar substitute.

Fruit juice

Fruit juice is a natural product that contains few additives, or none. Citrus products such as orange juice and tangerine juice are very familiar breakfast beverages. Grapefruit juice, pineapple, apple, grape, lime, and lemon juice are also familiar products. Coconut water is a highly nutritious and refreshing juice.

Many kinds of berries are crushed and their juices mixed with water and sometimes sweetened. Raspberry, blackberry and currants are often popular juices drinks but the percentage of water also determines their nutritive value. Juices were probably humankind's earliest drinks besides water. Grapes juice that was allowed to ferment produced the alcoholic drink wine.

Fruits are highly perishable and so the ability to create juices and store them was of significant value. Some fruits are highly acidic and mixing them with additional water and sugars or honey was often necessary to make them palatable. Early storage of fruit juices was labor intensive, requiring the crushing of the fruits and the mixing of the resulting pure juices with sugars before bottling and capping them.

Orange juice and coconut water remain by far the most highly consumed juices on the market and are there because of their valuable nutrients and hydration abilities.

Hot beverages

A hot beverage is any beverage which is normally served heated. This may be through the addition of a heated liquid, such as water or milk, or by directly heating the beverage itself. Some examples of hot beverages are:

• Coffee-based beverages
  • Café au lait
  • Cappuccino
  • Coffee
  • Espresso
  • Frappé
  • Flavored coffees (mocha etc.)
  • Latte
• Hot chocolate
• Horlicks
• Hot cider
  • Mulled cider
• Glühwein
• Tea-based beverages
  • Flavored teas (chai etc.)
  • Green tea
  • Pearl milk tea
  • Tea
• Herbal teas
  • Yerba Mate
• Roasted grain beverages
  • Sanka

Miscellaneous

Some substances may be called either food or drink, and accordingly may be eaten with a spoon or drunk, depending upon their thickness and solutes.

• Buttermilk
• Soup
• Yogurt

Measurement

Unit	Australia	UK		US
	ml	imp fl oz	ml	US fl oz	ml
dash		1/48	0.592	1/48	0.616
teaspoon	5	1/8	3.55	1/6	4.93
tablespoon	20	1/2	14.2	1/2	14.8
fluid ounce, nip or pony	30	1	28.413	1	29.574
shot, bar glass or jigger		3/2	42.6	3/2	44.4
can of drink	375	11.6	330	12	355
pint	570	20	568	16	473
bottle of spirits	750	24.6	700	25.3	750
bottle of wine	750	26.4	750	25.3	750

See also

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Drink

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Drink

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on Beverages

• Cocktails
• Drinking
• Drinking water
• Food
• Kefir
• Soft drink
• Water

References

Part of the Meals series

Common meals

Breakfast · Brunch · Lunch · Tea · Dinner · Supper

Components & courses

Amuse-bouche · Appetizer · Cheese · Dessert · Drink · Entrée · Entremet · Fruit · Main course · Nuts · Salad · Side dish

Related concepts

Banquet · Buffet · Cuisine · Eating · Etiquette · Food