What Is a Seltzer? Seltzer, Hard Seltzer and THC Seltzer Explained

A seltzer is carbonated water: water with dissolved carbon dioxide that makes it bubbly. The name comes from Selters, a German town known for its naturally sparkling mineral springs. Today "seltzer" also shows up in two other drinks: hard seltzer, which adds alcohol, and THC seltzer, which adds hemp-derived THC instead.

This guide explains what seltzer is, how it differs from club soda and sparkling water, what hard seltzer and THC seltzer are, and how to read a THC seltzer label. It is general information, not medical advice.

What is a seltzer?

Wikipedia defines carbonated water as "water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure, or occurring due to natural geological processes." That's seltzer. The bubbles are the dissolved carbon dioxide coming out of solution when you open the can.

On the name: in the United States, plain carbonated water was historically called either soda water or "seltzer water, deriving from the German town Selters renowned for its mineral springs," according to the same article.

What is seltzer water vs. club soda vs. sparkling water?

These terms overlap and brands use them loosely, but the usual distinctions are:

• Seltzer: plain water with added carbonation.
• Club soda / soda water: carbonated water that may have added sodium salts or minerals. Wikipedia notes that sodium salts were historically added as flavoring and to offset the acidity of the carbonation.
• Sparkling mineral water: water from a mineral spring, sometimes naturally effervescent, like the springs at Selters.

In practice, "sparkling water" is often used for any of these, and flavored versions add natural flavors or juice.

What is seltzers: hard seltzer vs. THC seltzer

Hard seltzer is the alcoholic version. Wikipedia describes it as "a type of highball drink containing seltzer (carbonated water), alcohol, and often fruit flavorings," with alcohol by volume around 5%.

THC seltzer is the cannabis version. It's a seltzer or sparkling water with hemp-derived THC added instead of alcohol. Its strength is listed in milligrams of THC, not as an alcohol percentage. Willie's & Soda, for example, is labeled 0% alcohol. THC seltzers are for adults 21 and over and can make you feel high.

THC seltzers we carry

From our product pages, here's the range, lightest to strongest:

• Wyld CBD:THC sparkling waters, 2mg: Clementine and White Peach, each 2mg THC plus 20mg CBD per 12oz can.
• Wyld sparkling waters, 10mg: Blackberry Lemon and Raspberry Lime list 10mg Delta-9 THC per 12oz can.
• Willie's & Soda, 10mg: 10mg hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, 2mg CBD, 2mg CBG and 200mg L-theanine per 12oz can, in Original Tropical Citrus, Black Cherry Lime and Strawberry Watermelon.
• Sherpa seltzers, 50mg and 100mg: sparkling water, natural flavor and hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, made in San Antonio, Texas. Flagged on the product pages as high-potency cans.
• Torch High Potency seltzers, 60mg: 60mg Delta-9 THC per can, sugar-free per the product page.

That's a wide range: the strongest can here has 50 times the THC of the lightest. Always read the milligrams before you open one.

Why seltzer is a popular THC drink format

Seltzer is a simple base, so a THC seltzer can be light on ingredients. Sherpa's seltzers list just sparkling water, natural flavor and THC, and Torch lists its High Potency seltzers as sugar-free. Compared with a multi-serving soda, a low-milligram seltzer is also easy to portion: one can, one number. Our format comparison goes into more detail.

How to read a THC seltzer label

• Milligrams per can and per serving. A 2mg or 10mg seltzer is usually a single serving. A 50mg, 60mg or 100mg can is far more than one serving for most people.
• Other cannabinoids. Some seltzers add CBD, CBG or CBC, listed with their own milligrams.
• The ingredient list. Sherpa's seltzers, for example, list three ingredients: sparkling water, natural flavor and hemp-derived Delta-9 THC.
• A lab report. Every product we carry links its third-party certificate of analysis on our lab results page.

Drinking a THC seltzer: start low, go slow

A seltzer is easy to drink fast, which is exactly why it pays to slow down. Health Canada's guidance for cannabis you eat or drink is to "start with a low level of THC: for example, 2.5 mg or less," and notes that effects can take up to two hours to begin. Pick a low-milligram can or drink part of one, wait before having more, don't mix with alcohol, and never drive after drinking THC. Not medical advice.

Shop THC seltzers

Our THC seltzers shelf collects every seltzer and sparkling water we carry, from 2mg Wyld cans to 100mg Sherpa cans. To compare formats, read THC seltzer vs. soda vs. lemonade, and for the basics, What Are THC Drinks? We ship to adults 21 and over in the 20 states on our where we ship page, and shipping is free on orders over $55.

FAQ

Is seltzer the same as sparkling water?

Mostly. Seltzer is plain carbonated water; "sparkling water" is used for seltzer, mineral water and flavored versions alike.

Does seltzer have alcohol?

Plain seltzer doesn't. Hard seltzer does, usually around 5% ABV. THC seltzer has THC instead of alcohol.

Where does the word seltzer come from?

From Selters, a German town known for its mineral springs.

Is a THC seltzer strong?

It depends entirely on the milligrams. The THC seltzers we carry range from 2mg to 100mg per can.

Sources

• Wikipedia, "Carbonated water" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Wikipedia, "Hard seltzer" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Health Canada, "New cannabis products: What you need to know" (checked October 18, 2026)
• Product details: ShipSips product pages, October 18, 2026

This article is general information and is not medical advice. Our products are for adults 21 and older. Do not drive or operate machinery after consuming THC, and check your state's laws before purchasing.