For many people, having a drink during a flight is a must. One popular choice that gets a lot of buzz online is ginger ale, known for its health benefits and improved taste at high altitudes. Social media chatter often agrees that the only times to drink ginger ale are on a plane, in a simple cocktail, or when you’re feeling queasy.
Why does ginger ale taste better on a plane? It turns out there’s science behind this. According to Andrea Burdack-Freitag from the Fraunhofer Institute, the low cabin pressure and lower humidity in the plane affect our taste buds similar to when we have a cold. This causes us to not taste salty, sweet, and citrusy flavors as well, but it doesn’t affect bitter, sour, and earthy flavors as much. This is why ginger ale, which is less affected, might taste better in the air compared to the ground.
Additionally, the environment on the plane, such as noise, smells, stress, or even the type of cup you drink from, can influence how your ginger ale tastes. Deborah Cohen from Rutgers University notes that these factors might change your experience.
People also turn to ginger ale during flights because it’s believed to help with nausea and motion sickness. Ginger has long been used to treat these issues, but it’s worth noting that most ginger ales are made with ginger essence, not real ginger. However, sipping ginger ale can still provide some relief by helping to settle the stomach and relieve gas.
But be mindful—ginger ale is still a sugary soda, containing about 33 grams of sugar in a 12-ounce can. To maintain hydration and health during a flight, it’s best to focus on drinking water. Yet, if ginger ale is your preferred choice for its taste or calming effects, enjoying a can now and then is fine. As Deborah Cohen suggests, there’s no harm in having a can of ginger ale on a flight, but aiming to drink more water is wise for staying hydrated.
