Ginger ale is a sweet, fizzy soft drink flavored with ginger, a spicy root that grows underground. It tastes lighter and less intense than ginger beer, with a gentle ginger flavor and plenty of bubbles. When you open a cold can, it fizzes like other sodas, but it has a distinctive taste: sweet with just a hint of spice.

Many people drink ginger ale when their stomach feels upset, though scientists aren't sure it actually helps. The tradition probably started because real ginger can sometimes calm nausea, and ginger ale seemed like an easy way to get that benefit. Today's ginger ale contains very little actual ginger, but the custom persists. You might see someone sipping ginger ale on an airplane or when they're home sick.

It's milder than many sodas, which makes it popular for mixing with fruit juice or serving as a party drink that looks fancy in a glass. Some brands make it with more real ginger for a spicier kick, while others keep it sweet and mild.