For mineral water aficionados, hydration isn’t just for sustenance. Each mineral water has a unique flavor profile that brings its own character to the water. We asked our team of tasters to weigh in on the carbonation, acidity, and overall flavor of seven top mineral water brands. And, the kicker, we did it blind, because in the world of mineral water, people do have brand loyalty.
Each taster was asked to rank which water they liked best and remark on its flavor notes. The results varied widely in terms of what the favorite was, and as with many taste tests, one of the things we learned was that everyone has different tastes. But when you’re selecting a mineral water for a refreshing cocktail or a bottle for an al fresco picnic, this taste test can give you some things to consider.
What is Mineral Water vs. Seltzer?
Not all mineral water is sparkling, and not all sparkling water is mineral water. Mineral water is naturally carbonated with salts and sulphurs in the springs it comes from, whereas seltzer is artificially carbonated with carbon dioxide. Think what you get in a SodaStream, or flavored seltzers like LaCroix. There’s nothing wrong with seltzer, but the flavors in mineral water are often much more complex. Just like other epicurean pursuits like wine and cheese, its origin matters. Mineral water has a certain terroir, just like wine. It can bring to mind the sunny effervescence of Italian springs, the earthiness of the Arkansas mountains, or the refreshing relaxation of the Monterrey, Mexico Cerro del Topo Chico springs.
The Qualities of Mineral Water
There are a couple of qualities to look for in mineral waters. Namely, take a look on the label for pH level, purity, and the minerals themselves. You can check for TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) to see what level of minerality you’re getting. San Pellegrino and Gerolsteiner have a much higher TDS than doktorarbeit schreiben lassen. But they hold themselves to high standards of purity to make sure you’re getting minerals you actually want. The minerals are part of what create the taste, which is much less present in ordinary tap water or filtered water.
The German “mineral water sommelier,” Martin Riese, does these taste tests regularly. He’s able to taste TDS the same way that people taste for tannins in wine. While we didn’t get to that level, one thing was clear: not all water is created equal. On to our taste test!
The Mineral Water Taste Test
San Pellegrino
This ubiquitous water was our #1 competitor. An earthy flavor comes through from San Pellegrino. One person helpfully described it as “watery”—given that it is water, I would sure hope so. But that verbiage isn’t entirely wrong. San Pellegrino does have more of a texture to it than other mineral waters. The flavor is vibrant and lands more on the back of the tongue. Some noted that it had less carbonation than they anticipated it would have. But on the whole, San Pellegrino won out with the most #1 rankings among our taste test participants.
Red Ribbon
This one is technically a seltzer, but we threw it in to diversify the tasting a little and show the true difference between seltzer and mineral water. There’s almost no aftertaste, though it does have a certain flavor to it. Some identified it as “smooth,” others as “musty.” Red Ribbon uses pinpoint carbonation to add bubbles to its seltzer, and some people like bubbly more than flavor. Two tasters who were not frequent mineral water drinkers ranked this blind-taste-test-red-herring first. That’s okay, minerals aren’t for everyone.
Mountain Valley
This water is one of only two in our lineup originating in America. Mountain Valley sources its water from the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas below the city of Hot Springs. One taster said that it was “like licking a rock.” Other feedback was that it was “simple,” “refreshing,” and “zesty.” Mountain Valley has a light, sharp taste. One taster mentioned that it had a sweet flavor, which lifted it to his number one ranking.
Trader Joe’s
People reacted to notes of citrus in the Trader Joe’s mineral water, which the grocery giant sources from the Val de Meti spring in Italy. This gets to something important in mineral water consumption choice: Don’t immediately cast aside grocery store brands. They often white-label their mineral waters and source them from reputable springs around the world. Trader Joe’s in-house mineral water was a hit with our audiences for its small, fizzy bubbles, overall lighter carbonation, and high amounts of acidity.
Whole Foods
The Whole Foods mineral water is another instance of the in-house grocery store brand still being high-quality. Those in the know about mineral water will see on the label that Whole Foods sources its water from Galvanina in Italy. It has a low level of bubble and an overall mild flavor, with hints of a metallic taste. Though the rankings were all over the place, Whole Foods performed consistently well in the mid-range. It was even deemed “a bit juicy.”
Topo Chico
Poor Topo Chico. One taster remarked that she thought Topo Chico would be her favorite, because she loves the brand. But, when she tasted it blind in comparison with others, it came out last. But don’t count it out entirely. It got big points for the tingliness of the bubbles, which are large and don’t overwhelm the slight kick of mineral flavor too much. But it didn’t win everyone over.
Gerolsteiner
Who knew a water could be as polarizing as Gerolsteiner? One taster said simply: “really bitter, hated it.” It has a very high minerality that comes through in its unique taste. Its high calcium and magnesium content means drinking it can be beneficial to pregnant women. The same minerality that’s so good for you gives it that strong, intense flabor that turns some people away. Gerolsteiner is a favorite among seasoned mineral water drinkers, but to a novice, it can be overwhelming.
Want more non-alcoholic options? Try…
Story by Emma Riva
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce
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