Let Me Rephrase That…

The only thing I’ve been drinking for the last few years is bottled water. The tap water around here upsets my stomach and since I fell ill, my stomach has been super-sensitive so tap water is out.

Now, call me mad but I’ve found that not all water tastes the same. Of the bottled waters on the market (in the UK) I prefer a brand called Highland Spring. However, I have gathered a smorgasbord of bottled water for a semi-scientific look at the differences and tastes between them.

So, with majestic, gladiatorial music providing the imaginary backing music, I present the candidates to you with their vital statistics. Note: the following figures are all in mg/L

Highland Spring

• Calcium – 40.5
• Magnesium – 11.6
• Potassium – 0.9
• Sodium – 9.4
• Chloride – 8.1
• Sulphate – 6.4
• Nitrate (as NO3) – 2.4
• Bicarbonates – N/A
• Silica – N/A
• Dry Residue (at 180C) – 158
• pH – N/A

Evian

• Calcium – 78
• Magnesium – 24
• Potassium – 1
• Sodium – 5
• Chloride – 4.5
• Sulphate – 10
• Nitrate (as NO3) – 3.8
• Bicarbonates – 357
• Silica – 13.5
• Dry Residue (at 180C) – 309
• pH – 7.2

Waitrose Scottish Natural Mineral Water

• Calcium – 25.6
• Magnesium – 6.4
• Potassium – <1.0
• Sodium – 6.4
• Chloride – 6.8
• Sulphate – 10.1
• Nitrate (as NO3) – <2.5
• Bicarbonates – 98.3
• Silica – 7.6
• Dry Residue (at 180C) – 109.1
• pH – 7.4

Volvic

• Calcium – 11.5
• Magnesium – 8
• Potassium – 6.2
• Sodium – 11.6
• Chloride – 13.5
• Sulphate – 8.1
• Nitrate (as NO3) – 6.3
• Bicarbonates – 71
• Silica – 31.7
• Dry Residue (at 180C) – 130
• pH – 7

ONE

• Calcium – 44
• Magnesium – 6.8
• Potassium – 2
• Sodium – 37
• Chloride – 13
• Sulphate – 10.9
• Nitrate (as NO3) – 15
• Bicarbonates – N/A
• Silica – N/A
• Total Dissolved Solids – 214
• pH – N/A

San Benedetto

• Calcium – 48.2
• Magnesium – 29.4
• Potassium – 1
• Sodium – 6.9
• Chloride – 1.9
• Sulphate – 3.8
• Nitrate (as NO3) – 8.2
• Bicarbonates – 306
• Silica – 14.3
• Dry Residue (at 180C) – 274.8
• pH – 7.2

San Benedetto also has Arsenic (<0.001 mg/L), Copper (<0.001 mg/L), Fluorine (0.06 mg/L) and Lead (<0.001 mg/L) present. None of the other manufacturers stated figures for these so I withheld them from the comparison.

Fiji Artesian Water

• Calcium – 17
• Magnesium – 13
• Potassium – 4.9
• Sodium – 18
• Chloride – 8.6
• Sulphate – ND
• Nitrate (as NO3) – 1
• Bicarbonates – 140
• Silica – 85
• Dry Residue (at 180C) – N/A
• pH – 7.5

Now, don’t be alarmed with my notations. The red text does not necessarily mean that amount is bad! The red figures show the highest readings for each category and the green figures show the lowest. Looking at these now I’m seeing some drastic differences which could potentially change the taste of the water. pH7 is classed as “pure water” and Volvic have hit the nail on the head with that one. Volvic also has the least amount of bicarbonates in it and a reasonably low dry residue so I’m expecting it to be quite neutral when it comes to thickness.

Interestingly, the Waitrose own brand water had the most instances of the smallest figures and no particularly high readings – besides pH at 7.4.

Anyway, enough with the figures, onto the tasting. I’m using Highland Spring as my control as this is what I drink each day. All of these waters are still mineral water.

Evian: The Evian seems to taste thicker than the Highland Spring. It feels like there’s more resistance and the fluid is more dense. Thankfully, unlike my tap water, there’s no aftertaste and not much taste or flavour at all…which is good.

Waitrose Scottish Natural Mineral Water: I was expecting this to taste and feel like one of the nicest after looking at the mineral analysis but feels very similar to the Evian. There is a very slight metallic hint to it but it’s hardly noticeable. Aside from that, taste and flavour are both neutral.

Volvic: This feels quite fresh. All of these waters were served at room temperature and I can imagine the Volvic tasting very nice when chilled. Perfect with a slice of lemon or lime. However, there is a slight waxy-feeling texture left in the back of my throat which, whilst it’s nothing major, bugs me a little.

ONE: The moral water. Apparently One water will leave a better taste in my mouth. “Drink it and you won’t go thirsty. Simple.” the bottle proclaims. I’m sorry? It will leave a better taste in my mouth than other waters because I won’t go thirsty? I’m pretty sure this is the general plot when it comes to water. It’s priced the same as Evian so there’s no monetary gain. All profits go to building unique roundabout powered wells in Africa. So how does it taste? Dull. There’s an odd taste and texture to it. It’s quite thick and it feels slightly grainy. There’s also a very slight hint of aniseed as well.

Moral water doesn’t taste as good as the hype would have you believe.

San Benedetto: If I don’t finish this blog, I’ve been poisoned by the arsenic and lead found in this water. Strangely, for a still water, I was a little disconcerted when I heard a fizz upon opening it. It feels quite dry and has actually left my mouth a little dry. Not terribly fond of this. Not fizzy though, which is good.

Fiji Artesian Water: I’m hoping that, after the last few, this will feel as fresh and hydrating as the pretty picture on the bottle makes me think. It’s a very similar viscosity to the Evian actually. But still not quite as thin and refreshing as the Highland Spring.

Well there you have it, a pretty pointless analysis of various brands of water. Believe it or not, they do feel slightly different in the mouth. Some feel ever so slightly more waxy than the others, some feel slightly drier and a couple left my mouth feeling somewhat dry.

I had tried a few waters years ago and settled on Highland Spring as it felt the most refreshing and didn’t leave any sort of residue in my mouth.

The cheapest water was the Waitrose own and the most expensive was the Fiji water.

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Filed under: General, Tech/Science | Tagged: africa, dry, evian, fiji, france, highland spring, italy, moral, san benedetto, scotland, scottish, supermarket, tasting, volvic, waitrose, water, well