Who said water was for quenching thirst?
If luxury is all about creating detail and discernment in
ordinary things and to uplift the mundane to the level of art, there is nothing
more luxurious than sparkling water. Isn’t there something about bubbles? They
add a sense of celebration to any moment. Whether you pop open Champagne to
celebrate a promotion or a bottle of Badoit to bring a sense of cheer to a
relaxed Sunday lunch, effervescence is the sign of ‘good times’.
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| Acqua Panna of the Tuscan mountains |
What began as a health fad the world over, thanks to the
ascribed digestive benefits of sparkling water has become an elevated lifestyle
choice of body conscious millenials who replaced their lattes, sugary colas,
overtly fizzy sodas and oh-so-plain still water with something more elusive and
sexy. The global elevation of water into a more luxurious drink hankers back to
the simple logic that we need excitement in the minutest parts of our lives.
So if you want to choose sparkling water over still for
reasons other than its universal snob value, here’s what you need to know.
What it really is : Sparkling water results from
the miraculous mineralization of mountain water over centuries of contact with
hot volcanic gases which creates natural thermal springs. This natural spring
water is then uniformly carbonated during the bottling process to give us the
well-proportioned level of effervescence in every sip, from every bottle, in
every brand of sparkling water. And where are these thermal springs located? In
the coolest of places – the French Alps (Perrier), Lombardia (San Pellegrino), spa towns in
Loire valley (Badoit), Mount Fuji (Fine), northern Finland (Veen) and so on.
This ‘terroir’ of the spring water gives is what gives it its distinct flavor
and makes it a wonderful feeling to know that the water on your table is coming
from 600m under Mount Fiji.
The point above should more or less be able
to let you explain a recurring question in your and your friends’ collective
sub-conscious– why the duck is sparkling water so expensive???
Why it is better than your average water : Let’s
admit, sparkling water is not the green tea of beverages. But there are
plausible reasons why its better than a lot of
drinks (barring alcoholic ones) you normally pick from a beverage list.
- Because the source of sparkling water in natural springs, the water is well endowed with necessary minerals that ordinary water doesn’t have. Thus having sparkling keeps you hydrated much better and longer allowing the necessary flow of these nutrients in our systems.
- It’s a superior choice than any array of sugary soft drinks because duh, it cuts out the sugar and the caffeine. Also, it tempers the carbonation, which is why you don’t feel like you have been drinking out of a bubble maker when you sip your Perrier, the feeling you normally get after consuming huge amounts of soda. It is just the right amount of fizzy that doesn’t bloat you up and guess what, you can even choose the size of your bubbles. Precision in bubbles…this is totally dream world territory.
- It aids your digestive system (thank you CO2!) and helps you eat less by filling you up more. It can actually make you feel lighter even after a decadent 6 course Sunday brunch. Quel plaisir!
- It most certainly pairs better with food than still, thanks to its freshness, sapidity and fragrance which helps enhance your overall dining experience. Sparkling water is meant to awaken flavours in paired meals and get along fabulously with a wide variety of cuisines. No wonder why top sparkling brands of the world are collaborating with snooty chefs and snootier restaurants to create food pairing and signature dishes around the taste of …water. Badoit also created a Badoit Express, and served a Michelin starred meal to unassuming passengers aboard an RER train in Paris, how totally cute!
- Decide your terroir of preference – As with all things of luxury, the origin or provenance of sparkling water counts for the largest percentage of its snob value. Some of best names come from France. Châteldon , the champagne of sparkling water comes from the Auverge region of France and has a production so limited you’ll only find it in top restos in Paris. German Gerolsteiner boasts of the highest mineral content and water purity. So basically whether you prefer a fussy French, a precise German or a laidback Italian, your choice of sparkling water can reveal your personal inclinations.
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| The champagne of bubbling water - Châteldon, France |
- Choose your cool imaginative history – Hannibal and Napolean? Perrier. The court of Louis X1V? Châteldon. Leonardo da Vinci? San Pellegrino. The mighty waters come with mightier histories of early sixteenth century battles and violent conquests and depending on your historical figure preference , you could choose your heritage water.
- Choose the bottle you would most like to recycle - Normally served in clear glass to observe the magic of bubbles, sparkling waters come in iconic bottles with strong brand identities. San Pellegrino is the most elegant looking of the lot, with its tall neck, Serifed font and the red star, while Perrier looks more ‘accessible’– bright green and pop logo and is also the most widely ordered worldwide. Badoit comes in the delicately bubbled green and intensely bubbled red bottles, you may choose the one that goes better with your personality, as long as you are in France. Sparkling water brands frequently come out with funky limited edition bottles that are definitely collectors worth – Perrier and Andy Warhol, San Pe and Bvlgari and the $40 Bling H2O and Swarovski, are all stunning bottles that work fabulously as casual gifts to friends.
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| Perrier Andy Warhol Limited Edition bottles |
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| Fancy Swarovski encrusted sparkling? Bling takes bling seriously! |
- Add your personal touch of flavor - On the rocks, with a slice of lime or flavoured with raspberries, grapefruits, pamplemousse, bitter orange or green lemon, you can customize your sparkling all the way to the taste of the bubble pop in your mouth. Well you can also own a sparkling water maker and enjoy homemade flavoured bubblies at home with SodaStream!
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| Homemade water made exciting with SodaStream USA |
- Simply order it everywhere – Feel the thrill of excitement running down your spine when you casually order your San Pe over a brunch with friends. Ordering sparkling is easy signalling that you have taste, money and overall, a sense of indulgence. Flatter your ego with the double pleasure of ordering it and then paying for it, especially if you are in lesser developed parts of the world.
Immerse yourself to the world of frivolous yet meaningful bubbles. Cheers!
Expert Tip : Go to Colette's Water Bar, this cultish concept store cum bar in Paris carries over 90 types
of eau gazeuse on its menu! Take your pick while Gaspard Ulliel on the next table takes his!
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| Spoilt for water choice chez Colette, Paris |
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