The mineral water taste test: Methodology

We drink a lot of fizzy water around here. Not as much fizzy water as we drink tea, but still a statistically significant amount.

It’s definitely an indulgence – seems decadent to have it with dinner, in a lovely glass with a wedge of lime. It’s something only an adult would bother with, being highly responsible with no calories or alcohol. But once I got started with it, regular sodas started seeming unbearably sweet and syrupy.

And people who drink this stuff regularly have opinions about it – which brand is the best, which is senselessly fancy, which tastes like an old tire. And restaurants charge out the wazoo for the stuff, marking it up a greater percentage even than wine. More restaurants are getting a piece of the action, too, asking right up front whether you’d like sparkling or still mineral water, or just tap. The implication, of course, is that sophisticated diners order fancy water and don’t you want to be in that group?

So, which one is the tastiest? The fizziest? Delicious? Heinous?

Today we taste-tested 10 sparkling mineral waters, and had some great results, some thoughtful critiques, and a lot of backseat experiment design (Spouse, I’m looking in your direction). I’ll work up the results in the next day or two, but today I present the details of the experiment.

Waters Tested:

1. Gerolsteiner
2. Archer Farm: Target
3. Poland Spring
4. Whole Foods Sparkling Mineral Water
5. Trader Joe’s Sparkling Mineral Water
6. San Pellegrino
7. Perrier
8. Club Soda: Safeway
9. World Market Sparkling Mineral Water
10. Apollinaris

Methodology!

We’re reusing some of the materials from the bottled/tap/Brita water taste test, and following the same protocol:

1. We wrote the name of the water on the bottom of each plate.
2. Poured corresponding waters in to tiny plastic cups, and set them on top – with the name concealed.
3. Someone else came into the room shuffled the plates, numbering them from 1-10 with a stout, Sharpie marker.
4. Testers sampled each water and write down observations identified by plate number.
5. Testers will gave each sample a rating on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the the most delightfully tasty water a sophisticated palate could ask for, and 1 being bilge.
6. Written observations should be funny. 80′s hair band references and colorful emoticons are encouraged.

There are dozens more waters on the market, and I need to do some more research on the actual differences between mineral waters, club soda and seltzer. But phase one was a good time and we’re all super well-hydrated now. Go team.