I am trying to help a friend who is going to Germany find bottled spring water.

By "spring water", I mean still water (no fizz) that is not mineral water (the US definition of mineral water). What I consider to be plain water.

For example, Desani is mineral water and does not sit well for this person. This person has a sensitivity to mineral water and does not feel well after drinking it.

In addition, this person needs to drink lots of water and limit calories. So, things like Snapple, soft drinks, sports drinks, etc. are not good alternatives.

Does any one know if water that is labelled "mineral water" in Germany is the minerals added, tastes different, not plain water drink that it is in the US? Or is it a label for what is often labelled "spring water" (like Aquafina, Crystal Geiser, etc.) in the US?

This person was in Germany recently and was not able to find plain water that was not labelled "mineral water".

So, what I am asking is "mineral water" in the US the same as "mineral water" in Germany?

Thanks for any and all help on this, I know, very specific topic.

Too specific for me, as I often don't quite understand the differences. I can say that in Europe -- and Germany especially, when I'd get bottled "still" water -- no fizz -- I thought it tasted awful. Usually it's a sort of chalky taste. But I don't know what they call that kind of water -- mineral or spring or what. That's the reason I rarely if ever buy bottled water in Europe. I find I like the taste of regular tap water far more. But maybe there's a reason your friend can't drink tap water?

Plain old bottled water is ubiquitous. Every convenience store, mini-mart, gas station and supermaket I've been in has 0.5 and 1.0 liter plastic bottles - packaged the same way as in the US. There are numerous local and regional brands - I think you can also find global brands like evian.

Mineral water, with or without gas is more often found in glass bottles - the most common brand being Gerolsteiner.

Just as in the US, different brands of mineral water can have different tastes. Having stared at many a bottle during long meetings I can say that the ones I've seen have a listing of the mineral contents. Mg, K, Ca, and Na are common minerals, and the elemental symbols are universal.

So yes, your assumptin is correct If a bottle says Mineralwasser it contains minerals and it's isn't what they are looking for. If it just says Wasser then it likely is.

And you are correct, mineral can be fizzy or still, but it's still mineral water.

He/She should go to a shop and buy Aquafina. It's very! common but most prefer real mineral water.

Thanks for the help.

Neo, my friend will be driving a lot and needs portable water. Also, my friend will be staying at hotel rooms that do not have kitchens and does not drink from bathroom sink taps (a whole other topic, I know - it's a personal preference based on prior travel to places where tap water is not safe to drink and that nagging wondering of how those often non-wrapped hotel glasses were handled before being placed in the room). I have a personal horror story relating to that topic.

J62 and Logos, I will recommend the Wasser and to look for Aquafina. The last time my friend was in Germany, the only water my friend saw that had english labelling was labelled as "mineral water". If Aquafina is there, that will do fine.

I had Vitell (sp?) years ago in France. I saw it recently and noticed that the label said "mineral water" in english. That's why I wondered if "mineral water" written in english in other places is the same as spring/plain water in the US now. When I had it years ago it tasted like plain water to me (I don't like mineral water, either).

Oh well, thanks again to everyone.

Mineral water is natural water as it comes from a spring sometimes co2 is added, never minerals. People are very proud of their mineral waters, and prefer to drink it instead of tap water. Aquafina is "common" tap water, sold for a lot of money.

Wasser is just german word for water.
Mineralwasser the german word for mineral water.

Ask for it "Ohne Kohlensaure" or simply order Evian.

I think Volvic is simply water as well - what we would consider tap water. Many of the people I travel with want the same thing your friend is looking for and this brand is the best they could find. Not sure where your friend is going to be, we travel from Frankfurt south, east and west - up to 4 hours in each direction and I think we always find this.

Just to clarify - Dasani, marketed by Coca-Cola, is not mineral water, but purified tap water. In its early debut, it was found to cause alarming levels of carcinogens, so it's no wonder it 'doesn't sit well' with your friend.

Dasani, marketed by Coca Cola, is not just purified tap water. Minerals are added by the co.

Point taken. "Trace amount of minerals are added." The source is the local water supply, so it is tap water, not mineral water.

"Tafelwasser" (Table Water) is the word to look for on bottles in this event.
While most brands in the stores will be mineral waters (including the aforementioned Volvic), Tafelwasser (like the Bonaqua brand by Coca Cola) would in most cases meet the requirements. It is ordinary tap water filled in bottles. While bottling companies are allowed to add some minerals, Tafelwasser does not meet the requirements to be labelled mineral water. Another term would be "Quellwasser". It, too, just has to meet the requirements for ordinary tap water.

The "still" (non-gas) version of Bonaqua tastes revolting to me, but it would be ordinary water with almost no minerals.

A word of caution: Often tap water comes from springs as well around here - my hometown has excellent tap water that exceeds several mineral waters in quality and taste.

The plastic bottled water IS mineral water. On the other hand if one wants plain water, don't be too fussy and drink tap water. It wouldn't kill you (I am a living proof to that). But better still, I recommend the German "water" called Helles ot Tunkles ;-)

i'm not an expert on water but i know that the term "mineral water" is a topic of debate in the eu. they are trying to make one definition from member country's various standards that must be applied to call something min water.

in germany, the term is reserved for water that meets certain requirements, such as mineral content and providing health benefits (BS but a common myth in germany). anyway, from what i know, "plain water" just doesn't meet all these standards, perhaps only because it is bottled away from the source. in summary, i don't think that you can be guaranteed low mineral content by buying "regular water". tap water can have a very high mineral content depending on your location...as can bottled water labeled "spring water".

like everywhere, i believe some of these types of terms "natural mineral water" are largely created to preserve the business of old, established firms that bottle at particular water sources.

Yes, trophywife007 said it best ... ask for "Ohne Kohlensaure" or simply order Evian. My husband and I recently returned from Germany and we had not problem purchasing water that had no fizz and was not mineral water and was in a portable bottle. Evian is sold mostly everywhere.

Evian <b>is</b> mineral water. As are most other still waters (the ones &quot;ohne Kohlens&auml;ure&quot.

On the other hand not every water in a plastic bottle is mineral water. Again, I would refer you to the omni-available Bonaqa, which comes in a plastic bottle and is not mineral water. And one of the other liquids Eli refers to is called &quot;<b>D</b>unkles&quot; and not &quot;Tunkles&quot;.
And &quot;Helles&quot; and &quot;Dunkles&quot; are more common in Southern regions of Germany - which are not at all representative of the rest of Germany (ask for a &quot;Helles&quot; in my neck of the woods and you will either receive puzzled stares or at best be poured a Pilsener, which while light in colour is not a &quot;Helles&quot; by definition).

Sometimes I find this site amazing...

hsv: by referring to &quot;dunkles &amp; helles&quot; I meant, tongue in cheek, just that: good ole' Bavarian brew (and not, god forbid, Pilsner).

Eli,

your point was understood - and I do have sypathies for the concept.

But as the OP did not indicate where he/she was headed, I wanted to point out that there is a good chance that your beloved alternative may not be available as Germany - contrary to many people's perception - does not only consist of Bavaria.

BTW I enjoy a fresh Pilsener style beer (prevalent in other areas of Germany) much more than a Helles. You cannot argue about taste, I suppose.