"I hate the water here..." said someone (for anonymity)
"What do you mean?" I responded, "water is water."
"No no. This water is different. It tastes so bad."
"Buddy, water has no taste."
"Yes, it does. I prefer Pedialyte."
This specific person drinks the unflavored version.
I'll never understand those who hate the taste of water because I, myself, am an avid water supporter. In fact, I love it so much I'd probably die without it.
But he/she is right about one thing: water does have a taste, and for certain people, it sometimes isn't so good.
For many (like me), water remains water. The eight glasses today are the same as the eight yesterday. But those who have dedicated themselves to becoming water connoisseurs understand that that's just not true.
The most important factor in dictating the 'taste' of a specific water source is the minerals in it.
The term "ppm" or "parts-per-million" refers to how much of a particular mineral (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, etc) is present in a given amount of water.
Naturally, then, it would make sense that pure water doesn't taste like anything. One thing that confuses me, though, is how Pedialyte can make an "unflavored" version of their drink if it contains so many electrolytes that pollute that supposedly flavorless flavor. Seems like false advertising if you ask me.
Pure water sounds like an amazing thing. The word "pure" just gives it a more positive connotation.
In reality, H2O with zero minerality is not great for the human body. It's good for the car battery, it's good for electrical appliances, but don't drink it. It's like a sponge, soaking up things around it (like important minerals), meaning that if you drank nothing but ultra-pure water, the water would drink you back.
Anyways, depending on its mineral composition, water can taste salty, bitter, sweet, or even metallic. Water that has a lot of sodium chloride (aka salt) will obviously taste salty, while water with a lot of magnesium will either be sweet or bitter, depending on the person drinking it.
Water can also feel dry, silky, creamy, or even sparkly. Water that’s high in calcium apparently leaves a dry mouthfeel, similar to biting a piece of chalk. Definitely not counterintuitive.
The higher a water’s minerality, the more character it has. But more flavor doesn’t necessarily mean more palatable. Sometimes, it can even prevent people from drinking as much of a particular water as they would a more familiar and less “intense” water. Certain flavors may be enjoyable for a glass a day, but not eight.
All I'm trying to say is... I'm still technically right. Water doesn't have a taste; minerals do.
Comments