On different trips around the world I'm always surprised to see people pay a lot to get water like Evian. I enjoy my water too and I do buy bottled water but I'm having a hard time paying for Evian. It is first of all the taste I'm struggling with...it is not a very good water in my opinion. But I guess it also depends what you are used to. I understand that the Norwegian water "Voss" sells pretty good in the USA and that they have been able to market it as an "exclusive" water. Does anyone know how much you have to pay for a bottle of Voss? I think the most expensive water I have had was at a restaurant in NYC. The waiter asked if we wanted tapwater or bottle and as the tap water in NYC has a bit of chlorine smell and taste I went for the bottled water. When I got the bill I saw that I had been charged 10 US dollars for the water
Well, I have just been to Paris. If you want some advice on water there I would say buy Volvic(?) and stay away from Evian/Vittel. But I guess the saying "Different strokes for different folks" also applies to water. What water do you normally buy when you are travelling?
If I recall correctly, Evian was the first really fashionable water in the U.S. Then cam San Pelligrino. I never thought much of it either and for the cost it was surely not worth it. I always figured it was marketed well, using a foreign word to sell more. But then, spell Evian backwards and you get naive which I personally think it was they were aiming at (the public that buys it is naive!).
We now filter our water in Italy. I was fed up with finding a shop, then carrying a large six pack back to where ever we were staying. Here in Australia, and I presume it's available world wide, you can go to your local shop (Coles) and buy a 2 litre jug with a carbon filter system. You change the cartridge each 5-7 days. It takes 2 minutes to filter 2 litres. My sister also used it several times when visiting her daughter who was living on Koh Phanghan (Thailand). Look - we're fussy. We then boil it in our birko or the light weight portable kettle, and that only takes 10 minutes. No one else I know boils it. My ex (from Modena) just drinks tap water when he goes over but he's got a cast iron gut. All our rellies and all the friends we have in Italy buy water. In Modena they drink the brand Panna. Leslie. PS Here in Australia we drink it out of the tap.
You know, I don't like the taste of Evian either. I always felt like a ridiculous water snob in saying that, so thanks for paving the way My favorite is Spa brand, found in Belgium.
The bottled waters in Estonia and Russia (don't remember the brands) were not nice at all. I could only make myself drink tiny amounts, which is bad because I ended up getting dehydrated and ended up having to just gulp the stuff to get it down. yuck.
We have natural spring water here - no water mains for several miles. Our water is tested regularly & goes through a filter/UV. Visitors still turned up with armfuls of bottled water. They were a little astounded to find they could get the same thing straight from our tap.
Ann
Posts: 64 | Location: England | Registered: 14 March 2006
Oh, t-mac, how I wish I could find Spa here! I have never seen it in the US. When we lived in Belgium, we bought all 3 kinds. Loved the flat Spa Reine for everyday, the red cap Barisart (superfizzy) for parties, and my kids' first love of fizzy water was the gently fizzy MarieHenriette in the teal cap. Stephanie was also crazy for Spa Orange when we would go out to eat. Man, I used to haul home tons of that stuff from the supermarket.
I am not a big Evian fan, either. I prefer Apollinaris from Germany or Italian San Pellegrino. If I am having a dinner party, I will also serve Fiji for the flat water.
And to think I thought that drinking out of a hose was delicious! Sandra
Posts: 799 | Location: Near Chicago, IL | Registered: 03 May 2004
I also love Spa. It is popular in Holland and I drank it all the time when I lived in Holland. I have seen the flavored Spa can drinks here in Seattle. I can't remember if I've found the bottled water.
I also don't like Evian. It tastes soapy to me. I much prefer Volvic.
I think Evian is so popular because it is owned by a major corporation that has a big distribution system. It is owned by Danone. Surprisingly, so is Volvic.
On different trips around the world I'm always surprised to see people pay a lot to get water like Evian. I enjoy my water too and I do buy bottled water but I'm having a hard time paying for Evian. It is first of all the taste I'm struggling with...it is not a very good water in my opinion. But I guess it also depends what you are used to.
I stopped drinking it about fifteen years ago when I seen an article in our local paper about the "new trend" in bottled waters and where bottled water really comes from. Then they had to bring up the fact that Evian is just "naive" spelled backwards. Lord knows I've wasted my money on worse things.
Cindy ~ "Follow your Bliss." Find where it is, and don't be afraid to follow it. ~ Joseph Campbell
Posts: 767 | Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA | Registered: 16 November 2005
My husband laughs at me b/c I only like certain waters. I hate evian. I think it tastes oily. I think Poland Springs is good. It is just plain which is nice. I like Fiji too but it is too expensive to buy regularly. I do like that it is very crisp and tastes so clean.
I stopped drinking it about fifteen years ago when I seen an article in our local paper about the "new trend" in bottled waters and where bottled water really comes from. Then they had to bring up the fact that Evian is just "naive" spelled backwards. Lord knows I've wasted my money on worse things.
Not to mention how bad bottled water is for the environment. The impact of producing all that plastic is tremendous, then we have to process all those disposed of bottles. Funny thing is, for those who fear consuming the chemicals in tap water, you inhale and absorb gallons of vaporized chemicals in one ten minute shower.
My fridge dispenses filtered water and I use my own bottle. When it's really hot, I keep half filled bottles in the freezer, so that the temp stays cooler longer with the giant ice cube.
When i absolutely need to have the convenience of pre bottled water, I prefer Poland Springs. I do love the fizzy San Pellegrino, also, because it is sold in glass bottles that are deposit in NY and recycled in Florida.
Pat
Posts: 1099 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
I LOVE Evian. It is the only bottled still water I generally buy, except for Vittel, which has a simliar taste to it. I happen to buy it for the taste and for no other reason. I detest the taste of Volvic. So, it truly is a matter of personal preference - period.
I don't buy soda or junk drinks so I buy the water I love instead. I also use a Brita filter for home use, cat water, tea, etc..
Oh, and Fiji is good as well. But, it is even more expensive than my Evian!
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