There are water in the supermarket in various flavors. These so-called “Near Water” drinks are often sold as “mineral water with a little fruit taste”. That sounds peppy, healthy and promises a more pleasant taste experience than the pure water. The “Near Water” drinks are very popular. But what exactly is in these liquids? Is it still mineral waters or rather refreshing drinks?
The term “Near Water” describes drinks based on water with fruit or herbal taste in the food trade. The subtle taste comes from the addition of fruit juices, herbal extracts or artificial flavors. The Volvic company already sold the first drink of this kind in 1989 in France. Since then, the product range and the distribution area have grown steadily and since 1992 the “Aqua Plus drinks” have also been in German markets.
In the meantime, we have water in a wide variety of flavors – from mint and lemon grass to ginger and elderberry to Maracuja and Guarana. Typical flavors of “Near Water” drinks also include lemon and lime, raspberry, peach and apple-to the delight and confusion of customers. If you are too sweet or unhealthy with these clear water, juice and lemonade with these fruits, often use such water alternatives.
Although the thirst quenchers are officially among the soft drinks, the “fast water” are usually placed on the water shelf. Due to the conscious avoidance of dyes, these usually also look like water or are only pale. Fruits can often be seen on the labels and inscriptions such as “vital” and “active”.
How much sugar is in “Near Water”?
This marketing of the flavored waters with a “touch” or a “breeze” of something natural suggests a low sugar content. In fact, “Near Water” are less the more calorie than other soft drinks. But behind the presentation and marketing as healthy wellness or sports drinks, large amounts of sugar can be stuck unexpectedly, as an analysis from 2022 showed.
According to this, the “Near Water” drinks with an average of eight dice sugar (approximately 30 grams) and up to 200 kilocalories per liter. For comparison: The World Health Organization Who recommends a maximum of 14 cubes for adults per day (around 50 grams) via drinks and dishes. In many of these soft drinks, extra sugar is added, others are only added to fruit juices – but less than one percent up to 15 percent. This still contains a certain part of natural fructose.
If you want to know more precisely how healthy your favorite drink really is, you should therefore read the nutritional and contents on the bottle and, if necessary, compare with other drinks. An imprint on the “Nutri score”, which would make consumers make this comparison work, has not yet been mandatory and therefore often lacks the bottles. According to the Salzburg Chamber of Labor, “Near Water” products are mostly in the C area on this letter scale from A to E.
What is in the “fast water”?
A look at the ingredients of the Aqua Plus drinks also reveals whether the main ingredient is actually high-quality mineral water or normal tap water and which ingredients were still used. To sweeten, the manufacturers not only rely on household, grape and fruit sugar, but also on honey, agave syrup and sweeteners. The proportion of real fruits and herbs is often low, the taste mostly spiced up by artificial flavors or generated completely by flavors, consumer advocates criticize. Vitamins are also added to some thirst quenchers. Although these are healthy, but with normal nutrition it is not necessary in the water.
The manufacturers can also be paid well with the conception, preparation and marketing. “The spiced up wellness water costs between 35 cents and over two euros per liter and are therefore significantly more expensive than mineral waters,” writes the consumer center. If you have it cheaper, but do not want to do without taste in your water, you can quickly make “Near Water” yourself: just put some tea, fruit or herbs in the water glass and you’re done. Incidentally, the best thing to do is help with thirsty water.
