Water sommeliers explain what to look for in water

Do you prefer water straight from the tap, or are you a sucker for shop-bought bottles? Whatever your preference, it's true that some water tastes better than others, and water sommeliers can explain which is best.

Sommeliers are typically associated with wine - either through the actual job which involves being trained and knowledgable about the alcoholic grape juice, or as a mocking joke to those who insist on sticking their nose in the glass before giving it a sip.

Either way, the job often isn't thought of in relation to water, and yet there are indeed experts on the subject.

Doran Binder, water sommelier and founder of Crag Spring Water, is one of those experts, and uses his TikTok page to educate the masses about the liquid we should be drinking most.

Binder has explained that he didn't plan to be an expert on water, but he noticed there is no one out there 'promoting the importance of drinking good quality water and explaining the differences between waters'.

While most of us can recognise the difference between good and bad-tasting water, the TikToker has the ability to notice a distinct taste in different kinds of water and recommends that in the UK 'natural mineral or spring' water are the ones you want to be drinking because they're bottled at the source.

Explaining why he chooses bottled water over tap water, Binder said he is 'not into the smell, the taste, or the flavour of chlorine' that can accompany tap water as it's 'not his cup of tea'.

Though tap water is easily available, the filtration process designed to remove contaminants can also remove naturally-occurring minerals.

@beardedwatersommelier/TikTok

In comparison, water that is bottled at the source contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc, which can provide health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, improving circulation and promoting digestion.

Speaking to Vice, Germany-based water sommelier Timo Bausch explained: “For many people, water should have a neutral taste. This is usually the case with low-mineralized mineral water, purified water, or tap water.

"Natural mineral water comes from underground deposits protected from contamination.

"On its way there, the water absorbs minerals from the respective rock layers. The slower it passes through a layer, the more minerals it can absorb.

"In the end, these minerals are responsible for the taste and mouthfeel of a water."

The minerals present in water can give it different tastes, so both Binder and Bausch drink different types of water for different occasions.

All in all, though, both sommeliers agreed that any water is better than no water, so if no-frills tap water is your thing, then you keep doing you.