Ancient Romans hated still water. They thought it was dangerous. They preferred wine or vinegar. Spoiler: they weren’t wrong. Unsafe still water was a real problem.
Fast forward to the 1800s. Carbonated water became trendy. It was seen as healthier. Still water was for peasants. Rich people wanted bubbles.
Difference Between Sparkling Water And Still Water | Detroit Chinatown
Now the tables have turned. Fancy restaurants serve still water in crystal carafes. It costs eight dollars a bottle. You’re literally paying for the lack of bubbles.
The Tasting Game
There’s a whole industry of “water sommeliers.” Yes, that’s a real job. They sniff still water like it’s fine wine. They talk about minerality and mouthfeel.
Here’s the punchline: most still water tastes the same. A blind test at a university found that 75% of people guessed wrong. They thought tap water was fancy Evian.
But don’t tell that to a water sommelier. They’ll lecture you about “terroir.” That’s a wine word. They stole it. Busted.
