The Best Brands of Natural Sparkling Waters

DASH Water is a really nice company, which offers several flavours of cans of sparkling water, all infused with wonky fruit that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

Avoid grapefruit for some medications (check paper inserts).

You don’t have to crush cans, but always pop ring-pulls back over cans before recycling, to avoid wildlife getting trapped.

This company takes fruit that is bent, crushed, curved, knobbly and misshapen, and accepts all the misfits to fight food waste (up to 40% of England’s fruits and vegetables go to waste, often simply because they don’t ‘look right’ for supermarkets). Especially at a time when so many people can’t afford food bills.

The company’s cucumbers, blackcurrants and raspberries are grown in the UK, lemons come from Spain, mangoes from India and peaches/grapefruits from Spain. Any leftover fruit extract is converted into biogas, to fuel a local green power plant.

You can pick deliveries of your favourite flavour (or a pick-n-mix) and they are sent in recycled aluminium cans to your door. You get free delivery on subscriptions, and no calories so treat yourself! Best served chilled, and you can also serve over ice and garnish with fresh fruit. Or browse their recipes for some creative ideas like mocktails (no-alcohol cocktails).

This company has some really good offers too. You can find this brand in many shops, but if you order packs online, there are discounts for key workers, students, social media followers and referring friends. And you can unlock big discounts, just for signing up to the free newsletter.

Quick Recipes for Everyday Refreshment

• Basic Fruit Spritzer: Fill a glass with ice, add a splash of fresh lemon juice, then top with Dash lemon and a twist of peel.
• Non-Alcoholic Punch: In a jug, muddle extra wonky berries with a spoon of lemon juice. Add chilled Dash berry and a handful of mint. Serve over ice with thin slices of cucumber for a clean finish.
• Minty Wonky Lime Fizz. Fill a tumble with ice and squeeze half a lime and a few crushed mint leaves. Top with Dash lemon or lime water and stir.
• Family Berry Cooler. Lightly crush some berries in a jug and add ice, pour over 2 cans of berry Dash and a few cucumber slices.

How Much Water Should We Drink?

We need water to keep cool, remove waste, and help our joints, brains and eyes (fresh water is also found in raw product like watermelons and bananas). The average person needs around 1.2 litres of water a day (more for athletes, hot weather, some medical conditions and after vomiting/diarrhoea).

So how much is 1.2 litres? Around 6 x 200ml glasses. So drink 2 glasses when you wake up, another 2 before lunch and dinner, and in a couple of weeks you’ll be hydrated.

The caveat is that your body loses water with tea, coffee, cola and alcohol. So add an extra glass, for each one of those you drink. It’s easier to reduce caffeine and alcohol, so you are not guzzling water all day to compensate.

What Kind of Water Should Pets Drink?

Never give fizzy water to pets, as it could cause bloat. 

Spring and filtered water are fine, you may find health and fur improves. But vets say that (unless medically given) to avoid distilled water (removes minerals and electrolytes).

Don’t let pets drink from puddles. It may taste nice to them, but could contain remnants of bacteria, oil or antifreeze.

Cans: Sparkling Alpine Water with Real Fruits

Cans is an Austrian brand that decided to create a nice soft drink that was not saturated with sugars or artificial sweeteners. Instead, these contain just 3 ingredients:

• Alpine sparkling water
• Fruits from European orchards
• Natural flavourings

Sold in easy-to-recycle cans, they are available in three flavours. You can buy in one-flavour or mixed cans of 24::

• Apple (with lemon & elderflower)
• Cherry (with lemon)
• Lemon (with lime)

The brand is already very successful, having sold over 1 million cans worldwide, realising that there is a huge market for people who want a fizzy soda, that is not overloaded with sweet sugar.

Charlie’s Organics (sparkling waters with a squeeze of fruit)

Charlie’s Organics is a Dutch brand of sparkling water, in cans with a squeeze of fruit. These drinks are natural and hydrating, and super-tasty. Ask your local shop to stock this super brand, as an alternative to sugary sodas or cans made with yucky-tasting artificial sweeteners.

There are six delicious flavours:

• Blackcurrant
• Raspberry Lime
• Lemon
• Grapefruit (check medication)
• Orange-Mandarin
• Passionfruit

Most sodas on sale are made with refined sugar (often blended with artificial sweetener, to get more profits due to the upcoming sugar tax). They are not just bad for your health and teeth, but give a ‘quick hit’ followed by a ‘quick crash’.

These sodas are only made with sparkling water (hydrating and with no calories) plus a squeeze of real healthy fruits, to give a nice refreshing taste.

The brand also packs the drinks in easy-to-recycle cans, so they are zero waste too (no plastic bottles to litter the streets).

Fizz Fruity Sparkling Water (bubbles with benefits!)

FIZZ is a brand of sparkling waters, sold in four fruity flavours. All four versions contain ingredients to support wellbeing:

• Lime and Mint contains natural sources of caffeine (guarana and kola nuts).
• Pineapple and Coconut dandelion leaf and baobab for good digestion.
• Raspberry and Cranberry contain acerola fruit for immunity.
• Mango Mandarin has a berry for good nervous system.

All the drinks are sweetened with cocoa juice, leftover from the pulp of making chocolate.

These refreshing ice lollies are made by combining a can of sparkling fruit water with 100g of oat yoghurt and 2 tablespoons of Sweet Freedom Vegan Honee. Stir in 25g of organic freeze-dried fruit, insert lolly sticks and freeze overnight.

Carbon 8 (make your own fizzy water)

Carbon 8 is a one-touch countertop water carbonator, which removes chlorine and adds mineral. Say goodbye to plastic bottles, just add your own choice of citrus flavour (lime, grapefruit, lemon) and enjoy freshly-made sparkling water, whenever you want it.

The water is purified using UV light. It’s expensive (a couple of hundred pounds) but you only then need refills (just like old-fashioned soda syphons).

Making your own flavoured sparkling water is as easy as infusion. Try adding slices of cucumber or strawberry for a fresh twist, or sprigs of mint for a cooling effect. The possibilities are endless, and personalising your water ensures it never gets boring.