Spa (mineral water) facts for kids
| Country | Belgium |
|---|---|
| Source | Reine Source |
| Type | flat |
| pH | 6 |
| Calcium (Ca) | 4.5 |
| Chloride (Cl) | 5 |
| Bicarbonate (HCO3) | 15 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1.3 |
| Nitrate (NO3) | 1.9 |
| Potassium (K) | 0.5 |
| Silica (SiO2) | 7 |
| Sodium (Na) | 3 |
| Sulfate (SO4) | 4 |
| TDS | 33 |
| Website | https://www.spa.be |
| All concentrations in milligrams per liter (mg/L); pH without units | |
Spa is a well-known brand of mineral water. It comes from a town called Spa in Belgium. The company that owns Spa water is the Spadel Group.
People have been bottling Spa mineral water for a very long time. It started in the late 1500s! This water is very popular in Western Europe. You can find it a lot in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg (these three are called the Benelux countries), and Germany. Spa water is also sent to many other parts of the world.
The water for Spa comes from a special area called the Hautes Fagnes. This area has top layers made of heath land and peat. These natural layers help filter the water.
Spa mineral water comes in many different sizes. You can find it in bottles of three litres, two litres, one and a half litres, one litre, 75 cl, 50 cl, 30 cl, and 25 cl. It also comes in 33 cl cans. There are several different kinds of Spa mineral water.
Contents
Types of Spa Water
You can easily tell the different types of Spa mineral water apart. Each type has a different colored label. These labels are blue, red, or green. The water also comes from different natural sources. These sources have different amounts of minerals in them.
- Spa Reine (Spa blue): This water has no carbonation, meaning it's flat and not bubbly. It also has a very small amount of minerals.
- Spa Barisart (Spa red): This type has some carbonation, so it's a bit bubbly. It also contains a few minerals.
- Spa Marie-Henriette: This water has natural carbonation, which means it's naturally bubbly from the source.
- Spa Citron (Spa green): This one has some carbonation and a lemon flavour added to it.
Spa in Dutch Culture
Spa as a Common Word
In the Netherlands, the Spa brand has been so popular for so long that its name is now used for all mineral water. For example, Spa rood (which means "Spa red") is a common way to ask for sparkling water. This is because the label for bubbly Spa water is red.
In the same way, Spa blauw (meaning "Spa blue") is a common way to ask for still water. This is because the label for non-bubbly Spa water is blue.
Ordering Water in the Netherlands
If you are in a Dutch restaurant and want sparkling mineral water, you will most likely ask for "Spa rood." The waiter will understand you want any sparkling water, not just the Spa brand. You also wouldn't expect to get only Spa brand water.
See also
