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 that comes from a town called Spa in Belgium. The company that owns Spa water is called the Spadel Group. People have been bottling Spa mineral water for a very long time, since the late 1500s!
Spa water is very popular in many parts of Western Europe, especially in countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (which are sometimes called the Benelux countries). It is also sent to other countries around the world. The water itself comes from a special area called the Hautes Fagnes, which has layers of heath land and peat that help filter the water.
You can find Spa mineral water in many different sizes of bottles, like three-liter, two-liter, one-liter, and smaller ones. It also comes in cans. There are a few different kinds of Spa water, each with its own special features.
Types of Spa Water
The different types of Spa mineral water are easy to spot because of the color of their labels. These labels are usually blue, red, or green.
- Spa Reine (Spa blue): This water has no carbonation, meaning it's not fizzy. It also has a very small amount of minerals.
- Spa Barisart (Spa red): This type has a few minerals and some carbonation, so it's a little bit fizzy.
- Spa Marie-Henriette: This water has natural carbonation, which means it's naturally fizzy from the source.
- Spa Citron (Spa green): This one is a bit fizzy and has a lemon flavor added to it.
Each type of Spa water comes from different natural sources. These sources have slightly different minerals in them, which gives each water its unique taste.
Spa Water in Culture
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the brand name "Spa" has become so common that people often use it as a general word for mineral water. For example, if someone wants sparkling water, they might ask for "Spa rood" (which means "Spa red"). This is because the label for fizzy Spa water is red.
In the same way, "Spa blauw" (meaning "Spa blue") is a common way to ask for still, non-fizzy mineral water. This is because the label for non-fizzy Spa water is blue. So, if you're in a Dutch restaurant and ask for "Spa Rood," the waiter might bring you any brand of sparkling water, not just the Spa brand itself.
See also
