Most people drink water unthinkingly, without noticing how it tastes. One of the most common myths about water is that it is just water, but there are ways to drink it. Candice Jansen, the first accredited water sommelier in South Africa and one of a few globally, shares how you should consume water.
The sommelier can detect complex profiles like acidity, minerality, pH, and TDS of most of the water on hand.
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What is a Water Sommelier?
A water sommelier is a professional water specialist who tastes, evaluates, and educates people about the various water quality from around the world. Water sommeliers are becoming increasingly popular in the restaurant industry. Water sommeliers recommend starting with your water option when planning your dinner.
Jansen told Business Insider, “The amount of minerality can change the taste of water because no two glasses of water are the same.” She adds, unlike wine, which smells like something you’re about to taste, odour tells you only one thing about water. Water sommelier pairs water with food in the same way as wine sommeliers combine wine with different kinds of food.
Common water drinking mistakes
- No ice
- No lemon
- No mint or garnish
- No to chilled water
- No to tumblers
The perfect water and food pairings
- Mineral water – salads and desserts
- Fine bubbly mineral water – oysters
- Still water – lighter seafood, soup
- Lightly effervescent water – poultry
- Bold bubbly water – red meat


