What Is Sparkling Water? And Why Is India Drinking More of It?
For many Indians, sparkling water still feels unfamiliar.
Some assume it is just soda. Others think it is a soft drink without sugar.
But globally, sparkling water has quietly become one of the fastest-growing beverage categories in the world. From Europe to the US to premium restaurants and bars across India, more people are reaching for sparkling water as their drink of choice.
So, what exactly is sparkling water, and why does it deserve a second look?
What Is Sparkling Water?
Sparkling water is simply water that contains dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which creates carbonation, or bubbles. The CO2 is either naturally present in the water as it rises from its underground source (rare) or added during the bottling process (more common).
The result is a drink that tastes crisp and refreshing, without any sugar, flavouring, colour, or sweetener.
In other words, good sparkling water is not a soft drink pretending to be healthy. It is simply water with texture, making it a clean option for people looking for something fizzy and refreshing without sugar.
Not all sparkling water is the same, though. The source of the water, and the origin of the carbonation, makes a meaningful difference, both in taste and in what the label actually means.
What Does Natural Mineral Water Actually Mean?
Not all water labelled "mineral water" is the same. In genuinely natural mineral water, the minerals come from the underground source itself, not added during processing. What you read on the label is what the geology produced.
reform's sparkling water is natural Himalayan mineral water, carbonated during bottling to create the effervescence. The mineral profile is the result of the water's slow passage through Himalayan rock, which is why it tastes the way it does.
Unlike flavoured or artificially formulated sparkling beverages, the water itself remains the centre of the product.
If you want to understand why natural mineral water is different from packaged drinking water, we explain it here: Packaged Drinking Water vs Natural Mineral Water.
Does Sparkling Water Taste Different from Still Water?
Yes. Even without flavouring, carbonation changes how water feels and tastes.
Sparkling water typically feels crisper and sharper. The bubbles create texture and stimulation, which is why many people find it more satisfying than still water in certain moments.
Good sparkling water should feel clean, refreshing, and balanced, not aggressively fizzy or harsh. The mineral profile of the source water plays a significant role here, which is why origin matters.
Does India Need to Import Sparkling Water?
For a long time, the answer in most Indian restaurants and bars was yes. Perrier, sourced from a spring in the south of France, became the default premium sparkling water in India's hospitality sector. It is a well-made product with genuine heritage.
But it is also shipped thousands of kilometres to reach your table. That journey adds a significant carbon footprint to every bottle, before it is even opened.
India has Himalayan-origin mineral water that is comparable in quality to anything produced in the French Alps. The geology is different and the mineral profile is its own. But the result, clean, naturally mineralised water from a protected Himalayan source, stands comfortably alongside the best European sparkling waters.
reform is Bangalore-based, Indian-made, and packaged in aluminium cans. The water travels from the Himalayas to its destination, not from Europe to India to your glass.
For restaurants, bars, offices, and events in India, this matters. Premium sparkling water should feel world-class, but it does not need to be imported to be credible.
For anyone thinking seriously about the environmental cost of what they consume, the geography of your sparkling water is worth a second look.
Sparkling water is increasingly part of the table, bar, and hospitality experience in India.
Why Does the Can Matter?
Most sparkling water in India arrives in plastic PET bottles or glass. Both carry real environmental costs.
Plastic bottles are made from virgin petroleum. Even when marked recyclable, actual recycling rates for PET in India remain far below what the label implies. Most plastic ends up in landfill, in the ocean, or is incinerated.
Glass is heavy, expensive to transport, and energy-intensive to produce. Without robust collection and reuse infrastructure, the environmental case for single-use glass is weak.
Aluminium is different. It is endlessly recyclable, meaning it can be melted down and remade into new cans indefinitely, without any loss in quality. India's aluminium recycling rates are meaningfully higher than for plastic. Every can that is recycled is a unit of plastic that was never made.
reform packages its sparkling water in aluminium cans because the packaging is part of the product logic, not a stylistic decision.
A can is also practical for modern hospitality, office pantries, outdoor events, and venues that want to move away from plastic without shifting to heavy single-use glass.
We chose aluminium over plastic and glass for a reason. You can read more about that decision here: Why We Chose Aluminium Over Plastic and Glass.
The drink should be good. The packaging should not cost the planet.
Is Sparkling Water Just a Trend?
In India, it may feel that way. In Europe, it has been a staple for decades. The shift happening in Indian cities reflects a longer and more durable change in how people think about what they drink.
Nowadays, many consumers gravitate towards sparkling water for straightforward reasons: it has zero calories, pairs well with food, and satisfies the moment when you want something interesting to drink that is neither sugary nor alcoholic. It fits naturally into a meal, a work afternoon, or a social setting where you are not drinking but still want something worth sipping. That is part of why sparkling water has become increasingly common in premium restaurants, cocktail bars, cafés, and modern workplaces across Indian cities.
Sparkling water is neither a health product nor a wellness ritual. It is simply a drink that tastes good, contains nothing unnecessary, and, when packaged responsibly, leaves a lighter footprint than the alternatives.
That is the version reform is trying to make more accessible in India.
Try reform Sparkling Water
If you would like to bring reform sparkling to your bar, restaurant, office, or event, get in touch with us at +91 77608 72778.
reform is a Bangalore-based water brand packaging natural Himalayan mineral still and sparkling water in aluminium cans. We exist because we believe great water should not cost the planet.
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