

But during our taste test I was surprised – some had a smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel, or more of a bite, just as Patel describes. I was sceptical that the water from different filters could really taste all that different. “TDS primarily consist of healthy minerals such as calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate.” It’s up to you, and your preferred taste, whether you opt for a filter that removes TDS or not. “High TDS is really not a measure of water quality,'' Magnus says. Some water filters reviewed below remove TDS from the water, but Magnus Jern of Tapp Water says this isn’t always a good thing. Traditionally, water has been filtered with moringa seeds, clay and dried coriander to make it safer and improve the taste, as well as charcoal, which is still used in water filter jugs now, says Milin. “If you drink an 8,000 year-old, mineral-rich glacier water with a TDS of 7,500ppm, that’s a meal in itself.” This is what gives water its character: the creaminess, the saltiness, the oiliness, the bite,” Milin says. That’ll be calcium, magnesium, potassium, bicarbonate, silica, iron, zinc. TDS is measured in parts per million (ppm) and you can taste “all of the minerals that are dissolved in the water naturally. But it’s more about the mouthfeel and TDS – total dissolved solids. London water is alkaline, in the region of 7.5pH. I enjoy slightly acidic waters, maybe 6.5pH or 5.5pH. “Whether the water is acidic or alkaline will have a slight effect on the taste. Filtering can also change the taste of tap water.

Some also think it's better for your health, although Milin is a big fan of our tap water and says there's no evidence it's not good for you. I work with a number of chefs creating water pairing menus,” he says.Ī water filter jug enables you to drink pure water without single-use plastic bottles – in the UK we throw away 7.7 billion of them per year. (Yes, that is a real occupation.) “Once you get the right mineral level, or the right carbonation level, the water pops. Water is “very similar to wine” says Milin Patel, the UK’s leading water sommelier. But once you look into the details of water filtration, as I have in the process of writing this piece, it’s a question that needs answering. “What is the best water filter jug?” may not be a question that’s occurred to you before.
