WRITING CULTURE 2012: Film, Food & Beyond

Aquafina Aquafina everywhere….

Water is the drink of the gods, its the stuff that no matter what your culture, ethnicity, age and status is good for you. Yet we spend so little time really analyzing which water source we prefer to drink from.

Water is plain, I’ve been told, boring even, but how can this be? There are infinite water sources that are mined for the product and so numerous tastes and varieties to chose from. If you can’t tell the difference between waters then perhaps you have been brushing your tongue too hard and nulled your taste buds, or you should consider drinking and eating in a quiet and calm environment whilst not being stimulated by any media sources (TV, computer, phone, music etc) Really try and connect with what you are putting in your mouth.

For me, good tasty flavorsome water invokes swimming in the Dordogne in the south of France as a child , that first toe dip in the river would send a shiver down my spine, just like the first sip of cool spring or mineral water does now, a glass of the right water should almost make you feel like you are being caressed on the outside whilst being simultaneously being  refreshed from within. There should be no bitter or salty aftertaste, and it should feel smooth going down your throat, soft even.

My Aquafina this morning is chilled to antarctic levels as is popular in the US. As a Brit, I like things a little nearer to room temperature, a more natural and therefore comfortable level for the body. Gripping the soft (cheap) bottle with my hands. I squeeze a little to pour the liquid carefully into my mouth. Visually its perfectly clear, just how I like it, no floating anomalies, UFO’s (unidentified floating objects) or cloudiness. But the taste, although not terrible, is giving me more Hudson river than riviera undertones. This is municipal water, re hashed, re worked somethings have been added, some taken away, more messing around with a product that should need little improvement. It has a faint chemical aftertaste, that lingers a minute too long after the water has been swallowed, and  my thirst is quenched yes, but I expect more.

Unlike water from a tap, spring waters and minerals waters should be respected for their purity, and admired for their essence, thousands of years in the making, a gift from the earth to man. You can virtually taste the journey in the subtle mix of limestone, volcanic activity and dolomite in every sip. Today I am left wanting, tomorrow I will enjoy a superior experience with a brand that deserves my hard earned dollars.