Perrier vs. San Pellegrino: Which Sparkling Water is Better?

Sparkling mineral water is the cooler cousin of water. It tastes and looks like water, but is loaded with healthy minerals and bubbles. It is the best drink to go for on a sunny day if you want to quench your thirst, but are looking for something with more character than… just water. That’s where Perrier and San Pellegrino come in.

perrier vs san pellegrino

These brands were founded over a century ago — Perrier in 1898 and San Pellegrino in 1899 — and have sustained at keeping their sparkling water product alive over the years. Just that fact speaks volumes about the revolutionary bottled water brands.

But often, we tend to get stuck at a supermarket aisle deciding between the two. Not anymore – we have analyzed, dissected, and come to a conclusion on which is the better brand so that you don’t have to do the work. Read on till the end to know if you should go for the French Perrier or the Italian San Pelligrino.

Both are loaded with natural minerals

Perrier’s sparkling water is collected from a spring in Vergèze, France. The water travels through layers of limestone, clay, and sand, according to a Perrier Quality Report, and amasses a ton of minerals such as calcium, sodium, potassium, fluoride, magnesium, nitrate, chloride, copper, and more.

Meanwhile, San Pellegrino’s water is collected from the foothills of the Alps in Bergamo, Italy. This water, according to their website, comes to its collecting point after a 30-year journey through the rocks, soaking in calcium, magnesium, and mineral salts.


Healthline reports that drinking mineral water improves digestion, heart, and blood pressure because of the minerals in it – and San Pellegrino’s mineral water has more of it per liter than Perrier.

Let’s throw some spotlight on sodium

Both Perrier and San Pellegrino mineral waters have slightly more salt than tap water.

Perrier has 0.5 times the amount of salt that’s in tap water, but in San Pellegrino, it is two times the amount, according to an article published in Daily Mail.

Should this be a cause for concern? Not really; unless you plan to drink several liters of it per day. San Pellegrino has 33.3mg of sodium per liter and Perrier’s is 9.5 mg per liter. The recommended daily intake of sodium, according to Dietary Guidelines for Americans is, a safe 2,300 mg per day.

Just be mindful of washing down a salty bag of fries with several bottles of mineral water, and you should be good.


How does each taste?

Perrier’s fizz is subtle, and the water in itself is quite smooth. San Pellegrino on the other hand has quite a significant carbonation, and a slightly bitter note right at the end.

Given the minerals they contain, both Perrier and San Pellegrino mineral water are slightly acidic. San Pellegrino is slightly more acidic than Perrier, according to McGill University’s report. Perrier’s pH is 4.68 and San Pellegrino’s is 4.28, compared to neutral water’s pH which is 7.

It is reported that acidic water isn’t the best for your teeth, though the effects from the mineral water are negligible. Nothing compared to Coke or a glass of orange juice! But if you are looking for a lesser acidic mineral water, go for Perrier.

For those who like their water fruit-flavored…

Perrier has a series of lime, lemon, watermelon, peach, pineapple, orange, strawberry, pink grapefruit, and cucumber-flavored water. San Pellegrino is not far behind in the race: the brand offers Mediterranean fruit flavors such as lemon and lemon zest, dark morello cherry and pomegranate, blood orange and black raspberry…and more.

San Pellegrino’s fruit-infused drinks seem more exotic and are quite close to the taste of a normal juice, with a whopping 30g of added sugar in each bottle. Meanwhile, Perrier has more simple flavors, with no added sugar.


So…which is better?

San Pellegrino is loaded with minerals and has quite a significant taste and fizz to it. It makes for a great addition to your wine, or to complement your dinner. Having said that, for those who are looking for a smoother drink, with a subtle taste and fizz, Perrier makes the cut.

It has lesser sodium, is less acidic, and has no sugar in its fruit-infused drinks. It’s great for those who prioritize their health, and for those who are looking for a brand of sparkling water to add to their cocktail.

One Response

  1. Donna L Cornell November 20, 2021

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