The secret of Saskia - Lidl's mineral water
- timobausch
- Jan 17
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Mineral water is one of the most popular drinks in Germany, and with brands such as Saskia, available exclusively at Lidl, many people are turning to a low-cost, high-quality alternative. But where does the water come from? What source is Lidl using and what does this mean for us as consumers?
In this article I will take a closer look at Lidl's mineral water.
One thing up front: Saskia is not just Saskia!
Who bottles?
Unlike many other discounters, the Schwarz Group has its own mineral water bottling company, Mitteldeutsche Erfrischungsgetränke GmbH (MEG). It is one of the largest beverage bottlers in Germany and an integral part of the group. Both Lidl and Kaufland get their mineral water directly from MEG.
The sources
What many people don't know is that Saskia comes from five different springs, each with a different origin and mineral composition. This means that you will find different water in the discounter depending on the region.
The five sources are:
Kirkel in Saarland
Löningen in Lower Saxony
Jessen in Saxony-Anhalt
Wörth am Rhein in Rheinland-Pfalz
Leißling in Saxony-Anhalt
Here is an overview of the individual springs and their mineral composition (extract from November 09, 2024):
The taste
Although all waters except the Leissling Spring are low in mineralization, there are some distinct differences in taste. In particular, the different calcium content results in a different palate and mouthfeel.
Due to the different mineral composition, each water also has a different total hardness or pH value, which in turn affects the flavor of tea or coffee, for example. For more information on coffee and water, click here.
You can also see the difference in mineralization by putting the water in a pot and letting it evaporate. Here is a comparison between the Kirkel spring (total mineralization: 27.1 mg/l) and Wörth am Rhein (total mineralization: 481 mg/l).
Left: Kirkel / Right: Wörth am Rhein
How do you know which source you bought it from?
In Germany, companies are required by law to state the name and location of the source on the label, in addition to the name of the food, the expiry date, serving size, etc. The name of the source must even be stated in large letters (clearly visible in the picture).
Conclusion
Saskia mineral water from Lidl is not always the same. Five different sources provide different mineralization and taste. Depending on the region, the water can come from Kirkel, Löningen, Jessen, Wörth am Rhein or Leißling. If you look closely, you will find clear information on the label about the source and the characteristics of the water.
With that in mind: Drink water, #stayhydrated
Best regards
Timo Bausch
Certified Water Sommelier
PS: If you've acquired a taste for mineral water and would like to explore the world of water, I recommend the #AWESOMM TASTING BOXES
About Timo Bausch
My fascination with mineral waters began in 2016 during my training as a Water Sommelier. Since then, I have been exploring the characteristics and diversity of water. In addition to pairing water with food, wine, coffee and other beverages, I offer the creation of water menus for restaurants and hotels. Furthermore, it is also important to me to draw attention to the importance of drinking water.
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