More About Badoit

Badoit is a naturally sparkling mineral water from Saint-Galmier, in the Loire department of central France, known for its fine bubbles. Epicerie Corner stocks Badoit Verte and the more intensely sparkling Badoit Rouge in plastic and glass bottles, alongside lemon and lime waters and Bulles de Fruits fruit drinks, with delivery across the UK.

What Is Badoit Water?

Badoit is a natural mineral water that comes out of the ground already sparkling. As it rises through granite rock, the water picks up carbon dioxide and dissolved minerals, which give it small, fine bubbles and a distinctive taste. Its label lists a total mineral content of around 1,100mg per litre, with bicarbonates as the main component, followed by sodium, calcium and magnesium.

The spring at Saint-Galmier has been known since Roman times. In 1838 Auguste Saturnin Badoit bought it and began selling the water in bottles through pharmacies. It moved onto grocery shelves in the 1950s and became a familiar sight on French restaurant tables. Today Badoit belongs to the Société des Eaux Minérales d'Évian, part of the Danone group, the same company behind Evian.

The Badoit Range: Verte, Rouge and Flavoured

Badoit Verte

The green label is the classic Badoit, with the fine, gentle sparkle the brand is known for. It is the version most often served with a meal in France. We stock it as a 6x1L pack, a 6x50cl pack of smaller bottles and in glass: the Badoit Verte 12x75cl glass bottles and a 12x1L glass case.

Badoit Rouge

The red label, also sold as Badoit Intense, is the same Saint-Galmier water with a stronger, livelier fizz for those who find the green version too delicate. It comes as a 6x1L pack, a 6x50cl pack and the Badoit Rouge 20x33cl glass bottles, a single-serve size often used in restaurants and hotels.

Lemon and Lime Badoit

The 1L Badoit Lemon and Badoit Citron Vert (lime) are Badoit water with a natural fruit flavour and nothing else: no sugar and no sweetener, according to their ingredients.

Badoit Bulles de Fruits

Bulles de Fruits ("fruit bubbles") are lightly sweet sparkling drinks made with Badoit water and a small share of fruit juice. They come in 1L bottles (Grapefruit Lemon and Lime) and in 6x33cl cans in Grapefruit, Lime Lemon and Red Fruits. Unlike the plain flavoured waters, they contain sugar, and some recipes also contain a sweetener, so check the label if this matters to you. For other brands, see Flavoured Water.

How to Choose Your Badoit

• Strength of bubbles: choose Verte for a soft sparkle that sits quietly alongside food, and Rouge if you like a sharp, prickly fizz.
• Plain or flavoured: the lemon and lime waters stay unsweetened, while Bulles de Fruits taste closer to a light soft drink.
• Bottle size: 50cl and 33cl bottles and cans suit lunchboxes, picnics and single servings; 1L and 75cl bottles are for the table.
• Glass or plastic: glass bottles look smarter on a dinner table and keep the water's taste neutral; plastic multipacks are lighter to carry and store.

Serving Badoit at the French Table

In France, a bottle of sparkling water sits next to the wine on the table at many family meals and in most brasseries. Badoit Verte's fine bubbles are discreet enough to drink with almost any dish, from a cheese course to a slice of tart. Serve it well chilled and pour it into a wine glass or tumbler rather than straight from the bottle to enjoy the sparkle. Once opened, close the cap tightly and keep the bottle in the fridge so it keeps its fizz.

Bulles de Fruits and the lemon and lime waters work well as alcohol-free drinks for an apéritif, served over ice with a slice of citrus. To compare Badoit with other naturally or lightly sparkling waters, browse our Sparkling Water collection.

Badoit FAQs

Is Badoit naturally sparkling?

Yes. Badoit picks up its carbon dioxide underground as the water passes through granite and underground gas deposits at Saint-Galmier, which is why it is called naturally sparkling. The classic Verte has the fine, delicate bubbles the brand is known for, while Badoit Rouge has a noticeably stronger fizz.

What is the difference between Badoit Verte and Badoit Rouge?

Both come from the same Saint-Galmier source and have the same mineral composition on the label. The difference is the level of fizz: Verte, in the green bottle, is gently sparkling, and Rouge, in the red bottle and also known as Badoit Intense, is more strongly sparkling. Choose by how lively you like your bubbles.

How much sodium does Badoit contain?

The mineral analysis printed on Badoit lists about 180mg of sodium per litre, along with around 153mg of calcium, 80mg of magnesium and 1,250mg of bicarbonates. If you are watching your sodium intake, read the label and ask your doctor whether a lower-sodium water would suit you better.

Who owns Badoit?

Badoit is owned by the Société des Eaux Minérales d'Évian, a subsidiary of the French food group Danone. The water is still bottled at the source in Saint-Galmier, where the Badoit family started selling it in the 19th century.