Badoit
Badoit is a naturally lightly sparkling mineral water from Saint-Galmier, in the Loire department of central France. Commercial bottling under the Badoit name began in 1778, making it one of the longest-continuously-bottled waters in France. The brand is now owned by Danone, which also owns Évian and Volvic.
Mineral composition
| mg/L | |
|---|---|
| Calcium | 190 |
| Magnesium | 85 |
| Sodium | 150 |
| Sulfate | 40 |
| Chloride | 40 |
| Bicarbonate | 1300 |
Compositions can vary by season and source. Read our methodology.
Mineral character
Badoit is highly mineralised. Calcium is 190 mg/L, magnesium 85 mg/L, sodium 150 mg/L, sulphate 40 mg/L, chloride 40 mg/L, and bicarbonate 1,300 mg/L. Hardness is 824 mg/L as CaCO₃ — among the highest in the TWD database. The dominant ion is bicarbonate, and the magnesium content is unusually elevated relative to calcium, which distinguishes it from French still waters in the same hardness range. The light natural effervescence is intrinsic to the source.
Documented use and context
Badoit has been a standard table water in French cafés and restaurants since the 19th century, typically served alongside carafe tap water as a sparkling alternative. Its light carbonation and strong bicarbonate character are associated with food pairing contexts across French culinary writing, though no single academic or competition citation has been identified for this entry.
Use-case suitability
- CoffeeNot used in any current coffee recipe. Hardness 824 mg/L is above the 9–266 mg/L range of these targets.
- TeaNot used in any current tea recipe. Hardness 824 mg/L is above the 37–59 mg/L range of these targets.
- BrewingAppears in blends for Edinburgh.
- BakingNot used in any current baking recipe. Hardness 824 mg/L is above the 46–390 mg/L range of these targets.
- AquariumNot used in any current aquarium recipe. Hardness 824 mg/L is above the 35–212 mg/L range of these targets.
- HorticultureNot used in any current horticulture recipe. Hardness 824 mg/L is above the 12–54 mg/L range of these targets.
Used in these recipes
Where to buy
UK
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose
£1.20-1.80 per litre
FR
Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan, Intermarché, Lidl FR
€0.45-0.65 per litre
Available in the UK at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose. Available across all major French retailers. As of March 2026.