The Water Dictionary

Gerolsteiner

SparklingVolcanic EifelNatural mineral water

Gerolsteiner Sparkling is sourced from springs in the Volcanic Eifel region near the town of Gerolstein in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The water rises from depths of up to 250 metres, where volcanic carbonic acid dissolves minerals from dolomite rock over a journey estimated at 50–100 years. The carbonation is naturally occurring, from volcanic CO₂ that meets the water underground. Gerolsteiner holds natural mineral water status. The company, Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG, is majority-owned by Bitburger Holding.


Mineral composition

mg/L
Calcium345
Magnesium100
Sodium115
Sulfate35
Chloride40
Bicarbonate1800
Hardness: 1273 as CaCO₃Alkalinity: 1476 as CaCO₃

Compositions can vary by season and source. Read our methodology.

Mineral character

Gerolsteiner is one of the most heavily mineralised waters in the TWD database. Bicarbonate is exceptionally high at 1,817 mg/L, calcium at 348 mg/L, magnesium at 108 mg/L, and sodium at 118 mg/L. Total hardness is 1,314 mg/L as CaCO₃, and alkalinity is 1,490 mg/L as CaCO₃. Sulphate (38.3 mg/L) and chloride (39.7 mg/L) are comparatively modest given the scale of everything else. The profile is dominated by the calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate axis to a degree that puts it in a different category from almost every other water in the database. For blending purposes, very small quantities go a long way.


Use-case suitability


Used in these recipes


Where to buy

UK

Sainsbury’s, Waitrose

£1.00-1.80 per litre

US

Whole Foods, specialty, Amazon

$2.00-3.00 per litre

DE

Edeka, Rewe, Aldi, Lidl, Kaufland, Netto

€0.40-0.50 per litre

Gerolsteiner is available in the UK at selected retailers (Waitrose, some Tesco stores) at approximately £1.50–2.50 for 750 mL (as of March 2026). It is widely available in the US (Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Kroger) at $1.50–2.50. In Germany, where it is one of the best-selling mineral waters, it is available everywhere at substantially lower prices. Sold primarily as sparkling, in glass and PET bottles. A still variant exists but is less commonly stocked outside Germany.