Forget Erewhon, this local grocery chain has the best water selection in L.A.

I’ve conscionable discovered a concealed oasis successful nan sparkling h2o aisle astatine a section market shop successful Little Armenia. I’ve driven past this location galore times but ne'er paid it immoderate notice. By my broadside is Martin Riese, a certified h2o sommelier. He’s pointing to bottles from world brands I’ve ne'er heard of. Riese highlights immoderate noteworthy selections: Ararat (from Armenia), Gerolsteiner (from Germany), Jermuk Borjomi (from Georgia) and Tehuacan (from Mexico), which he’s ne'er seen earlier — a rarity for nan H20 obsessive.

In L.A., h2o rules everything astir us. Drink up, cool disconnected and dive into our stories astir hydrating and recreating successful nan city.

No, we are not astatine Erewhon, Lassen’s aliases immoderate different upscale, trendy market. Rather, we are opinionated wrong a Jons Fresh Marketplace, a family-owned L.A. market chain. According to Riese, it’s nan champion spot to bargain rare, affordable drinking h2o successful L.A. In summation to wide marketplace waters for illustration Crystal Geyser and Arrowhead, nan shop offers much than a twelve h2o brands from astatine slightest 8 countries.

Riese should cognize wherever to bargain nan champion water. He created his first “water menu” successful Berlin successful 2005 and has been certified arsenic a h2o sommelier by nan German Water Trade Assn. since 2011. His days are spent consulting for beverage brands, educating group astir h2o via his celebrated TikTok and holding monthly Zoom water tastings that costs $105, which includes nan costs of h2o and information for up to 4 people. German-born, he came to nan United States successful 2011 but didn’t observe Jons until he moved to Van Nuys successful 2022 and recovered 1 correct adjacent to his house.

Water sommelier Martin Riese points retired nan absurdity of “Naturally Calorie-Free” labeling connected a vessel of water.

Riese tastes a sample of mineral h2o purchased from Jons.

“I want to bring consciousness to group that there’s different options than nan regular worldly you tin find virtually successful Pavilions aliases Ralphs,” Riese says. “They ever person nan aforesaid brands. I walked successful [to Jons] and I could not judge you tin really bargain this awesome portfolio successful a store.”

Jons was founded successful 1977 by John and Jack Berberian, Armenian immigrants, pinch Los Angeles’ immense overseas organization successful mind.

“They were committed to helping different caller immigrants set to their caller lives by making immoderate of nan nutrient and ingredients that were acquainted to them [available],” says Dave Harriman, nan head of unit nonperishable departments. The institution has agelong claimed that Jons was nan first L.A. market shop to connection world foods.

Armenian sparkling h2o marque Ararat astatine Jons..

This merchandising attack extends to nan h2o selection, specifically nan sparkling aisle. Most “bottled waters” disposable successful American market stores are simply filtered pat water, fundamentally what you could make astatine location pinch your Brita, according to Riese. To sommeliers for illustration him, outpouring aliases mineral waters are preferable because they travel from a earthy source; they are rich | successful calcium, magnesium and sodium. Depending connected nan water, location are different levels of each, changing not conscionable its sensation but its wellness benefits. Unlike astir American waters, European h2o labels that Jons carries item their product’s nonstop mineral creation connected nan bottle.

Riese explains that successful Germany, location are much than 60 h2o brands truthful packed pinch minerals that they spell beyond elemental hydration and are considered a shape of medicine by nan German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

“This is simply a state-approved medication, but it’s thing other than bottled water,” he said. “So for example, a Gerolsteiner — which you tin find astatine Jons — has nan aforesaid magnitude of calcium arsenic a solid of milk.”

Other highlights among Jons aisles are Borjomi, a Georgian seltzer that’s disposable successful L.A. only astatine world market stores for illustration Jons and Super King. Romano Chobanu, a income head for nan h2o brand, calls it a “unique water,” pinch a “specific taste, which is different than different mineral waters for illustration Italian.” It’s precocious successful sodium and is utilized arsenic a hangover cure successful Eastern Europe: “After you’re having your statement aliases something, you portion Borjomi,” he said. (A strategy Riese endorses.)

A Jons customer said he drank Jermuk mineral h2o successful Armenia.

Water sommelier Martin Riese sets up a h2o sensation comparison of respective brands of mineral h2o disposable astatine Jons.

For a small complete $10, Martin and I acquisition 5 waters for an impromptu sensation tasting connected an electrical container retired front, utilizing mini reddish Solo cups typically utilized for shots of alcohol. Riese arranges them from lowest mineral contented to highest, starting pinch Poland Springs, past Ararat, followed by Gerolsteiner, Borjomi and Jermuk (also from Armenia). As we move from correct to left, nan tasting notes turn much complex, and nan saltiness intensifies. As I link pinch my ain soul h2o sommelier, I place Borjomi, nan aforementioned hangover aide, arsenic my favorite, and find Poland Springs to sensation revolting successful comparison to nan others.

Riese comments colorfully, arsenic a vino sommelier would item nan notes of a Pinot Grigio, suggesting definite waters brace champion pinch definite foods. “Your nutrient will sensation otherwise conscionable based connected nan water,” he says, offering that Saratoga (from New York), besides disposable astatine Jons, pairs awesome pinch sushi because of its debased mineral content.

The champion portion is, each of this was acold much affordable than a vino tasting — aliases moreover what you’d find astatine different high-end market stores.

“I consciousness sometimes that Americans emotion to get fooled,” Riese says, pinch nan caveat that he loves America. “I don’t cognize what it is. But they emotion reasoning ever erstwhile thing is much expensive, it’s instantly a amended product. And that is perfectly not true. Especially erstwhile it comes to water.”