Every year, 16.5 billion liters of water are packaged in Italy, of which nearly 15 are destined for the domestic market, with an 8 percent growth compared to 2022 and a turnover of 3 billion 100 million euros, according to data from Beverfood, the association that brings together bottled water producers. Staggering numbers, which confirm Italy's historical supremacy in the packaged water market, also extended abroad, with 10 percent of production distributed in Europe and the United States, which of the Made in Italy labels appreciate the organoleptic qualities and the neat and elegant packaging. This is what the September issue of Gambero Rosso reports. "Already 34 years ago Gambero Rosso had with great foresight dedicated a cover story to the mineral water market, comparing 241 labels, when the purchase of water still equaled that of wine," comments Marco Mensurati, editor of the publication, who with Mara Nocilla supervised the survey. "Today, we consume only 40 liters of wine per capita per year, while Italians' love of packaged water seems to be becoming more and more boundless, with 252 per head consumed over the 12 months. But how to distinguish the various labels? We tried it ourselves, with a blind test performed involving a panel of tasters, including two water tasters, who grappled with a sample of 56 plain, natural effervescent and non-gas-added waters purchased from large retailers, ranking them by taste, lightness and harmony".
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