Gerolsteiner Mineral Water: pH, Mineral Content, Ingredients, Benefits and Review

Gerolsteiner is a naturally carbonated German mineral water produced by Gerolsteiner Brunnen. It is bottled at source in the Volcanic Eifel region and is one of the highest-selling mineral waters in Germany and a benchmark reference for high mineral content water globally.

Gerolsteiner rises from deep aquifers under the Volcanic Eifel in western Germany. Rainwater filters slowly through layers of volcanic dolomite rock, dissolving calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate along the way, and emerges naturally carbonated with CO₂ of volcanic origin.

Gerolsteiner delivers around 108 mg/L of magnesium, making it one of the highest-magnesium mainstream bottled waters. A single litre supplies a meaningful share of the adult daily reference intake for magnesium.

Calcium sits at approximately 348 mg/L. That places Gerolsteiner far above typical spring waters such as Evian (~80 mg/L) and close to the calcium levels found in a serving of dairy milk on a per-litre basis.

With about 1,816 mg/L of bicarbonate, Gerolsteiner is strongly buffered. The high bicarbonate is what keeps its pH close to neutral even though it is naturally carbonated, and it is the reason many drinkers describe the water as smooth rather than sharp.

Gerolsteiner sparkling water measures a pH of roughly 6.5 to 7.6 depending on batch and test method. That is near-neutral, which is unusual for a sparkling water — most carbonated waters sit around pH 5. Compare with the full bottled water pH chart.

The classic green-bottle Gerolsteiner is sparkling (Sprudel). The brand also sells Medium (lighter carbonation) and Naturell (still). All three come from the same source and share the same mineral profile — only the CO₂ level differs.

The only ingredient in Gerolsteiner is natural mineral water from the Gerolsteiner spring, with naturally occurring CO₂ of volcanic origin (topped up to standardise carbonation in Sprudel and Medium). There are no added flavours, sweeteners, preservatives or artificial minerals — the mineral profile listed above comes entirely from the source rock.

Under German law (Mineral- und Tafelwasser-Verordnung), a German mineral water must originate from a protected underground source, be bottled at source and be officially recognised. Gerolsteiner meets these rules and is one of the flagship examples of German mineral water, alongside brands such as Apollinaris, Adelholzener and Staatlich Fachingen.

Full head-to-head: Gerolsteiner vs San Pellegrino.

Gerolsteiner contributes meaningful calcium and magnesium per litre and its bicarbonate profile is often chosen by drinkers who want a mineral-forward sparkling water. As with any food or beverage, it is one input into a broader diet rather than a treatment for any condition.

For most healthy adults, no. However, people on sodium-restricted diets or with kidney conditions should factor its 118 mg/L sodium and high overall TDS into their daily intake, and Gerolsteiner is not recommended for preparing infant formula because of the mineral load.

In the UK, Gerolsteiner is stocked by Waitrose, Ocado, selected Amazon sellers and specialist delicatessens. It is less widely distributed than San Pellegrino or Perrier and typically retails at a premium.

• San Pellegrino — lighter mineral profile, easier to find.
• Perrier — bolder carbonation, much lower mineral content.
• Borjomi — high-bicarbonate Georgian mineral water.
• Aqua Carpatica — high-magnesium Romanian option.
• Mountain Valley Sparkling — American sparkling spring water in glass.