"A water sommelier is someone who is adept at tasting, evaluating and educating others about the value of natural mineral water… Natural mineral water is not a commodity with uniform characteristics but a natural unprocessed product,” noted 29-year old Avanti Mehta who was recently certified by the globally renowned institute, FineWater Academy, founded by water sommeliers Martin Riese and Michael Mascha. A write-up on the occasion from entrepreneur Behram Mehta, her father and founder of Aava Natural Mineral Water states that Avanti is also the brand manager and creative director at the company, reportedly India’s only natural mineral water brand to have an in-house sommelier.
"Much like wine, the geology and conditions at the source give water a unique minerality and taste,” Avanti communicated. "When paired with the right food and spirits, natural mineral waters can elevate a dining experience… Water is also a healthy alternative to alcohol and a much better choice to accompany food than sugar heavy soft drinks. We are so conscious about our diets and what we eat, yet we seldom think about the water that we drink in spite of the fact that 60% of our body is water,” mentioned Avanti.
As states Aava’s note, "Avanti is able to curate unique experiences with food and other spirits… Natural mineral water does have a unique taste and provides an epicurean experience when paired right… Mineral waters with higher natural sodium content pair brilliantly with a dark chocolate dessert and lend an umami flavor. For cocktails, low minerality water gives a smooth finish while mid-to-high minerality adds a touch of zing.”
"Apart from the wellness and sensory experiences associated with water, what inspired me to become a water sommelier is Aava and my family’s commitment to ethical water sourcing, biodiversity conservation and efficient recycling,” stated Avanti. "Natural mineral water is intrinsically connected to the source and its natural environment needs to be protected. Water is our most precious resource and the more we care about where our water comes from and what we are drinking, the more we will care about the planet.”
Aava has been in the business of bottling natural mineral water since 2005.