If you just finished working in the yard or working out in the gym, you know how wonderful a glass of cool, clean water can taste. If you think your water tastes sweet, you might wonder if your tap water has something else in it.
Water can have different tastes and sweet is a subtle aftertaste you might find in your mouth. Tastes are experiences we all perceive differently.
A sweet taste in water whether from your tap or from bottled water has minerals including calcium or iron. In many cases, people who experience a sweet taste in water suffer from a sensitive taste. In other cases, your body can be responsible for the sweetness which can be related to something you ate or something you smelled lately. Smell and taste are very powerful senses.
There are several reasons for experiencing a taste in your water. The taste can come from the source of the water whether it's tap or bottled water. Sometimes it can be something serious but I wouldn't be too seriously alarmed. The level of sweetness is often caused by how thirsty you might be at the time. We will go over some of the reasons you might notice a sweet taste in your water source.
Some Leading Reasons
Your mouth has taste receptors that set off certain tastes. When drinking water the receptors are cleansed by the water. Sweet receptors set off the sensation of sweetness in the water. In many cases, the taste is very subtle taking some time for you to take notice.
These sensations can be purely psychological when you are thirsty and go for a glass of water. Thirst is an experience that your organisms are craving water. Whether it's bottled water or a soda, your mind will convince you that the water is actually better tasting than it really is. In the name of good health, choose water over a soda, even if your mind is craving something sweet.
You could say that when you are thirsty, all water tastes the same. In most instances, that's very true but if you recently ate something, the taste will pass through your teeth and your mouth. If you ate something sweet, the water will eventually remove the sugary substance returning your taste back to normal. It's like brushing your teeth or using a mouthwash, you will briefly experience a lingering taste.
Can Filtered Water Taste Sweet?
Altering water can make it taste sweet or cause something in the water to change. Water filtration can be the cause of the taste of your water changing. In most cases, sweetness is something that is in your mouth, therefore, a water filter will not alter it. Drinking a few different kinds of water such as filtered, unfiltered, or bottled can help you discover if there is a difference. If your tap water tastes oddly sweet, you should consider getting a water filter.
How Can I Get The Sweet Taste out of My Tap Water?
The different mineral compositions and pH balance can answer some of your questions about why bottled water, tap water, and purified water taste differently. You should purchase a water choice that you prefer. In general, reverse osmosis water is lower in pH levels, making the taste less sweet. The taste of distilled water is much different from other water options.
If the taste is coming from your plumbing, there could be several reasons:
Flush some of the tap water down the drain and try it again.
Take into account your Reverse Osmosis system and whether it's responsible. An inexpensive countertop unit could solve the problem. The problem might be hard to pinpoint because you might have other contaminants inside the tap water.
Get The Sweet Taste out of Bottled Water
This could be a long shot, but you could change the taste in bottled water:
Lower the temperature of the water using ice cubes or placing a bottle of water in the refrigerator. In some cases, the water will taste better and the temperature will not alter the structure of the water.
You could add something to the water such as a slice of lemon or adding a few berries that are somewhat on the sour side. Fruits such as orange can work as well. Pineapples are a favorite among some people.
Try using a very small amount of salt in the water to slightly change the pH level. Use only a very small amount, you do not want your water salty, just alter the taste.
Carbonate the water using a device for carbonation. This might help as extra CO2 will be dissolved in the water.
Conclusion
Sweet tasting water, the receptors in your mouth, and the foods you eat can all play factors in the taste of your water.
You should play around with different ideas for changing the taste of your water. What might work for someone else, might not work for you. Flavoring the water, changing the temperature, and carbonation are only a few alternatives. Test different ideas to find what works the best for you.
On the other hand, if you are experiencing a taste that is not right get in touch with your plumbing service and if you do not have a Reverse Osmosis system, get one.