Narzan: composition, calcium and magnesium in plain numbers

In short: Narzan is a sulphate-bicarbonate water, naturally carbonated, from the foothills of Mount Elbrus. Mineralisation runs 2–3.5 g/l, with a notable share of calcium and magnesium: 200–600 mg/l of calcium and 50–180 mg/l of magnesium according to the label.

Why is Narzan fizzy without added CO₂?

The carbon dioxide gets into Narzan underground: the water travels through the rock of the Kislovodsk deposit and takes on gas while still in the aquifer. Analysis of 2023 batches puts free CO₂ at around 2.5 g/l, and GOST R 54316-2020 describes a water like this as naturally carbonated. That is where the prickle comes from, with no factory carbonation involved. To keep the gas in, keep the bottle closed and serve the water chilled to 8–12 °C.

• The carbon dioxide in Narzan is natural, dissolved into the water underground
• That is why it tastes prickly with no artificial carbonation
• To stop the gas escaping, keep the bottle closed and serve it chilled

How much calcium and magnesium does Narzan contain?

Narzan is a sulphate-bicarbonate water with a mineralisation of 2–3.5 g/l. The label gives 200–600 mg of calcium, 50–180 mg of magnesium, 1,000–1,950 mg of bicarbonates and 250–1,100 mg of sulphates per litre; analysis of 2023 batches returned calcium at 361–381 mg/l and magnesium at 82–97 mg/l. Under EU rules a water may be called calcic from 150 mg/l of calcium and magnesic from 50 mg/l, and Narzan clears both thresholds. Sodium plus potassium stays modest: 50–450 mg/l.

• Calcium and magnesium make up a larger share in Narzan than in ordinary drinking water
• The main ions are calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates and sulphates; exact figures are on the batch label
• For scale: a litre of Narzan delivers roughly as much calcium as a glass of milk

Who it suits

Narzan's mineralisation is moderate for a medical table water, so it is served at the table and with food, usually a 150–250 ml glass up to three times a day. After the banya or a workout it is useful because it returns not only water but part of the calcium and magnesium lost in sweat. It is not meant to be drunk by the litre in place of plain water: build the day's volume on table water instead. All of this comes from the producer and is not medical advice.

• At the table and with food: the mineralisation is moderate
• After the banya or training: it returns not just water but some of the minerals too
• All of this comes from the producer and is not medical advice

Sources

• GOST R 54316-2020: composition of Narzan water, group V (table A.1)
• Directive 2009/54/EC, Annex III: thresholds for the claims "calcic" and "magnesic"
• Gastroscan reference guide: how Narzan is taken