No plastic bottles, Russians use canned water: What will this strange water taste like?

We are all too familiar with convenient plastic bottled water that we can carry with us. But the Russians used to have canned drinks that looked like cans of meat.

Why must water be canned?

"Don't drink on the first day. Go store up and drink rainwater, fill all available containers with rainwater. Use canned water for emergencies," the words on the can read. "To get water, use the opener to punch two holes in the lid. The opener is in the container, in the supply bag."

Those are the instructions on the Russian-made water tank, a special and rare but real product.

We are all too familiar with convenient bottled water that we can carry with us in case we are thirsty. But this type of water is packaged in a box like the usual canned food.

Why should water be in a box and not in a bottle? What's so special about this water box?

You will not find this type of water in convenience stores, as it is intended for sailors on ships or submarines.

Canned water is usually boiled, cooled then mixed with ascorbic acid.

On ships there is always a reserve of drinking water sufficient for a certain number of days, but these cans are strictly used for emergency situations (for example in the case of a shipwreck) and are considered a backup source of water. untouchable storage.

Canned water is usually boiled, cooled (some sources claim it is spring water), then mixed with ascorbic acid. It is stored in a container with a capacity of about 240 or 250 ml (1 cup). Daily servings include 1/2 liter per person. This water can be stored for two years.

The explanation for the water canning reason is simple. Water in plastic bottles is easily damaged by ultraviolet rays; Bottles are also prone to breakage or damage. Glass bottles are heavy and require a lot of space. Meanwhile, the box is airtight and more compact.

There is no exact information on when these water cans were manufactured, but state regulations regarding the product were first introduced in 1962, before being updated in 1980.

Canned water was produced until the early 1990s. And the Russians are not alone. American sailors also had their own canned water.

What does canned water taste like?

Today, you can't get a chance to drink canned water from the Soviet era anymore, however, people who tasted it during their military service have shared their impressions online.

"I tried one of those water cans from the emergency kit. The kit also includes a shipwreck diary and a chemical pencil," one person shared.

"I also tried when repairing the bomb shelter at work, found a box of 20 cans there, the taste of the canned water was very special," another said.

"When I was serving in the army, I had a chance to drink this water. It looks like distilled water, has absolutely no taste, but it helps," another added.

Today, sailors on ships and submarines still need an emergency supply of drinking water, but not the canned variety it used to be.

Today, water is produced in lighter, laminated paper bags. One sachet contains 100 ml of water. The package can be stored between -35 C and 65 C for 5 years. The daily serving size remains the same – 1/2 liter (5 sachets) per person, and of course you are also advised not to drink it from day one.

Emergency water is also sold in online stores and is often purchased by hikers. They cost twice as much as regular bottled water.