Svaliava (mineral water)

What it is

«Svaliava» is a sodium-bicarbonate-boron mineral water of medium mineralization, extracted from a well and bottled right by the spring in the town of Svaliava in Transcarpathia. The surrounding area is rich in alkaline-carbonic springs, where several sanatoriums operate.

Mineral water is a symbol of Svaliava. The town's coat of arms, known since the 1840s, depicts a peasant pouring mineral water into a wooden barrel, and in 2017, a bronze sculpture titled «Poli-bachi» with the same theme was erected in the town.

The springs of Svaliava belonged to the Schenborn-Buchheim counts, who rented them out as early as the late 18th century. When the railway passed through Svaliava in 1881, water began to be transported far beyond the region, and the town established a bottling industry.

This page is about the water itself, the springs, and the place, not about the brand. For information about sanatoriums and treatment at the resorts of the region, see the «Health» section.

History and name

The Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine highlights the Svaliava group of carbonated waters among the main mineral waters of the Carpathians; it includes the neighboring «Poliana Kvasova» and «Luzhanska». The town is now often referred to as the «capital of mineral waters in Ukraine».

Ingredients and allergens

Contains allergens: none of the 14 major allergens in the traditional recipe
Diet: lenten · vegan · gluten-free · no cooking

Ingredients of the traditional recipe; every cook and every place may do it differently — please ask when ordering. We cannot guarantee the absence of allergens or traces.

How it is made

The water is extracted from a well and bottled at a factory near the spring. It belongs to the Svaliava group of bicarbonate waters formed in Carpathian sandstones.

Where it is eaten

The area is approximate and based on the sources below. The dish is cooked outside it too, and ethnographic borders are blurred.

The town of Svaliava and its surroundings (Mukachevo district, until 2020 - Svaliava district), the Latorica valley.

When it is eaten

Occasions: Everyday food

In tradition

Svaliava lives on water: its symbols are the coat of arms with a barrel of mineral water and the sculpture «Poli-bachi». The pump rooms and sanatoriums around the town operate on local springs.

Safety

Not for treatment: drink mineral water for therapeutic purposes only on a doctor's advice. Therapeutic-table waters are not intended for unlimited daily consumption; children, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses should only drink after consulting a doctor.

FAQ