Drinking water is one of those pleasures we sometimes take for granted. And yet, just as we delight in discovering wines or coffees, we must know that not all waters are the same. Some have flavors, others have character, and then there are those that seem to carry a story in every sip.
That is what happens with Pedras. Featured in the goodie bag of the Condé Nast Traveler 2026 Awards, this naturally carbonated mineral water from northern Portugal managed to spark curiosity even among the most seasoned guests. And it’s no wonder: it belongs to an extraordinarily small group of waters that are born with gas in a completely natural way, with absolutely nothing added.
Its origin lies in Trás-os-Montes, one of the most fascinating regions of the neighboring country. There, in the Pedras Salgadas valley, begins an underground journey that can extend for more than a century. Rainwater slowly filters through the fractures of granite; it enriches with minerals such as calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate; and it receives, from the depths of the earth, the carbon dioxide that gives it its characteristic natural effervescence. The result is one of the rare natural carbonated waters sold commercially in the world, belonging to that scarce 0.5% that are born with their own gas.
