Best Lebanese Juice, Soda and Water Brands

Lebanon’s mountains feed a lot of springs, and several of the bottles on local shelves come straight from them. Alongside the water brands, a handful of producers bottle fruit sodas, syrups, pressed juices and fresh lemonade. Here is who makes what, and where.

How we chose

Every brand here is listed in the Made in Liban directory and produces its drinks in Lebanon. We gave priority to listings with clear information about the source, the range and the people behind them. We have not run taste tests, so the notes below describe what each producer makes rather than how it scores.

Mineral and spring water

Sohat

Drawn from a spring at Falougha in Mount Lebanon, about 1,710 metres up, Sohat is a still water that is light in minerals with almost no sodium. The spring was rediscovered in 1910 by archaeologist Habib Zoghzoghy, and Sohat was the first bottled natural spring water sold in Lebanon and the region. Nestlé has fully owned the brand since 2001, but the water still comes from the same mountain source.

Sannine

Named after Mount Sannine, this natural mineral water is produced by Compagnie des Sources du Liban, which runs a factory in Bkaatouta. Its label describes it as zero nitrate water from Mont Sannine at 1,510 metres. Sannine is one of the older names on the shelf, and it sells gallons for homes and offices as well as 500 ml bottles.

Rim

Founded in 1997 by Merched G. Baaklini, Rim bottles water at source from the Ain el Saifieh spring at Kaa el Rim near Zahle. The company describes it as low in sodium and high in magnesium. In 2016 it launched Rim Sparkling Water, presented as the first Lebanese sparkling mineral water, and its formats run from small bottles to 10 litre containers.

Talaya

For households that prefer glass, Talaya is the name to look for. Produced in Tarchich in the Baabda district, it sells water in glass gallons, and in 2017 glass reached a quarter of its sales within six months of launch. It also offers still water and a 330 ml sparkling water in plastic bottles.

Berdawni Water

Established in 2004 in Kaa el Rim in the Bekaa, Berdawni draws natural mineral water from underground springs in the Sannine mountains. Sizes go from 0.33 litre bottles up to 9 and 19 litre gallons, which suits families and offices that buy in bulk. It is a smaller local alternative to the big national brands. Visit Berdawni Water

Tanourine Water

This natural mineral water is sourced from the mountains of Tanourine in North Lebanon. It is a familiar bottled spring water and an easy one to add to the list if you want to compare sources from different regions.

Soft drinks, juices and lemonade

Freez Mix

Made by the Kassatly family, Freez Mix is a sparkling fruit drink sold in colored glass bottles. It began in the early 2000s as Freez and was relaunched around 2016 with new flavor pairings such as Lemon & Mint, Pomegranate, Lychee, Kiwi & Lime and Tamarind. The drink is reported to sell in more than 40 countries. Visit Freez Mix

Kassatly Chtaura

The group behind Freez Mix was founded in 1974 by Akram Kassatly, and its first product was a bottled jallab. Based in Chtaura in the Bekaa, it makes syrups, juices and jams, as well as arak. Its fruit syrups are a simple way to make traditional drinks at home.

Hilmi’s Lemonade

Three sisters, Rana, Farah and Nour Hilmi, run this lemonade shop in Batroun. They are the fourth generation of a family whose lemonade making goes back to 1888, and the recipe relies on freshly squeezed local lemons. Besides the classic, they make mint and strawberry versions and sell bottles to take home.

Agrifresh

Better known for ready-to-eat vegetables, Agrifresh also sells cold-pressed juices under the Gracyju name. The company grows most of what it sells on more than 100 hectares across Lebanon and holds GLOBAL G.A.P and FSSC 22000 certification. Its products are sold through its own online store. Visit Agrifresh

Les Vergers des Cedres

Up in Bcharre, in the Cedars region, this producer turns organic apples into juice, cider and vinegar. It uses natural fermentation and ancestral methods, which makes it a good pick if you want something from the high orchards of the north.

Tips

Read the label for the spring name and altitude. Lebanese mineral waters usually state where they come from, and sources differ in mineral content.
If you drink a lot of water at home or in an office, ask about gallons. Several brands here sell large refillable formats.
Prefer glass? Look for brands that offer glass gallons or glass bottles.
Store bottled water away from direct sun and heat, especially in summer.
Fruit syrups such as jallab or tamarind are concentrated, so dilute them to taste with cold water and ice.
When visiting Batroun or Chtaura, it is worth buying drinks close to where they are made.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Lebanese brand makes sparkling mineral water?

Rim launched Rim Sparkling Water in 2016, presented as the first Lebanese sparkling mineral water. Talaya also sells a 330 ml sparkling water.

Is Sohat still Lebanese if Nestlé owns it?

Nestlé has fully owned Sohat since 2001, but the water is still drawn from the same spring at Falougha in Mount Lebanon and bottled there.

What is jallab?

Jallab is a traditional Levantine drink made from a sweet syrup diluted with water and served cold. Kassatly Chtaura’s very first product was a bottled jallab.