Some things in my life are pretty predictable: My dog will pretend I didn’t feed her dinner (thus conning me into a second dinner), I will be tuning into another season of Emily in Paris, and I’ll get a hangover from one too many (or really just one) alcoholic beverages.
The latter point has become more apparent as I’ve gotten older (and way more of a lightweight). But I solved all that on a trip to Mexico City three years ago. It almost sounds like a tall tale, but it’s true: I went on a multi-day mezcal tour and was hungover exactly zero times. Not even a pinch of a headache.
How did I manage this? Well, I became acquainted with the best cure-all ever: the suero. Composed of three ingredients (lime, sparkling mineral water, salt), the suero is a crisp, salty, tart magical elixir that’s more than the sum of its parts. But those parts make a difference — namely the mineral water you choose as the base, which for me has to be Gerolsteiner’s Sparkling Mineral Water.
What’s So Great About Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water?
First off, it’s ultra-crisp and plenty bubbly, but not too bubbly in an artificially carbonated, can’t-stop-burping level of potency sort of way. This is largely because the water is sourced through aquifers in a volcanic area of Germany (Eifel), naturally carbonated, and loaded with naturally occurring minerals (like calcium and magnesium).
What’s the Best Way to Enjoy Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water?
“Suero” is also the term used for an IV in Mexico, and it makes sense: Even if you’re not hungover, the suero is essentially an ultra-hydrating homemade sports drink that can help you stay hydrated..
Here’s what I use to mix up a round of (roughly 2) sueros:
I particularly like the nice, fat flakes from Cornish Sea Salt because they dissolve quickly and add their own mineral flavor and electrolytes to this tart yet briny drink. Just don’t use table salt, which typically has smaller crystals (making this drink too salty) and a sharper flavor compared to kosher salt and sea salt.
To make the sueros: Fill two glasses with ice and mineral water. Top each glass off with salt (or line along the rim with the wedge of a lime). Be mindful that the bubbles will likely rise a bit as you add the salt, but they’ll swiftly subside once you stir. Once the salt has dissolved, add the lime juice, stir it to combine, and enjoy.
Buy: Gerolsteiner Mineral Water, $2.99 for 25.3 ounces at Amazon
What’s your favorite drink when you want to hydrate? Tell us about it in the comments below.
