Farris (mineral water)
Encyclopedia
Farris is a brand of mineral water produced in Larvik
. It is Norway
's oldest and by a distance best-selling bottled water
. It has been mentioned in the literature as having positive health effect.
s in Vestfold
when Mineral cures became popular in Norway in the second half of the 19th century. In 1875 Dr. J.C.Holm, a doctor and health resort pioneer, discovered a spring rich with minerals close to the river Farriselva. This led to the establishing of Larvik Bad (originally Laurvig Bad) in 1880, a spa resort where one of the treatments offered was drinking mineralized water. Larvik Bad became very popular and had a capacity of 300 guests: Among the guests were Norwegian author and Nobel laureate
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
.
In cooperation with Larvik Bad the local brewery Vestfold bryggeri started bottling mineral water under the brandname of "Salus". Bottling commenced on August 16, 1907, making it the oldest brand of mineral water in Norway. In 1912 a new factory was initiated, by the architects Christian Morgenstierne and Arne Eide. It was expanded in 1915, the same year that the production was moved to the new site. The building was expanded again in 1980, and is still the bottling facility for Farris. In 1915 also the brand name was altered to "Farris". According to Thomson Financial
, "Farris has come to symbolise ‘Norwegian sparkling mineral water’, appears to have a virtual stranglehold on this sector with other local brands simply too small to warrant any strongly promotional activities to try to break this stranglehold." It holds a market percentage of 71% in Norway.
Although a common misconception has it that the water comes from lake Farris
, the spring and Farris bottling company are located at the bottom of Bøkeskogen. Bøkeskogen is a forested hilltop which (along with the city of Larvik to the south of the hill) separates between Farris
and the Skagerrak
. Farris mineral water originates from rainwater falling on this hill. The water slowly filters through deposited glacial moraine
material and reaches the spring some 15–20 years later, strongly mineralized. In 1988 a new spring, 21 meters deep, was discovered, and this new spring is the present source of the mineral water.
Since the first spring was discovered in 1875, it has been indicated to treat gout
, among others. J.C.Holm recommended it as a cure for such various diseases as rheumatism
, kidney stone
and catarrh
. The poet Robert Herring
also claimed that Farris rids the body's arteries of uric acid
.
Farris have been connected to the Norwegian royal family in several ways. The original spring was, by permission from the royal court, named after king Haakon VII
as Kong Haakons kilde and a twin spring from the same source likewise named after queen Maud
. The new source discovered in 1988 is named Kong Olav Vs kilde after Olav V of Norway
. Farris was one of very few brands that held a Royal Warrant
while such still existed in Norway. There is still an agreement between Farris and the Royal Court that Farris should be freely delievered to the king wherever he may be. During the German
occupation of Norway in World War II
Farris was prohibited from using the name Kong Haakons kilde in marketing as these was seen as propaganda for the exiled king.
Ringnes
breweries own the rights to the Farris trademark. The products under the Farris brand are sparkling mineral water which also comes with various flavours. The annual production volume is ca 40 million liters.
The new blue glass bottle (0.33l) that was launched in 2001 won the Norwegian Design Council
s "Honours Award for Design Excellence".
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
. It is Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's oldest and by a distance best-selling bottled water
Bottled water
Bottled water is drinking water packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not...
. It has been mentioned in the literature as having positive health effect.
History
The product originated as a spin-off from the SpaSpa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
s in Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
when Mineral cures became popular in Norway in the second half of the 19th century. In 1875 Dr. J.C.Holm, a doctor and health resort pioneer, discovered a spring rich with minerals close to the river Farriselva. This led to the establishing of Larvik Bad (originally Laurvig Bad) in 1880, a spa resort where one of the treatments offered was drinking mineralized water. Larvik Bad became very popular and had a capacity of 300 guests: Among the guests were Norwegian author and Nobel laureate
Nobel Prize in Literature
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
.
In cooperation with Larvik Bad the local brewery Vestfold bryggeri started bottling mineral water under the brandname of "Salus". Bottling commenced on August 16, 1907, making it the oldest brand of mineral water in Norway. In 1912 a new factory was initiated, by the architects Christian Morgenstierne and Arne Eide. It was expanded in 1915, the same year that the production was moved to the new site. The building was expanded again in 1980, and is still the bottling facility for Farris. In 1915 also the brand name was altered to "Farris". According to Thomson Financial
Thomson Financial
Thomson Financial was an arm of The Thomson Corporation, which was one of the world's leading information companies, focused on providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers...
, "Farris has come to symbolise ‘Norwegian sparkling mineral water’, appears to have a virtual stranglehold on this sector with other local brands simply too small to warrant any strongly promotional activities to try to break this stranglehold." It holds a market percentage of 71% in Norway.
Although a common misconception has it that the water comes from lake Farris
Farris
Farris is a 20 km long fresh water moraine-dammed lake near the Norwegian coastal town Larvik. The lake would have been a salt water fjord had it not been dammed by an end moraine left by the latest ice age. Farris is drinking water reservoir for some 170,000 people. The largest island in the...
, the spring and Farris bottling company are located at the bottom of Bøkeskogen. Bøkeskogen is a forested hilltop which (along with the city of Larvik to the south of the hill) separates between Farris
Farris
Farris is a 20 km long fresh water moraine-dammed lake near the Norwegian coastal town Larvik. The lake would have been a salt water fjord had it not been dammed by an end moraine left by the latest ice age. Farris is drinking water reservoir for some 170,000 people. The largest island in the...
and the Skagerrak
Skagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
. Farris mineral water originates from rainwater falling on this hill. The water slowly filters through deposited glacial moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
material and reaches the spring some 15–20 years later, strongly mineralized. In 1988 a new spring, 21 meters deep, was discovered, and this new spring is the present source of the mineral water.
Since the first spring was discovered in 1875, it has been indicated to treat gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
, among others. J.C.Holm recommended it as a cure for such various diseases as rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
, kidney stone
Kidney stone
A kidney stone, also known as a renal calculus is a solid concretion or crystal aggregation formed in the kidneys from dietary minerals in the urine...
and catarrh
Catarrh
Catarrh is a disorder of inflammation of the mucous membranes in one of the airways or cavities of the body. It can result in a thick exudate of mucus and white blood cells caused by the swelling of the mucous membranes in the head in response to an infection...
. The poet Robert Herring
Robert Herring (poet)
Robert Herring was a Scottish writer and poet, remembered as an early film critic and editor of the significant literary magazine, Life and Letters Today....
also claimed that Farris rids the body's arteries of uric acid
Uric acid
Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with the formula C5H4N4O3. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates such as ammonium acid urate. Uric acid is created when the body breaks down purine nucleotides. High blood concentrations of uric acid...
.
Farris have been connected to the Norwegian royal family in several ways. The original spring was, by permission from the royal court, named after king Haakon VII
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
as Kong Haakons kilde and a twin spring from the same source likewise named after queen Maud
Maud of Wales
Princess Maud of Wales was Queen of Norway as spouse of King Haakon VII. She was a member of the British Royal Family as the youngest daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark and granddaughter of Queen Victoria and also of Christian IX of Denmark. She was the younger sister of George V...
. The new source discovered in 1988 is named Kong Olav Vs kilde after Olav V of Norway
Olav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
. Farris was one of very few brands that held a Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
while such still existed in Norway. There is still an agreement between Farris and the Royal Court that Farris should be freely delievered to the king wherever he may be. During the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation of Norway in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Farris was prohibited from using the name Kong Haakons kilde in marketing as these was seen as propaganda for the exiled king.
Ringnes
Ringnes
Ringnes is the largest brewer in Norway.-History:Ringnes AS was founded in 1876. The company's brewery in the Grünerløkka district of Oslo produced its first beer in 1877. The brewery was founded by brothers Amund and Ellef Ringnes together with financial director Axel Heiberg...
breweries own the rights to the Farris trademark. The products under the Farris brand are sparkling mineral water which also comes with various flavours. The annual production volume is ca 40 million liters.
The new blue glass bottle (0.33l) that was launched in 2001 won the Norwegian Design Council
Norwegian Design Council
Norwegian Design Council is a Norwegian state-controlled foundation that encourages good design of Norwegian products as a key to improve innovation and the products international reputation and sales. Among the activities of the foundation is the award Merket for God Design and the Design Day...
s "Honours Award for Design Excellence".