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Sanzo Sparkling Water Is a Win for the Asian-American Community
And it’s now available in a wider distribution
A few months ago, while scrolling through Instagram, my thumb came to a hard stop when I spotted calamansi-flavored sparkling water.
I was intrigued to find a drink showcasing a hard-to-find Southeast Asian citrus fruit that’s a cross between a kumquat and a mandarin orange. I was further delighted to learn that Filipino American entrepreneur Sandro Roco was behind it.
Sanzo, the first sparkling water line helmed by an Asian American, includes bubbly drinks in flavors like lychee, calamansi, and Alphonso mango — fruits you’d enjoy in countries like the Philippines, Singapore, or Thailand yet don’t see among brands like Izze, Bubly, or La Croix. When Sanzo first rolled out, its seltzer was only available to those living in New York City; but as of last December, the distribution expanded to select retail partners in Los Angeles and Chicago. Sanzo can also be shipped to any address in the United States, which means those living in more rural areas can also get their hands on the effervescent drink.
As a Singaporean American, I grew up eating calamansi. Today, I find it therapeutic to prepare my mom’s recipe for sambal belacan, a chile condiment that calls for its juice. In fact, when I struggled to find fresh calamansi in New York City, I bought a $60 tree online — which, praise be, is still alive! — so I could have access to the fruit when a lime or lemon just wouldn’t cut it. So when I had my first taste of Sanzo’s calamansi-flavored sparkling water, I was tickled by the mellow sweetness. Roco’s creation didn’t compromise flavor by dousing it with too-sweet syrups or artificial sugars. I also thought this effervescent drink would be a fine pairing with spicy mee goreng, a Singaporean fried noodle dish. I was hooked.
I went from scrolling through Instagram to meeting Roco at Foragers Market, a grocery store in Chelsea that sells Sanzo, to learn more about how his bubbly creation…
