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…
