Zaječická hořká ("Zaječice's Bitter Water"; ) is strongly mineralized natural bitter water from the village of Zaječice in the

Ústí nad Labem Region Ústí nad Labem Region or Ústecký Region () is an Regions of the Czech Republic, administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of the historical land of Bohemia, and named after the capital, Ústí nad Labem. I ...

of the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

Description

Zaječická hořká is known since the 16th century for its purgative and gentle

laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

effects. It rises from a wells located in the vicinity of Zaječice, Korozluky and Sedlec (part of Korozluky). It ranks among strongly mineralized mineral waters of the

Magnesium sulphate Magnesium sulfate or magnesium sulphate is a chemical compound, a salt with the formula , consisting of magnesium cations (20.19% by mass) and sulfate anions . It is a white crystalline solid, soluble in water but not in ethanol. Magnesium ...

type; it is cool,

hypertonic In chemical biology, tonicity is a measure of the effective osmotic pressure gradient; the water potential of two solutions separated by a partially-permeable cell membrane. Tonicity depends on the relative concentration of selective membran ...

, slightly

opalescent Opalescence or play of color is an optical phenomena, optical phenomenon associated with the mineraloid gemstone opal,opalescent. 2019. In Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. Retrieved January 7, 2019, from https:// ...

, yellowish, scent-free, with a strongly bitter flavour. During the history of the area, bitter waters from Zaječice, (Seidschitz), Sedlec (Sedlitz), Korozluky (Kollosoruk) and Bylany (Püllna) were exported to the whole world as the equivalent of

Epsom salt Epsomite, Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, is a hydrous magnesium sulfate mineral with formula . Physical properties Epsomite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system. The normal form is as massive encrustations, while acicula ...

products. Trademarks for different markets were: Zaječická hořká, Seidschitzcher bitter-wasser, Sedlitz bitterwasser, Sedlitz water, Püllna wasser, Pillnaer bitter wasser. The salt obtained by evaporation were made into "Biliner digestive pastiles". Thanks to the well known curative effects of Zaječická and Sedlická water, end of the 19th century spread " Sedlitz powder" name for a laxative powder, which, however, had nothing to do with "Biliner digestive pastiles". So-called " Sedlitz powder", produced in different laboratories, had different chemical composition and side effects.

History

Zaječická bitter water was from 17th century the

House of Lobkowicz The House of Lobkowicz (''Lobkovicové'' in modern Czech, sg. ''z Lobkovic''; ''Lobkowitz'' in German) is an important Bohemian noble family that dates back to the 14th century and is one of the oldest noble families of the region. Over the cen ...

at the Spa Bílinská Kyselka in the nearby town Bilina. Water from wells was thickened by evaporation and then filled into glass bottles. ZAJECICKA HORKA historical bottle label German

ZAJECICKA HORKA historical bottle label German

The first scientific description of the therapeutic effects of water comes from balneologists Josef von Löschner,

Franz Ambrosius Reuss Franz Ambrosius Reuss (3 October 1761 – 9 September 1830) was a Czech geologist, mineralogist and balneologist. He was the father of geologist August Emanuel von Reuss. Biography Reuss was born on 3 October 1761, Prague, Bohemia. He studied med ...

and

August Emanuel von Reuss August Emanuel Rudolph von Reuss (8 July 1811 – 26 November 1873) was an Austrian geologist and palaeontologist. Biography Reuss was born on 8 July 1811 in Bílina, Bohemia. He was the son of Franz Ambrosius Reuss (1761–1830) and the father ...

Gallery

ZAJECICKA HORKA historical poster Czech.jpg, Zaječická hořká historical poster in Czech SEDLITZ WASSER.png, Sedlitz bitter wasser clay pot logo Fürstlich Lobkowitz Saidschitzer Bitter Wasser clay pot logo.png, Fürstlich Lobkowitz Saidschitzer Bitter Wasser clay pot logo Saidschitzes Mattias Losisches Bitter Wasser clay pot logo.png, Saidschitzes Mattias Losisches Bitter Wasser clay pot logo Pillnaer bitter wasser A. Ulbrich clay pot logo.png, Pillnaer bitter wasser A. Ulbrich clay pot logo

References

Das Saidschützer Bitter-Wasser physikalisch, chemisch und medizinisch geschiedet. Franz Ambrosius ReussDie Wirkungen des Saidschitzer Bitterwassers, Josef Löschner

External links

History of Zaječická hořká
on Bílinská Kyselka's company website (in Czech) {{DEFAULTSORT:Zajecicka horka Mineral water Bottled water brands Czech drinks Czech brands