How Is Cactus Water Made?
When every refreshing, nutrient-packed sip of cactus water feels like pure desert magic, it’s only natural to wonder: “How exactly does cactus water get from the desert to a can?” We could tell you it really is magic, but the truth is, we’re proud of our Caliwater process–natural and sustainable from start to finish. From the sun-soaked farms of the Sonoran Desert to the moment you pop open a can, we’re committed to keeping the prickly pear fruit in its most natural state, with all its incredible nutrients intact. It’s as if we found a way to bottle up everyone’s favorite desert superfruit–because we have! Read on to discover how the magic happens. ✨
A quick look at our process
- Our star ingredient, the prickly pear cactus, is eco-friendly, thriving with minimal water and growing fast without any chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
- We use prickly pear powder, not concentrate or puree. This choice preserves nutrients while reducing waste and saving energy.
- Each can of Caliwater Cactus Water is packed with organic, vegan ingredients, including real fruit juices and natural sweeteners.
- Our sleek aluminum cans are fully recyclable to make sure you can enjoy Caliwater while being kind to the planet.
- With clean ingredients and a sustainable process, we offer all-natural, refreshing hydration that not only tastes good but does good for the earth.
Harvesting prickly pear cactus fruit
As with any plant-based beverage, the process of making cactus water begins with harvesting the fruit. But prickly pear cacti are uniquely known to be one of the most eco-friendly crops, boasting efficient growth and minimal waste.
Sustainable harvesting
The prickly pear, or nopal, cactus is low-maintenance and easy to grow. Once planted, it takes just three to five years to produce nopal fruit, much faster than the six to ten years it takes coconut trees to reach productivity.
Discover more reasons why cactus is the better alternative to coconut water →
Plus, prickly pear cacti require 80 percent less water than traditional crops and are naturally resistant to many pests and diseases. This allows Caliwater to source non-GMO prickly pear fruit grown without any heavy fertilizers or chemical pesticides.
Not only is prickly pear fruit harvested without harming the cactus, but other parts of the plant can be used as well. The leaves, or nopales, are edible and can also be made into cactus juice. Prickly pear seed oil, extracted from the seeds of the fruit, is prized in the skincare world for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and ability to reduce acne, heal broken skin, improve elasticity, and provide deep hydration. Even peels from the prickly pear fruit find a second life as animal feed, bioplastic materials, or natural colorants.
Ethical sourcing
Despite its rare health benefits, prickly pear fruit isn’t hard to find. In fact, the cactus thrives in a variety of environments, tolerating many different elevations, soil types, and rainfall levels. With such resiliency, the prickly pear cactus can grow across North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
At Caliwater, we partner with farms in the Sonoran Desert in Mexico, close to our home in California, to ensure a sustainable supply chain. Our farmers harvest the crops and send them on a short trip to our production facilities, reducing both our carbon footprint and food waste. Although prickly pear fruit is naturally stable after harvest, processing it quickly ensures maximum freshness and minimizes waste.
Prickly pear processing methods
Each brand in the packaged cactus water market has its own approach to processing nopal fruit, and the method used can make a big difference in the final product. While some turn the fruit into a concentrate or a puree, Caliwater uses a powder to preserve nutrients and reduce food waste. Let’s take a closer look at these different processing methods and why Caliwater’s approach stands out.
Prickly pear concentrate
Some brands process prickly pear fruit into a concentrate by removing the water. The concentrate is less prone to spoilage and more efficient to ship with less volume. However, the process of removing water and pulp also strips away valuable nutrients like fiber and vitamin C, turning the concentrate into more of a sweetener than a nutrient-rich ingredient. As a result, cactus water made from concentrate loses much of the natural goodness that makes prickly pear fruit so beneficial.
Prickly pear puree
Processing prickly pear fruit into a puree helps preserve its nutritional value since it doesn’t require intense heat. However, puree spoils quickly, leading to a high percentage of fruit loss during production. It also tends to stick to the equipment used to mix cactus water, causing additional waste and requiring extra water for cleaning. So while prickly pear puree is a natural option, it’s an inefficient method that results in more waste.
Prickly pear powder
We choose to process prickly pear fruit into a powder, preserving its electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals. The powder easily mixes with the other ingredients without sticking to equipment, resulting in very little waste. This method not only retains the fruit’s natural nutrients but also reduces water usage and energy consumption during production.
By using this eco-friendly process, Caliwater ensures every can of cactus water is as sustainable as it is refreshing–delivering the full benefits of the prickly pear cactus fruit while being kind to the earth it comes from.
Caliwater ingredients
Caliwater is made with real ingredients that come from the earth, each one organic, vegan, and non-GMO. At the heart of every flavor, you’ll find these same core ingredients, with slight variations that bring each flavor to life.
- Water: Crisp, filtered water
- Blue agave: Straight from the desert for a touch of natural sweetness
- Fruit juices: Real fruit juices for real fruit flavor
- Natural flavors: Naturally derived from fruit to elevate both aroma and authentic taste
- Prickly pear powder: The electrolyte- and antioxidant-packed star of the show
- Monk fruit extract: Another natural sweetener for balanced taste without added calories
Caliwater’s ingredient list is as simple as it is purposeful, designed to provide super hydration and great taste without any unnecessary additives. Every refreshing sip delivers the natural benefits of the prickly pear cactus, while staying true to our commitment to sustainability.
Whether you’re reaching for Caliwater post-workout, for daily hydration, or as a low-sugar alternative to juices boxes for your kids, you can feel good knowing that every can is filled with clean, real ingredients from the earth.
Shop Caliwater mixed 12-pack →
Eco-friendly packaging
When Caliwater Cactus Water is mixed and ready to be packaged, we put it in our sleek signature cans. We choose to use fully recyclable cans to minimize our impact on the environment while ensuring that our delicious cactus water stays fresh and flavorful. Unlike plastic containers and cartons, our aluminum cans can be completely recycled again and again.
Once you’ve enjoyed every last refreshing drop, we encourage you to do your part by recycling your Caliwater cans. Together, we can help our planet thrive, one sip at a time.
Our commitment to sustainability
At Caliwater, sustainability is woven into every step of our process. We partner with farmers in the Sonoran Desert who grow prickly pear cacti using little water and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. By working with these sustainable farms, we ensure that our cactus water starts with the best nature has to offer.
From there, we carefully process the fruit into powder, locking in all the nutrients while reducing food waste. And when it comes to packaging, we opt for fully recyclable aluminum cans, ensuring every part of our process, from farm to your hand, is as environmentally friendly as possible.
Every aspect of the Caliwater process–from sourcing local prickly pear to packaging our cactus water in recyclable cans–reflects our dedication to reducing our environmental footprint. Using an eco-conscious production process and sustainable, plant-based ingredients, Caliwater delivers a vegan electrolyte drink that’s as kind to the earth as it is refreshing.
With every sip of Caliwater, you’re not just enjoying a delicious, hydrating beverage—you’re supporting sustainable practices and a cleaner planet. Whether you're escaping to paradise with Caliwater Peach Mango, recharging with the original (but never boring) Caliwater Prickly Pear, or giving your kids a healthy, low-sugar way to hydrate with our convenient pouches, Caliwater is a choice you can feel good about. Ready to refresh with the power of prickly pear and support a greener future? Shop our collection today to find your perfect flavor.
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