Sparkling or tap? What kind of puny choice is that? Yesterday at the Fancy Food Show, a massive food product trade show from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the future of water was on display–and it turns out to be a mighty diverse future. We sampled some of the more unusual varieties on hand:

Black Water

Normally, black-colored water is a sign you should not drink it, but this one claims to have some health benefits. Blk. water is infused with fulvic trace minerals, which “transport nutrients directly into your cells” and turn the water dark without dyes or coloring. Perhaps even more bizarre: The product is represented by Albie and Christopher Manzo, sons of one of the stars of Real Housewives of New Jersey. At last year’s Fancy Food Show, crews from the Bravo show filmed several of the housewives checking out the product on the exhibit floor.

Caffeinated Water

Ohio-based company Avitae offers two caffeinated bottled waters with varying amounts of caffeine. One has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, and the other has about the same amount as a diet soda. Y&H tasted them and was surprised how much it tastes just like, well, water.

Flavored water

There are quite a few of these at the Fancy Food Show. LA-based Victoria’s Kitchen sells almond water. HINT Water from San Francisco has flavors like honeydew hibiscus, cucumber, and pear. And Herbal Water comes in lemongrass mint vanilla, cloves cardamom cinnamon, lavender mint, and more.

Boxed Water

Aiming to curb the environmental impact of bottled water, a company called Icebox trumpeted Norwegian spring water in milk carton-like boxes. The boxes are made from pressed paper and are biodegradable. Icebox claims to have 76% less carbon food print than a plastic bottle.

Photo by Jessica Sidman