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Discovery and Heritage
The story of Svalyava's mineral springs dates back to 1463, with Dr. A. Dolhai's report to King Matthias. The first written accounts of Svalyava's mineral water date back to the 15th century, with records of its exportation during the reign of the last Rakoczi (1676-1735). During this time, it was transported alongside wines and kvass waters in barrels to Moscow, fetching prices comparable to the esteemed Eger (Karlsbad) and Marienbad waters.
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18th Century
In 1709, this source was visited by Rakoczy Ferenc II, the head of the Mukachevo Duchy. The subsequent history of Svalyava mineral water is closely related to the period of existence of the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv Dominion, which was part of the Berezka County, which in 1728 came under the possession of the Shenborn dynasty in Transcarpathia.
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Export Beginnings
In 1800, records show Semen Redlich, a Lviv restaurant owner, importing Svalyava mineral water to serve as a premium beverage in his establishment. By 1826, public baths were popular at the springs, but by 1834, they were leased solely for barrel exports, alongside the Ploske spring. From the mid-19th century, water was bottled under the name "Szolyvai" from a spring on the right bank of the Latorica River, near a factory equipped for mineral water bottling. Renowned as the "queen of diuretic and solvent uric salts medicinal waters," Svalyava was exported to Vienna and Paris.
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International Recognition
In 1842, Budapest hailed it as one of the finest-tasting waters, followed by a gold medal at the 1855 European Waters Exhibition in Paris. High praise continued in Vienna in 1884. Records show substantial sales, with 50 crates sold in 1855 and later escalating to 55,000 crates, equivalent to 1 million bottles. These were dispatched from the Svalyava-Nelipyno railway station, with empty crates returned for refilling.
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20th Century Resurgence
The resurgence of Svalyava mineral water bottling began in 1946, sourced from wells drilled at the Svalyava deposit by the Svalyava Mineral Water Factory. Integrated into the Luzhansky Mineral Water Factory management in 1950, Svalyava mineral water has been available within Ukraine ever since.