Kangen Water vs. Alkaline Water, What's Actually Different

Both types of water have elevated pH. That's about where the similarity ends. Mineral-enhanced alkaline water and Kangen electrolyzed reduced water are produced by different processes and have different measurable properties. Here's what actually sets them apart.

What They Have in Common

Both mineral-enhanced alkaline water and Kangen water have a pH above 7.0, typically in the 8.5–9.5 range for drinking. Both start from filtered water. Both are produced at Crystal Alkaline Water from water that has gone through our 9-stage AMPAC reverse osmosis and filtration system.

That's the overlap. Everything after that is different.

How Mineral-Enhanced Alkaline Water Is Made

After reverse osmosis filtration, the water is passed through a mineral stage. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium — the same minerals found naturally in spring water — are dissolved into the purified water at controlled concentrations. These minerals are alkaline compounds. Adding them raises the pH.

The result is water with elevated pH, measurable mineral content, and higher total dissolved solids (TDS) than pure RO water. The pH is stable over time. No electricity is involved — it's chemistry, not physics.

At Crystal Alkaline Water, this is the 8.5 pH and 9.5 pH alkaline water available for in-store refills. The 8.5 is $1.47/gallon and is the most popular everyday option. The 9.5 is $1.89/gallon.

How Kangen (Electrolyzed Reduced) Water Is Made

Kangen water is produced by a process called electrolysis, specifically by an Enagic medical-grade ionizer. Filtered water passes through a chamber containing platinum-coated titanium electrode plates. An electric current is applied.

The current splits the water into two output streams: an alkaline output and an acidic output. The alkaline output — the drinking water — has:

• Elevated pH, typically 9.5 for the drinking-water setting
• Negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), a measure of the water's electron-donating capacity, expressed in millivolts (mV)
• Dissolved molecular hydrogen (H₂), the molecule produced during electrolysis at the cathode

The H₂ concentration is highest immediately after production. Dissolved hydrogen gas escapes from the water over time, which is why Kangen water produced fresh daily is different from water that's been bottled and sitting on a shelf.

The Key Differences, Side by Side

Which Is Right for You?

Most customers who are switching from tap water or bottled water start with mineral alkaline water — it's the lower-cost option and straightforward to understand. It tastes clean, has no aftertaste, and the 8.5 pH at $1.47/gallon is our most-bought water by volume.

Customers who specifically want the molecular hydrogen properties of ionized water choose Kangen. These are typically people who have done research on electrolyzed reduced water and want the H₂ content and negative ORP, not just elevated pH. Because freshness matters for H₂ concentration, buying from a store that produces Kangen water daily (not from a bottle) is the practical way to access it.

If you're not sure which to start with, come in and ask. We'll pour samples of both. The taste is noticeably different and staff can walk you through the technical differences without a sales pitch.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.