Best Sparkling Water
Sparkling water is hugely popular these days, so it should come as no surprise that a lot of brands are now offering a range of sparkling water options that can suit everyone’s unique tastes and preferences.
Some people like sparkling water as an alternative to plain water when they have a meal. Others find that it’s more enjoyable to consume sparkling water in between meals when they’re trying to increase their water intake to stay hydrated daily. And naturally flavored sparkling water that provides some sweetness or tanginess might also be your go-to strategy if your goal is to reduce your consumption of sugary beverages or those that contain unwanted ingredients like artificial colors or flavors.
Sure, you can now purchase products that will allow you to make sparkling water quickly and easily right at home, but if you aren’t ready to make that investment or you just want the convenience of bottled or canned water that you can enjoy at home and on the go whenever you want, choosing one or more of the most popular brands is the way to go.
As you can see, there are a host of reasons why sparkling water might be on your shopping list. And the good news is that there are a lot of options that you can choose from, without needing to sacrifice flavor. From regular sparkling water to sparkling mineral water and sparkling water that includes coconut water, the possibilities are seemingly endless these days.
Below, we take a look at some of the many sparkling water products that are currently available so you can learn more about them. Remember, everyone has different preferences when it comes to the beverages they enjoy most, so you might need to do some taste testing before you find the brands that you want to stick with all the time.
Best Organic Sparkling Water: Nixie Sparkling Water, Watermelon Mint
Do you typically try to stick with organic foods and beverages as much as possible? Then you will probably want to look for an organic flavored sparkling water too, right? Well, you’re in luck, as you do have some options to choose from, and one of them is Nixie.
Available in various flavors, such as watermelon mint, pomegranate green tea, peach black tea, and lime ginger, this sparkling water can satisfy your craving for something yummy while quenching your thirst. And this water is packaged in cans, so you can also recycle them when you are done—another positive step for the environment, in addition to buying organic!
The watermelon mint flavor only contains carbonated water and organic flavors. There aren’t any calories in this drink, and it also does not contain any sodium or sugar. As another example, if you opt for the lime ginger, the ingredients listed on the label are carbonated water, organic lime flavor, and organic ginger flavor. Looks good, right?
Pros:
- This sparkling water is USDA Organic, Non-GMO Verified, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free.
- You get a 24-pack of 12-ounce cans.
- The cans are BPA free and recyclable.
Cons:
- Unlike other sparkling waters that use fruit juice, this one uses fruit flavors.
Best Sparkling Coconut Water: Vita Coco Sparkling Water, Variety Pack
Do you want to enjoy the bubbly nature of sparkling water while also reaping the benefits of coconut water? Then look no further than sparkling coconut water. A great option is the one offered by Vita Coco. And this variety pack contains more than one flavor so you can find your favorites and switch between them to avoid growing bored with the same flavor all the time.
Vita Coco sparkling water flavors include lemon ginger, raspberry lime, pineapple passionfruit, and grapefruit. Ingredients include carbonated water and coconut water, along with natural flavors, juices from concentrate, and citric acid. Of course, ingredients will vary based on the flavor you choose.
The nice thing about getting some coconut water in your sparkling water is the fact that it gives your body electrolytes. You can enjoy refreshment, but you might also feel a little more energized too. Plus, you can use this water when preparing some yummy cocktails at home, or you can enjoy it on its own with your lunch or dinner when you want to have an alternative to soda that’s better for you.
Just keep in mind that this sparkling water does contain calories and sugar, but both amounts are low: 25 calories and 4 grams of sugar.
Pros:
- This sparkling water is vegan, soy free, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
- It contains natural ingredients, such as juices from concentrate.
- You get the best of both worlds with carbonated water and coconut water.
Cons:
- This sparkling water contains 25 calories. It also contains carbohydrates, sodium, and sugar.
- If you don’t like the flavor of coconut water, you might not be too happy with this sparkling water.
Best Sparkling Water without Sweeteners: Bubly Sparkling Water, Lime
Bubly is yet another sparkling water brand that is known for its variety of yummy flavors. This is their classic lime sparkling water, which is a great place to start when you are trying out new flavored sparkling water products. It does not contain any sodium or added sugars, but it does use natural flavor to make your beverage tastier.
With this pack, you get 18 cans, so this is an affordable option that makes it easy to keep a steady supply of sparkling water in your refrigerator. The refreshing taste is sure to please, and you don’t need to worry about the drink containing any calories.
Overall, this can be a great option to try, whether you are totally new to flavored sparkling water or you want to add something new to your mix of favorites.
Pros:
- This sparkling water is affordably priced.
- It does not contain any sweeteners or calories.
Cons:
- The ingredients only list “natural flavors,” so you don’t really know exactly what those flavors are made of.
Best Naturally Flavored Sparkling Water: Spindrift Sparkling Water, Variety Pack
Spindrift sparkling water has grown in popularity for a lot of great reasons. First off, there is a wide range of flavors that you can choose from. A variety pack is a good way to go when you want to try different flavors, but you can also find your favorite and purchase plenty of it.
Flavor options include lemon, blackberry, orange mango, grapefruit, lime, lemon, cranberry raspberry, and more. As you can see, if you always get a new flavor and switch between them, you will never get bored with this water.
What a lot of people love about Spindrift is that this brand only uses real squeezed fruit – in the case of this variety pack, it’s lemons and blackberries – from family farms. The end result is a tasty sparkling water that is lightly carbonated and just slightly pulpy. So, for example, when you look at the lemon flavor’s ingredients list, you’ll see that it only contains carbonated water and lemon juice.
Pros:
- This variety pack will give you 48 cans of Spindrift sparkling water in two flavors. And each can is 12 ounces, so you get a lot of water at a great price.
- This sparkling water does not contain any added sugar. It is also non-GMO, gluten-free, and kosher.
- This water is flavored with natural fruit juice, and it does not contain any sodium.
Cons:
- If you prefer drinking your sparkling water from a glass bottle, you might be disappointed to see that this one comes in a can.
Best Natural Sparkling Mineral Water: San Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral Water
Many people think of San Pellegrino when they think of natural sparkling mineral water, so we definitely have to include it in our list of the best sparkling waters out there. This particular option gives you 24 glass bottles, so it’s a great choice if you want to avoid plastic packaging.
Some of the features that we like about this sparkling water include: it is low in sodium, it doesn’t contain any calories or sugar, and the only ingredient in the bottle is carbonated mineral water.
Overall, this is a superb option if you want to stick with mineral water for its benefits and if you want to avoid any additional flavorings. You get to enjoy the simple, refreshing flavor of bubbly mineral water and nothing more.
Pros:
- This water is imported from Italy.
- It doesn’t contain any sugars or calories, and it is low in sodium.
- It doesn’t contain any flavors—perfect for those times when you just want to enjoy the taste of fresh, clean water.
Cons:
- It is a little pricey, so it might not be the right choice if you’re shopping on a tighter budget.
- The bottles might be too small if you prefer buying larger bottles of sparkling water.
Best Flavored Sparkling Mineral Water: Perrier L’Orange Flavored Carbonated Mineral Water
If you love mineral water but you also want to enjoy some extra flavor, check out this option from Perrier. You get a pack of 24 bottles, so there is plenty to enjoy, and you can choose from a variety of flavors, such as l’orange, lime, peach, pink grapefruit, pineapple, strawberry, and watermelon. This means you won’t ever have to get bored with the same flavor all the time.
What’s also nice about this sparkling water is it doesn’t contain any sweeteners or calories, so if you are tracking how much sugar you consume or you want to stick with zero calorie beverages, this can be a good choice. In fact, if you check the ingredients of the l’orange flavor, you will see that this beverage only contains carbonated mineral water and natural lemon and orange flavor.
Pros:
- This sparkling water gives you bubbles, fruit flavor, and naturally occurring minerals.
- This flavored mineral water doesn’t contain any sweeteners or calories.
- Variety packs are available if you want to get more than one flavor in one package.
Cons:
- If you aren’t a fan of plastic bottles for your sparkling water, you might want to go with this brand’s canned option instead.
Things to look out for:
Are there any details that are worth paying attention to when you are shopping for sparking water? Yes! Sure, sparkling water is basically just water that has been carbonated with some carbon dioxide so you can enjoy a lot of bubbles while you drink it, but here are some things we recommend looking out for:
It’s always a great idea to carefully read the label on a bottle or can of sparkling water so you can check the ingredients list. This will show you exactly what’s in it, especially if you want to avoid any specific ingredients, whether you’re allergic to them, you want to stick with only the most natural products, or there’s any other reason you want to be careful about what you consume.
Many people prefer to go with sparkling water that does not contain any added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Instead, you might want to stick with products that contain natural flavorings from ingredients like juices or extracts. Plus, by avoiding artificial ingredients, you might find that your water tastes better, without any overpowering flavors that could ruin it. And if you want to avoid other artificial ingredients, such as flavorings or colors, be aware that some sparkling waters might contain those as well, so keep an eye out for them too by reading the ingredients carefully.
Packaging is yet another thing to consider. Do you want your water to come in a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, or an aluminum can? There are various reasons why someone would prefer one of these above all of the other options out there, but it’s really up to you. If you are shopping for sparkling water that’s in plastic bottles, though, it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s BPA free plastic.
Finally, if you want to stick with mineral water, you can certainly do that when shopping for sparkling water because, as you can see above, there are sparkling mineral waters available too. Again, just be sure to read the label carefully so you know exactly what you’re buying.
Photo credit: Elena Veselova/Shutterstock