For those of us who love carbonated drinks, using a SodaStream to make sparkling water at home is a great way to save money and reduce the amount of recycling we have to do. Once the carbonation machine entered the picture, we never looked back. But what about reducing your sugar intake without sacrificing flavor? This article ranks SodaStream's line of flavor enhancers to help you decide where to get started with the brand's roster of fruit, lemonade, and cola varieties.
While popular alternative flavor enhancers range from brands such as organic H2WOW and Stur Drinks to energy drinks and Crush soda-flavored drops, we stayed loyal to the flavors available at the official store, which does require a minimum purchase to avoid shipping charges. You can also find SodaStream flavors at retailers like Amazon, Target, or Walmart. However, most flavors are typically sold only in packs at the online giant and with limited in-store selections. While Walmart offers a wide selection in-person and online, watch out for outdated labels and discontinued flavors.
Ranking SodaStream Flavors: From Worst to Best
Here's a detailed ranking of SodaStream diet flavors, based on taste, ingredients, and overall enjoyment:
15. Limebubly Drops
bubly Drops is an official partner and brand made by PepsiCo. The benefit of bubly is you won't find any added sweeteners, just flavor. Of course, what "natural flavors" means as the only ingredient on the bottle is anyone's guess. The problem with Limebubly Drops is that the taste isn't very memorable. Even after we included another ¼ teaspoon in the mix, the lime failed to add much flavor to the plain carbonated water. We decided that the extra essence had improved the hint of lime, but an artificial undercurrent still made it taste more like a drink left out too long in the sun than an enhancement. As part of the original flavors, lime disappointed with its total miss on the real deal. Most of our taste testers agreed the added drops didn't increase their enjoyment of the drink due to overall bitterness. If you can't reach for a lime wedge, Limebubly might be a solution.
14. Grapefruitbubly Drops
Another one of the original SodaStream flavors, Grapefruitbubly imparts an unexpected bitterness that overpowers the first sip, similar to the Limebubly. Following the recommended ratio, the fruit element was mild and gave the effect of biting into a grapefruit rind rather than the expected tang. After a few sips of the Grapfruitbubly Drops, there's a mild citrus flavor, but the balance of sweet and citric acid filters through a metallic lens. The oddest part is that the bubly drops come packaged in mini glass bottles, similar to alcohol served on an airplane. The best part of this essence? We found that it really, truly smells like grapefruit when poured into a glass with sparkling water. Overall, we found that other SodaStream grapefruit flavors played better to the fruit's strengths - like a pucker combined with a sweet punch of citrus - and that puts this natural essence toward the bottom of our list. Would we recommend you buy this one? Not really.
Read also: The Truth About Diet Soda and Autism
13. Strawberrybubly Drops
We're typically big fans of strawberry-flavored foods. So, in the case of the Stawberrybubly Drops, it wasn't a matter of flavor but a lack thereof. Even for devotees of the often mild La Croix, this natural essence offered more of a remnant of flavor when mixing the recommended serving. We added another ¼ teaspoon to the sparkling water, as we had with other bubly varieties that failed to impress. In terms of the essence, the strawberry is bright and lacks any off-putting artificial elements like other lower-ranked flavors. That said, we're most reminded of a pink, strawberry Starburst thanks to the burst of berry flavor followed by a hint of sweetness. Not exactly a strawberry flavor straight from the earth. Still, this one lets the sparking water be water.
12. Strawberry Watermelon Zero Calorie
The idea of melding fruit flavors like strawberry and watermelon seems like a dream combination. We bought this zero-calorie drink mix as part of a multi-pack and applaud the lack of high-fructose corn syrup or aspartame (sorry, but the potentially cancer-causing artificial sweetener tastes like regret). While the mission for zero calories is noble for people with health concerns, we found the aftertaste of substitutes sucralose and stevia to taste artificial. The WHO is reinforcing its warnings about sugar substitutes because they can alter our perception of sweet foods like fruit. So, best to avoid high doses. At first, this flavored carbonated beverage features a bit of strawberry, but the watermelon is lacking. One of our testers looked forward to the watermelon flavor but found this the most disappointing result. Overall, the strawberry flavor, by way of the candy aisle, reminded us of a Fla-Vor-Ice popsicle, which might be a good thing. Or, perhaps, more like carbonated Kool-Aid? Depending on the person, this might be just what you want. We were looking for more of a balance between the berry and melon.
11. Mangobubly Drops
Even though the Mangobubly is an original flavor, not everyone appreciates this SodaStream fruit essence. However, we found it quite drinkable - just not what we expected. First of all, the juicy aroma of mango filled the air as soon as we twisted off the tiny cap. The first sip is heavily sweet and fruit-forward. The odd part about this essence is that we couldn't have told you that the fruit was supposed to be mango. Someone suggested that the flavor was cantaloupe. For those who love mango, this fruit essence might be somewhat disappointing. One of our testers who adores the tropical fruit found that they preferred the real deal. The mango aroma was more authentic than the taste, which added to the overall experience, if not the flavor. Still, this fruity essence is a solid option for a mild, carbonated flavored drink. Perhaps, the brand captured the mango with more authenticity than the canned varieties.
10. Lemon Lime
We know we're in for a good time when sugar is the first ingredient listed. Although, the first thing we noticed about the SodaStream Lemon Lime drink mix was the refreshing citrus lime smell wafting from the bottle. At first sip, the syrup has a sweet, citrus taste. However, this budget soda is less refreshing than a 7UP. For sugar content, Lemon Lime Soda contains 15 grams of sugar in a 12-ounce serving. A can of 7UP will set you back 38 grams of high-fructose corn syrup. It also turns out our memories were less than reliable. We found that Lemon Lime develops more citrus flavor after taking several sips. The lemon also stays on the palate, which might be why our affinity for the drink mix increased with subsequent tastes. The opposite occurred with some other flavors on this ranking. Our taste testers agreed that the crisp, light flavor doesn't have a muddled taste like some of the bubly essences.
9. Root Beer
Every ranking needs a middle option that neither disappoints nor tries to stick out of the crowd. For us, the SodaStream Root Beer drink mix is the definition of a mid-range sparkling water flavor. It's actually quite drinkable - in an off-brand soda kind of way. The best part is that we didn't notice any artificial notes, even with the addition of sucralose. Perhaps because this sparkling water flavor is made with real sugar. We appreciate that you can adjust the syrup based on the levels marked on the cap. We stayed with the recommended mid-point. The brand promotes reduced sugar - a full 50 percent less than other sodas. We have to agree it's a perk. A&W root beer contains around 16 teaspoons (via Michigan State University). We liked the burst of flavor upfront, especially in contrast to the fruit essences. Of course, you won't find any ginger spice or complex wintergreen in this flavor profile compared to A&W.
Read also: The Truth About Baking Soda and Coffee for Weight Loss
8. Cranberry Raspberry Zero Calorie
We bought a multipack of zero-calorie drink mixes from Amazon to see for ourselves what all the fuss is about for these top-rated flavors. Despite the many positive reviews online, we still felt hesitant about dabbling in the sometimes murky waters of sweetener alternatives. Well, we stand corrected. SodaStream's Cranberry Raspberry Zero Calorie drink mix is a burst of flavor without the lingering feeling of something being very off with our soda. The cranberry is strong up front, offering a pleasant acidity that puckered the mouth and tongue. The raspberry finish evens out the tannic nature of the cranberry. The citric element is strong but not overwhelming due to the blend. The balanced flavor resulted in a bump in this ranking; it proved to be one of our testers' favorites for this very reason. Of course, you'll need to like the cranberry flavor for this one to work. One of our taste testers admitted that while they didn't like cranberry with anything, the overall flavor wasn't half bad.
7. Homestyle Lemonade Zero Calorie
After tasting many different drink mixes, we couldn't help but be pleased with Sodastream's take on Homestyle Lemonade Zero Calorie. This syrup provided a simple take on a citrus favorite. We enjoyed the combination of carbonation with lemonade. We didn't rank it higher on this list because the clawing sweetness left a hint of aftertaste that lingered on the tongue, but not in a good way. This feeling could only mean one thing: sugar substitute. Sodastream's lemonade is made with sucralose and stevia to remain in the designated "zero calories" category. We will admit that most people likely won't notice the sugar substitute unless drinking this upgraded lemonade alongside other drinks (like in a taste testing, perhaps?). We recommend this flavor, but don't get us wrong. This lemonade won't be tart like the fresh-squeezed style sold at a summer fair, the kind melded with chunks of citrus fruit and swirling with visible granules of white sugar. If only! For its lack of real bite, one of our taste testers couldn't help but be disappointed. The rest of us agreed that we couldn't hold it against this homestyle drink for trying to live up to impossibly high standards.
6. Cola
For us, cola falls into the occasional treat category, and SodaStream's Cola drink mix didn't disappoint. We are fans of stopping at a bodega to grab a cold Mexican Coke in a glass bottle on a hot day. Are you wondering how a Mexican Coke tastes different from an American Coke? SodaStream gains extra points for using real sugar instead of over-processed corn syrup. Keep in mind that the brand does use sucralose in this drink mix, but we are pleased to report the utter lack of any funky aftertaste. Adjusting the syrup level to appeal to multiple palates is a huge bonus. We also found this avoids a sugar-loaded mouthfeel. SodaStream cola contains 15 grams of sugar in a 12-ounce serving, according to the bottle, while Coke has 39 grams (via The Coca-Cola Company). Pepsi features a sizable 41 grams (via PepsiCo). By comparison, we found that the lowered sugar content landed the SodaStream Cola in between diet and regular - all with a citric bite we would expect and without any artificial aftertaste.
5. Blackberrybubly Drops
SodaStream understands how to create a satisfying berry flavor. This Blackberrybubly natural essence is bright, rich, and has a touch of citrus that captures the tang of biting into a ripe berry. This flavor is also neck and neck with the other top contenders on the list for highly drinkable flavors we'd reach for again. With the recommended ratio of ¾ teaspoon per 1 liter of sparkling water, this berry flavor still shines through without overpowering the carbonated water. We recommend adding more flavor than recommended but not because it's too mild. We didn't rank this flavor higher because the blackberry starts to take on an artificial bitterness after sitting in the glass mixture. Maybe it's the citric acid oxidizing in the open air? We can't say for sure due to all of the bubly flavor essences listing natural flavors as the only ingredient on the packaging.
4. Lemonbubly Drops
After the Limebubly fiasco, trying another citrus essence seemed like inviting disappointment. Lemon was also the only Sodastream flavor we could find on the shelf in a nearby retailer - Ace Hardware of all places. Who doesn't love a fresh squeeze of lemon with a cold glass of sparkling or still water? Sets up this natural flavoring to fill big shoes. Unlike the Homestyle Lemonade, we found Lemonbubly to embrace the tartness and not try to overpower the seltzer with artificial sweeteners. No, it's not as refreshing as squeezing a fresh-cut wedge, but it's surprisingly close. We did taste a little extra something that rounded out the taste, a touch of sweetness, or was it vanilla? Maybe it's just us (we've been trying too many of these). Overall, it's bright and has the tang we wanted, even if it's not an official replacement. The mini bottle would make a great addition to a travel bag for even still water that could use a little boost. Again, SodaStream nailed the aroma with citrus that couldn't be mistaken for any other fruit.
Read also: Is Diet Mountain Dew Healthy?
3. Dr. Pete
Dr. We love a complex soda. The truth behind the blend of secret flavors in a Dr. Pepper is that the combination is a well-kept trade secret. The brand-name drink is said to be a total of 23 flavors like vanilla, hints of cherry, perhaps some clove, pepper, amaretto, and black licorice (via Dr. Pepper Museum). SodaStream's off-brand Dr. The SodaStream Dr. Pete is a concentrated syrup loaded with flavors and not bogged down with teeth-grinding sugar. This concoction goes heavy on the notes of vanilla and cherry, which is delicious enough to have us reaching for seconds but lacks the punch of the real deal. Still, we appreciated the subtle zing through the finish, where other SodaStream sodas like the root beer felt lacking. Half of our taste testers preferred Dr. Pete's to the root beer for holding up its expectation to be spicy, fruity, and a hint of something like pepper that has this sparking nonalcoholic drink clawing its way toward complexity. Would we recommend this as one of the best flavors?
2. Cherrybubly Drops
We didn't have high hopes for the Cherrybubly flavor after most of the OG natural essences failed to impress our taste buds. Fortunately, the burst of what we've come to expect from cherry-flavored treats (that don't often taste like the real thing) is exactly what we wanted. Cherrybubly outshines other SodaStream flavors by leaning on the taste of the fruit without abandoning nostalgic traditional artificial flavors that make our summer snow cone the best way to beat the heat. Plus, we found the flavor doesn't turn bitter the longer it sits or lose its appeal halfway through the glass (we're looking at you, blackberry). Since we decided to be thorough for this flavor's taste test (and highly subjective), we also bit into a chocolate-covered cherry to compare the effect. The chocolate-covered fruit tasted quite similar to the bottled flavor. So, anyone looking for a tart cherry experience should look elsewhere. SodaStream has delivered a bright flavor for your sparkling water, similar to a maraschino cherry.
1. Diet Soda Flavors
Enjoy diet sparkling water flavours without the calories with SodaStream diet syrups. Our diet drink mixes were formulated to deliver the same great taste you expect from your favourite sodas with no calories. From Diet Pepsi to Classic diet flavours, each diet soda syrup is perfected to craft refreshing drinks you can enjoy guilt-free. Looking for the best diet soda flavour syrups? Whether you're counting calories or prefer no-sugar options, our Soda Stream diet flavour collection has something for everyone. Mix up your refreshment routine with our extensive range of diet drink mixes.
Navigating the World of SodaStream Diet Flavors
Choosing the right SodaStream diet flavor can significantly enhance your sparkling water experience. Here's a quick guide to help you navigate the options:
- Consider your taste preferences: Do you prefer fruity, citrusy, or classic soda flavors?
- Read reviews: See what other users have to say about the taste and quality of different flavors.
- Pay attention to ingredients: If you're concerned about artificial sweeteners, look for flavors that use natural alternatives or real sugar in moderation.
- Experiment with different ratios: Adjust the amount of syrup to find the perfect balance of flavor for your taste.