Sparkling water, sometimes called carbonated water or soda water, is a popular beverage choice for those looking for a refreshing drink without sugar or calories. As the name suggests, sparkling water gets its signature bubbly effervescence from injected carbon dioxide gas. The carbonation process enhances water’s crisp, clean taste and provides a satisfying fizziness. Sparkling water comes in a variety of flavors from lemon and lime to more exotic options like watermelon, peach, and coconut. While plain sparkling water contains no sweeteners or added ingredients, many flavored seltzers do include natural fruit essences, juices, and sometimes a touch of cane sugar or stevia to enhance the taste.
The popularity of sparkling water has steadily grown over the past decade thanks to its versatility as a drink option. It makes a refreshing standalone beverage in place of soda, mixes well with juices and liquors in cocktails, and can liven up the flavor of a mocktail or non-alcoholic drink. With the rise of at-home carbonation machines, more consumers are now making their own bubbly beverages customized to their tastes. Whether store-bought or homemade, sparkling water offers a fizzy, flavorful way to stay hydrated in a healthier style than traditional sodas.
Our Top Picks For 2025
Bubly Sparkling Water by PepsiCo
Bubly is a line of refreshing, crisp sparkling waters with natural fruit flavors. With 0 calories and 0 sweeteners, Bubly puts a smile on your face. Available in sampler and variety packs.
Bubly Sparkling Water by PepsiCo combines the refreshing taste of crisp sparkling water with great tasting natural fruit flavors to create a delicious, smile-inducing beverage. With a wide range of enticing flavors to choose from, Bubly makes hydrating fun.
Key Features and Benefits:
- 0 calories and 0 sweeteners – guilt-free refreshment
- Natural fruit flavors – tasty, subtle fruit tastes
- Crisp carbonation – lively, bubbly sensation
- Convenient packaging – single cans to variety packs
- Playful branding – puts a smile on your face
With its deliciously flavored crisp sparkling waters containing no calories or sweeteners, Bubly by PepsiCo makes staying refreshed a joyful experience. Available in an array of tantalizing fruit flavors, it adds a little more happiness to your day.
Spindrift Sparkling Water by Spindrift Beverage Co.
Spindrift makes refreshing sparkling waters with real squeezed fruit, containing just a few all-natural ingredients. With enticing flavors and only 2-15 calories per serving, it’s a tasty, guilt-free alternative to soda and juice.
Spindrift Sparkling Water by Spindrift Beverage Co. combines the perfect balance of crisp, bubbly carbonated water and the bright, delicious flavors of real squeezed fruits. Containing no added sweeteners or artificial ingredients, it delivers refreshingly real taste in every sip.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Real squeezed fruit – Made with actual fruit juices and purees
- Subtle, familiar flavors – Never artificial or overly sweet
- Low calorie – Just 2-15 calories per serving
- Unsweetened – No added sugars or sweeteners
- Convenient packaging – Single serve cans to multi-packs
With its refreshing fizz and tantalizing real fruit flavors, Spindrift makes staying hydrated delicious. This sparkling water offers all the taste without the calories, sugar, or artificial ingredients.
Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade Flavored Sparkling Water
Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade is a delicious, refreshing cherry limeade flavored sparkling water beverage made with natural flavors, fruit juices, vitamins, antioxidants, and zero sugar.
Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade Flavored Sparkling Water is a fizzy, fruity beverage bursting with the sweet and tangy flavor of cherries and limes. This refreshing sparkling water contains:
- Zero sugar and zero carbs – Made with sucralose, Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade has zero grams of sugar and carbs per bottle.
- Natural flavors and colors – The vibrant red color and sweet cherry and lime flavors come from natural sources like vegetable and fruit juices.
- Added vitamins and antioxidants – Each bottle is fortified with vitamins like Vitamins A, B3, B5, B6, B12, and D as well as antioxidants from green tea extract.
- Low calorie – Containing just 5 calories per 17 oz bottle, this is a guilt-free, fizzy treat.
Enjoy the taste of fresh cherry limeade without the calories and sugar! Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade Flavored Sparkling Water offers a flavorful, better-for-you alternative to traditional sodas and juices.
Crystal Geyser Natural Orange Flavored Sparkling Spring Water
Crystal Geyser Natural Orange Flavored Sparkling Spring Water is a refreshing, fruit-flavored carbonated water made with natural orange essence and zero calories or sweeteners.
Crystal Geyser Natural Orange Flavored Sparkling Spring Water perfectly balances the sweet and tangy taste of oranges in a fizzy, thirst-quenching beverage. This sparkling water features:
- Natural orange flavor – Made with a blend of Valencia, Navel, Mandarin, and Seville orange essences to capture the true taste.
- Zero calories and no sweeteners – Free of calories, sugar, and artificial sweeteners or flavors.
- Carbonated spring water – Crystal clear, naturally filtered spring water infused with bubbly carbonation.
- Non-GMO and kosher – Produced using non-GMO ingredients and certified kosher.
- BPA-free packaging – Packaged in safe, recyclable BPA-free PET plastic bottles.
Refresh yourself with the bright, citrusy flavor of oranges swirled into crisp, fizzy spring water. Crystal Geyser Natural Orange Sparkling Water is a tasty, better-for-you alternative to sugary sodas and juices.
LaCroix Sparkling Water 14 Flavor Variety Pack
The LaCroix Sparkling Water 14 Flavor Variety Pack allows you to sample 14 of LaCroix’s most popular naturally essenced seltzer water flavors in one convenient package.
The LaCroix Sparkling Water 14 Flavor Variety Pack brings you a fizzy festival of fruity flavors to enjoy. This one-of-a-kind sampler features:
- 14 flavors – Popular seltzer flavors like Pure, LimonCello, Hi-Biscus, and Coconut included.
- 12 oz cans – Perfectly portable size for sipping anywhere.
- Zero calories & sugar – Naturally essenced, so innocent of sugars, sodium, and artificial ingredients.
- Gluten-free & vegan – Suitable for a variety of diets and lifestyles.
- Made in the USA – Supporting American jobs from source to sip.
With 14 fruity flavors to fall for, the LaCroix Sparkling Water Variety Pack offers a fizzy fiesta in one box. Discover new favorite seltzer flavors for your healthy, active lifestyle.
VOSS Lime Mint Flavored Sparkling Water
VOSS Lime Mint Flavored Sparkling Water is a refreshing, naturally flavored carbonated water with a bright lime taste accented by crisp spearmint. It contains zero calories, sugar, or artificial sweeteners.
VOSS Lime Mint Flavored Sparkling Water perfectly balances the tart zest of limes with the cooling flavor of mint in a crisp, fizzy beverage. This refreshing sparkling water features:
- Natural lime and mint flavors – Made with real lime and mint essences to deliver authentic fruit and herb flavors.
- Zero calories and sugar-free – Contains no calories, sugar, or artificial sweeteners.
- Crisp carbonation – Pure spring water from Norway infused with lively bubbles.
- Recyclable aluminum cans – Packaged in convenient single-serve cans made from recyclable aluminum.
- Unique flavor combinations – Creative pairings like lime mint bring exciting new tastes to sparkling waters.
With the bright citrus taste of limes tempered by subtle garden-fresh mint, VOSS Lime Mint Flavored Sparkling Water offers a cool, guilt-free way to quench your thirst.
Waterloo Sparkling Water - Ginger Citrus Twist
Waterloo Sparkling Water in Ginger Citrus Twist is a refreshing, zesty sparkling water with lively carbonation and a bright blend of ginger and citrus flavors. It contains zero calories, sugar, artificial sweeteners, or sodium.
Waterloo Ginger Citrus Twist Sparkling Water is a crisp, fizzy beverage bursting with vibrant ginger spice swirled with tangy citrus. This thirst-quenching sparkling water features:
- Zingy ginger and citrus flavors – A refreshing blend of ginger heat and zesty orange and lemon citrus notes.
- Lively carbonation – Crisp, tingling bubbles give each sip an effervescent lift.
- Zero calories and sugar – Free of calories, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and sodium.
- Natural flavors – Made with authentic spice and citrus flavors from natural sources.
- Convenient packaging – Slim, sleek 12 oz cans are perfect for enjoying on the go.
With its spicy ginger kick and bright citrus twist, Waterloo Ginger Citrus Twist Sparkling Water offers a flavor adventure that hydrates your body and delights your taste buds. It’s a fizzy, feel-good choice!
Peaceful Squirrel LaCroix Sparkling Water Variety Pack
The Peaceful Squirrel LaCroix Sparkling Water Variety Pack includes 16 different naturally essenced sparkling water flavors so you can sample a wide range of LaCroix’s fruity, refreshing bubbly waters.
The Peaceful Squirrel LaCroix Sparkling Water Variety Pack brings you a fizzy rainbow of 16 lip-smacking LaCroix flavors to suit any taste or craving. Crack open an ice-cold can to enjoy:
- An array of flavors – From coconut to mango to lemon, this variety pack lets you explore top LaCroix flavors.
- Natural essence – Each crisp, sparkling can is essenced with oils from real fruits, flowers, and herbs.
- Zero calories & sugar – These refreshing waters contain no sugars or artificial sweeteners.
- BPA-free cans – The sparkling water comes in 12 oz recyclable BPA-free cans, perfect for grabbing and going.
With 16 fruity, floral options to pick from, the Peaceful Squirrel LaCroix Variety Pack makes it easy to find your perfect bubbly match. Refresh yourself with a fizzy splash of natural flavor.
bubly Sparkling Water Fizzy Sampler Variety Pack
The bubly Sparkling Water Fizzy Sampler Variety Pack features 18 cans of tasty, naturally flavored sparkling waters across 6 refreshing flavors, with 0 calories and 0 sweeteners.
The bubly Sparkling Water Fizzy Sampler Variety Pack brings together 6 mouthwatering flavors of fizzy, fruity sparkling water in one convenient package. This variety pack includes:
- 6 delicious flavors – Includes popular flavors like strawberry, grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, and cherry for lots of refreshing variety.
- Zero calories and sugar – Made without any calories, sugar, or artificial sweeteners.
- Natural flavors – The juicy fruit flavors come from natural sources.
- Carbonated water – Crisp, sparkling water provides refreshing fizz.
- Convenient 18-pack – 18 slim 12 oz cans are perfect for grabbing at home or on the go.
With the bubly Sparkling Water Fizzy Sampler Variety Pack, you can enjoy a rainbow of natural flavors swirled into crisp, bubbly sparkling water. It’s a fizzy treat with zero guilt!
Saratoga Sparkling Spring Water
Saratoga Sparkling Spring Water is a crisp, refreshing carbonated spring water packaged in beautiful cobalt blue glass bottles, free of calories and additives.
Saratoga Sparkling Spring Water brings the taste of pure, mineral-rich spring water straight from the source and infused with lively bubbles. This sparkling water offers:
- Natural carbonation – The spring water’s natural effervescence is preserved, requiring no added carbonation.
- Glass bottle packaging – Bottled in striking, reusable 12oz cobalt blue glass bottles.
- Zero additives or calories – No sugar, calories, or artificial flavors or preservatives added.
- Highly rated taste – Crisp, clean taste consistently rated highly by sparkling water aficionados.
Treat yourself to the exceptional flavor of Saratoga Sparkling Spring Water. The natural spring water, paired with the elegance of glass bottles, makes for a refreshing, guilt-free beverage experience.
Bubbles Through Time: The Sparkle That Refreshes History
The effervescent allure of sparkling water has captivated taste buds and imaginations for centuries. From its serendipitous origins in a brewery in Leeds to its modern-day ubiquity as a sophisticated sip, the story of sparkling water is one of science, culture, and pure refreshment. Join us as we trace the bubbly journey of this beloved beverage, exploring the accidental discovery that started it all, the entrepreneurial spirit that brought it to the masses, and the enduring appeal that keeps us coming back for more.
The Sparkling Origins of Sparkling Water
The tale of sparkling water begins not with a splash, but with a curious observation. In 1740, scientist William Brownrigg first noticed the invigorating effects of adding carbon dioxide to water, but neglected to publish his findings (Source: https://cor.ca/2020/04/a-brief-history-of-seltzer/). It wasn’t until 1767 that the real fizzy magic happened, thanks to the inquisitive mind of English scientist Joseph Priestley.
The Accidental Discovery by Joseph Priestley
Picture the scene: It’s 1767 in Leeds, Yorkshire, and Joseph Priestley finds himself standing above a vat of fermenting beer at a local brewery. As he peers into the bubbling depths, a curious sight catches his eye: a layer of gas hovering just above the liquid surface. Intrigued, Priestley decides to conduct an experiment. He suspends a bowl of water above the vat, allowing the mysterious gas to infuse into the liquid. What happened next would change the course of beverage history.
As Priestley sipped the infused water, he was astonished by the refreshing tingle that danced across his tongue. He had inadvertently created the world’s first carbonated water, a discovery that would soon captivate the minds and palates of people across the globe (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonated_water). Priestley’s accidental invention was a testament to the power of scientific curiosity and the delightful surprises that can arise from unexpected places.
From Curiosity to Commercialization by Jacob Schweppes
While Priestley’s discovery was a pivotal moment in the history of sparkling water, it took the entrepreneurial vision of Jacob Schweppes to bring this effervescent elixir to the masses. In 1783, Schweppes developed a process to manufacture carbonated mineral water on a commercial scale, founding the Schweppes Company in Geneva (Source: https://www.coca-cola.com/ie/en/media-center/history-of-schweppes).
Schweppes’ innovative techniques allowed him to produce consistent, high-quality sparkling water that could be bottled and distributed far and wide. His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to his craft laid the foundation for the sparkling water industry as we know it today, paving the way for countless other brands and variations to emerge in the centuries that followed.
The Cultural Journey of Sparkling Water
Sparkling Water’s Rise in European Aristocracy
As Schweppes’ sparkling water began to make its way across Europe, it quickly caught the attention of the aristocracy. The refreshing fizz and subtle mineral taste were seen as a mark of sophistication and luxury, and soon became a staple at social gatherings and banquets among the upper echelons of society.
In the late 1700s, Germans built grand spas and opulent hotels around naturally carbonated mineral springs, attracting tourists from far and wide who sought to bathe in and drink the effervescent waters for their supposed health benefits (Source: https://glacierfreshfilter.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-soda-water-and-its-role-in-modern-culture). Sparkling water became a symbol of leisure, indulgence, and the pursuit of wellness, cementing its status as a beverage of choice among the European elite.
Intersections of Science, Culture, and Gastronomy
The rise of sparkling water in Europe was not just a matter of taste; it was also a reflection of the broader cultural and scientific movements of the time. The 18th century was an age of enlightenment, marked by a thriving interest in the natural world and a desire to understand the fundamental principles that governed it.
Priestley’s discovery of carbonated water was a product of this intellectual climate, and his work contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge about gases and chemical reactions (Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/origins-soda-water). At the same time, the popularity of sparkling water among the aristocracy spoke to the cultural values of refinement, luxury, and social status that defined the era.
The intersection of science and gastronomy was particularly evident in the way that sparkling water was consumed and enjoyed. It became a central feature of elaborate banquets and dinners, often paired with fine wines and gourmet dishes. The effervescence
