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The best flavors of LaCroix sparkling water, ranked

From Pamplemousse to NiCola, we tried them all so you don't have to

tangerine la coix
Jacob Kienlen/The Manual

Wisconsin-based company LaCroix has been sweeping the nation with some of the best sparkling water on the market. These zero-calorie beverages are sugar-free and non-GMO, which makes them enticing for those trying to avoid sugary sodas this summer. With plenty of unique flavors to choose from, which one is the best? To answer your question, we happily tasted 21 flavors of LaCroix's sparkling water drinks and ranked them all below.

best lacroix flavors tangerine
Photo Credit: Cole Saladino Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tangerine

Considering there is no sugar or sodium in their sparkling water, some of LaCroix's greatest hits are of the citrus variety. Tangerine especially hits that refreshing sweet spot between too much flavor and too little.

La Croix Tangerine Sparkling Water
Tangerine
best lacroix flavors sparkling water
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 14: A can of LaCroix Sparkling Water is seen in Washington, DC on Tuesday, July 14, 2015. (Photo by Brittany Greeson/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pamplemousse

Arguably the fanciest sounding drink from the brand, Pamplemousse offers a unique taste that you can only really get from using the French word for "grapefruit." Admittedly, however, it can be an acquired taste if you are transitioning from soda.

best lacroix flavors lime
Photo Credit: Facebook Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lime

Whether you're looking for a vodka mixer or just a slightly tart sparkling water to sip on, this variety hits all the right buttons. If you're planning on stocking both your fridge and home bar with LaCroix, this should be at the top of your list.

passionfruit la croix
La Croix Water

Passionfruit

It's hard to say what exactly a passionfruit tastes like, other than tart, but this passionfruit seltzer water is a solid option for those looking to mix it up.

La Croix Water

Apricot

This one's got just enough apricot flavor to catch your attention, but not so much that it drives you away. Imagine sipping on plain bubbly water whilst sniffing an apricot.

blackberry cucumber la croix
La Croix Water

Blackberry Cucumber (Muré Pepino)

As one of the signature "Curate" flavors, this refreshing beverage comes in a taller can than the more traditional flavors. It offers just the right balance of cucumber and berry, making for a sold zero-calorie drink.

La Croix Mure Pepino (Blackberry Cucumber) Sparkling Water
Blackberry Cucumber (Muré Pepino)
best lacroix flavors key lime 2
Photo Credit: Facebook Image used with permission by copyright holder

Key Lime

Those who the Lime variety for vodka cocktails will like Key Lime, too. It has that tart and tangy profile that you'd expect from citrus, but with a subtle creaminess you'd expect to get with a can of Coconut LaCroix.

best lacroix flavors melon grapefruit  mel n pomelo
Photo Credit: Cole Saladino/Thrillist Image used with permission by copyright holder

Melon Grapefruit (Melón Pomelo)

If Pamplemousse doesn't quite do it for you, but you still want that gentle grapefruit taste, Melón Pomelo is an excellent choice. Expect smooth notes of melon that transition into a citrusy conclusion.

LaCroix Cúrate Melon-Pomelo Sparkling Water
Melon Grapefruit (Melón Pomelo)
best lacroix flavors peach pear
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Peach Pear

The taste of pear is seemingly absent in this naturally-essenced beverage, but the peach flavor more than makes up for it. If you're looking to diverge from the usual citrus options, this one is a nice option.

La Croix Peach-Pear Sparkling Water
Peach Pear
best lacroix flavors berry 2
Photo Credit: Facebook Image used with permission by copyright holder

Berry

This sparkling water flavor hits you with sweetness first and then a slightly bitter aftertaste. It's impossible to tell what berries are actually being "essenced" for this one, but if you love berry flavors in general, this will be right up your alley.

lemon la croix
La Croix Water

Lemon

As far as lightly flavored sparkling beverages go, Lemon is the middle of the pack. You aren't going to dislike it, but you probably aren't going to love it either. It starts out tart and tastes a bit salty somehow, but it's still good.

La Croix Water

Mango

It's important to note that Mango LaCroix does not taste like a mango at all, so if you go into each sip thinking you're going to get that tropical sweetness, you'll be disappointed. All in all, it's pretty decent if you want to try something different.

pineapple strawberry la croix
La Croix Water

Pineapple Strawberry (Piña Fraise)

Unlike many of the best LaCroix flavors, Piña Fraise offers an overwhelming amount of flavor. If you want to experience something closer to a diet fruit soda, then this should be your go-to.

La Croix Pina Fraise Sparkling Water
Pineapple Strawberry (Piña Fraise)
best lacroix flavors orange
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Orange

Surprisingly, this particular variety doesn't have much of an orange flavor. Unlike its brother, Tangerine LaCroix, you will be hard-pressed to pick up the orange notes in this bubbly drink.

apple cranberry la croix
La Croix Water

Apple Cranberry (Pomme Bayá)

Like many of the varieties to come from the Curate line of taller cans, Pomme Bayá offers a bit too much flavor all at once. However, these do make for good gin mixers if you're trying to tone down the bitterness.

LaCroix Cúrate Pomme Baya Sparkling Water
Apple Cranberry (Pomme Bayá)
cherry lime la croix
La Croix Water

Cherry Lime (Cerise Limón)

Ever had a cherry cough drop? Then you know what to expect from this one. The cherry flavor shines through, but it just hit too close to medicinal cough remedies for us to rank this above anything else.

Lacroix Curate Cherry Lime Sparkling Water
Cherry Lime (Cerise Limón)
kiwi watermelon la croix
La Croix Water

Kiwi Watermelon (Kiwi Sandía)

The only way to really describe this one is to imagine someone dropped their watermelon candy into fizzy water for an hour and then put it straight in the can. It's eerily close to tasting like a watered-down Snapple.

La Croix Curate Kiwi Sandia Sparkling Water
Kiwi Watermelon (Kiwi Sandía)
cran raspberry la croix
La Croix Water

Cran-Raspberry

There are definitely some folks who love cran-raspberry, but for those of us who can't handle anything that tastes like cough medicine, it's better to avoid it altogether.

pure la croix
La Croix Water

Pure

If you like plain sparkling water, that's what this is. Boring, but still healthier than soda.

best sparkling water coconut la croix flavor
La Croix Water

Coconut

If you absolutely love the taste of coconut, you might actually like this one. However, if you hate the taste of coconut, this should be at the bottom of your list. A lot of people out there will argue if it is the best flavor on the market, but it's an acquired taste for sure.

NiCola

LaCroix's attempt at cola-flavored water has resulted in what you get when the soda machine runs out of syrup. Hints of Coke swarm in the background, but it's worse than just drinking straight bubbly water without any taste.

Jacob Kienlen
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual

Jacob Kienlen was a culture writer for The Manual. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 5 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a wide variety of different topics -- from TV shows to sandwiches and everything in-between. When he isn't working, you can usually find Jacob curled up on the couch streaming the best movies, shows, and thriller anime he can find. Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments about Jacob’s work.

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