The Best Seltzers For People Who Don’t Like LaCroix

It’s officially the season where spending all of my free time sitting by the pool and barbecuing are topping my list of priorities. But with this exciting progression into a new season, it begs the never-ending question: how on Earth are we supposed to keep cool and hydrated as the imminent summer heat waves overshadow the fun and games? As much as we’d love to drink sparkly, sweet soda all afternoon, there gets to be a point where you need water, too! But let’s keep it interesting, shall we? Perhaps this is the perfect season to try out a new seltzer, even if you’ve been burned before by the pan-ultimate king of sparkling water, La Croix. Here are my recommendations as a self-proclaimed seltzer connoisseur. 

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Lemons and Limes

Lemon- and lime-flavored seltzers, I think, are the most classic and universally appealing seltzer flavors to have on hand. It’s not too crazy or experimental, but it’s also not a plain seltzer, which frankly I’m not sure anyone even buys to drink straight up. Here’s which lemon-lime seltzers I think are worth a try.  

• Lemon Spindrift: If I could have an unlimited supply of seltzers in my home, but I could only choose one variety, it’d be these. They’re classic, refreshing, and not so bold I could get bored of them. Spindrifts are all made from water and actual fruit juice, so the flavor isn’t artificial or obnoxious. Some may insist these are boring, but sometimes I just want a guarantee for easy and fun hydration. And that’s what these deliver. 

• San Pellegrino CIAO! Lime: Do I miss the old San Pellegrino packaging? Every day. But do these colorfully striped cans still pay a playful homage to classic Italian designs? Absolutely. And what makes them even better is the top-tier fizz inside. The flavor is delightfully indicative of a freshly squeezed lime wedge on a hot summer day; and similarly to Spindrift, the CIAO! line of San Pellegrino sparkling waters is flavored with real fruit juice. Each time I drink one, they leave me wondering why it took so long to integrate these into my sparkling water rotation. 

• Topo Chico Sabores Lime with Mint Extract: I don’t blame you if you think my previous suggestions are dull. Some of us are just drawn to more complex flavors. To you, I suggest these Topo Chicos―if you still want those classic, fresh, citrus flavors with a little more interest. If you’ve had the classic Topo Chicos in the lime flavor, these seltzers would be the natural segue for you to kick the flavor up a notch. The mint is nicely complementary and natural tasting, totally dodging any toothpaste allegations. 

Getting Wild With Water

The best part about sparkling water is that it’s a choose-your-own adventure. You can go zesty, fruity, or herby and the world is your oyster since the market has expanded so much in recent years. And if you’re into unique, real fruit flavors, then these are the seltzers for you.  

• Sanzo Calamansi: If you don’t know what calamansi is, it’s a Southeast Asian citrus fruit with a flavor as if a kumquat and a yuzu had a baby. The bright and zingy flavor of this seltzer pairs perfectly with its cold, refreshing sparkles. Not only is this a perfect beverage in and of itself, but I can only imagine how delightful it would be as a mixer on hot summer nights. These seltzers are so addictive that― if bold flavors are your thing―I think this is the perfect introduction to sparkling water.  

• San Pellegrino CIAO! Peach: When I get my variety pack of these from Costco, this flavor is always the first to go. It’s refreshing and has an illusion of a light sweetness, all with the same real-fruit flavor as the lime. It’s interesting and a nice stray-away from all the citrus flavors that lend themselves to sparkling waters. I’ve even turned this seltzer into an iced tea tonic with a touch of peach juice―and thinking about it now, that may be my drink of choice for the summer.  

• Sanzo Yuzu with Ginger: If you like soda more than you love sparkling water, then this is the seltzer for you. The best part of Sanzo seltzers to me isn’t the flavors at all. The texture of Sanzo’s bubbles is fine, not assaulting. But if you appreciate the texture of this seltzer, then just you wait until you get to taste it. The citrusy yuzu on its own is irresistible, but the touch of ginger rounds this out into something beyond seltzer entirely. It has all the same lightness and easy-to-drink nature as a seltzer, but takes on the full-bodied flavor of a soda.