Jordan Myrick
Ariana Losch
There are three main groups of people who use Liquid I.V., a flavored hydration powder that you add to water: People who run marathons, people who are hungover, and people who can’t be bothered to drink regular water. (We are not here to judge, simply inform.) Whatever your reason for reaching for a packet, we’re here to help you find the best Liquid I.V. flavors so your attempts to stay sufficiently hydrated can taste as good as possible.
How we conducted our taste test
Since this is our second taste test of the best Liquid I.V. flavors, we made sure to try as many new flavors as we could feasibly find. That includes some new sugar free flavors, new dessert- and candy-inspired flavors (Cotton Candy Liquid I.V., you are my new nemesis), and even one inspired by a popular popsicle brand. We followed the instructions for diluting each flavor pretty strictly—only deviating once, due to comments we found online—and tried them side by side.
What we looked for in the best Liquid I.V. flavors
The best Liquid I.V. flavors tend to have one simple thing in common: They aren’t too sweet. (Most Liquid I.V. flavors are going to have some level of sweetness that may put off those who are more sugar-sensitive, but luckily, you can also dilute them to your taste bud’s content.) Otherwise, we don’t care if they taste bold, breezy, or like a dessert. As long as they’re refreshing and don’t leave a weird aftertaste, they’re probably contenders. So without further ado, here are the best Liquid I.V. flavors we recommend:
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- Rainbow Sherbet Sugar Free
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There’s a lot going on with Sugar Free Rainbow Sherbet Liquid I.V., and honestly, it’s just as chaotic in practice as it is in theory. It’s salty (thanks, electrolytes), very sweet, vaguely orange and raspberry flavored, and, dare I say, a little creamy? It definitely tastes like sherbet. The artificial sweetness is very noticeable, and at first, I couldn’t decide whether I liked it or not. Then I saw that people online had recommended diluting it more than usual. I tried that and, lo and behold, it actually turned out pretty lovely. You just have to tame the sweetness a bit. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Golden Cherry
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I am not a fan of cherry, but everyone at Sporked who likes cherry-flavored things loved this. And as a cherry hater, I have to admit that it isn’t that bad. It’ss bold and the tartness pairs well with the natural salinity of the Liquid I.V. electrolyte blend. If you don’t like cherry, however, I don’t think it will make you a cherry convert. I still found it to be a little bitter and medicinal. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Liquid I.V.
- Piña Colada
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Mix this with rum. I’m not joking! Grab a Piña Colada Liquid I.V. and blend it up with some coconut milk, pineapple juice, and rum for a delicious summer cocktail that’s maybe a little less likely to give you a hangover (we didn’t test this out, but you have to admit it makes sense in theory. This Liquid I.V. flavor actually tastes like a piña colada on its own, so it would be incredible in a cocktail or mocktail. If you’re no fun at all and just want to drink it mixed with regular water, it’s still one of the best Liquid I.V. flavors. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Tart Green Apple
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If bold flavors are your thing, you’re going to really like Tart Green Apple Liquid I.V. It is actually nice and tart. But don’t worry, it’s not too sour. You can still chug an entire serving without getting palate fatigue. Despite its intense and pungent appleyness, it’s on the less intense side when it comes to salt. It’s the best Liquid I.V. flavor if you want to forget you’re drinking a hydration drink. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / CVS
- Blackberry Peach
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Blackberry Peach is downright pleasant. From the new lineup of flavors, this is ultimately what I was looking for in the best Liquid I.V. flavors: a balanced, lightly tart fruit infusion that’s automatically refreshing and bright and not at all too sweet. (Liquid I.V. really leans too sweet sometimes.) I understand that the world does not revolve around me, and that you freaks want to drink liquid cotton candy. That’s fine. I accept your rights and your wrongs. (But no, for the record, Liquid I.V. Cotton Candy did not make the ranking. Rage at me in the comments, I dare you!!!) —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Liquid I.V.
- Popsicle Firecracker
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I may have skipped Cotton Candy on this list, but if you really want your hydration drink to taste like candy or dessert, might I introduce you to Liquid I.V. Firecracker? This flavor comes as a partnership with the classic Firecracker Popsicle (a Sporked favorite), and it tastes exactly like it, too. I was skeptical here, but damn if this isn’t nostalgic. You could probably freeze these yourself and make electrolyte popsicles out of them. The only downside is that they can be tricky to find; I finally picked this one up at Costco after having a hard time tracking it down. Still, I think they’re the best flavor of Liquid I.V. we’ve seen crop up in the past year. Bring these straight to the beach and stay hydrated in the hot sun! —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Liquid I.V.
- Tangerine
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As a fan of anything that is even remotely orange flavored, this was easily my personal favorite Liquid I.V. flavor. I know I’m biased, but it’s so wonderfully citrusy and refreshing. It’s also less salty tasting than many of the other flavors we tried, which I prefer. To me, this tastes like a melted Popsicle brand orange popsicle. If you’re looking for summer vibes in a glass, grab a packet of Liquid I.V. tangerine! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Liquid I.V.
- Watermelon
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Watermelon and salt are a great combo, so it’s not surprising that the saltiness of the Liquid I.V. pairs great with watermelon flavor. It’s like a watermelon feta salad that you can drink. Watermelon lovers will enjoy the authentic watermelon taste, but non-watermelon lovers like me will appreciate that it’s not too sweet. It’s perfectly pleasant. I think this would be ideal for a run on a hot summer’s day. I would never go on a run on a hot summer’s day, but I can use my imagination. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Liquid I.V.
- Lemon Lime
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Lemon Lime is, in my opinion, the best Liquid I.V. flavor overall. It tastes like Gatorade but with more Gatorade flavor, which is perfect because I’ve always felt that Gatorade needed a stronger taste. It’s one of the less salty of the Liquid I.V. flavors we tried, and it is pleasantly limey. Of course you could mix this into water for a great hydration beverage, but our managing editor Gwynedd Stuart said she would “absolutely put tequila in this.” —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Most Unique
Best for Cherry Fans
Best Surprising
Best Tart
Most Refreshing
Best for Summer
Best Sweet
Best Flavor Combo
Best of the Best
Other Flavors We Tasted
Passion Fruit, Strawberry, Lemon Ginger, Blueberry Lavender, Guava, Acai Berry, Concord Grape, Sugar-Free Raspberry Lemonade, Blue Cotton Candy
Luke Field
Griffin Parker
