The best Polar Seltzer flavors are crisp, refreshing, and delightfully bold. As a brand, Polar Seltzer feels timeless—a supermarket shelf staple that doesn’t get as much hype as LaCroix or Spindrift, but has stayed a classic for a reason.
You’re going to learn a few things about me as I lay out my ranking of the best Polar Seltzer flavors. First: In general, I’m a little too critical of seltzer culture. I’ve never understood the craze around flavored sparkling water, which tastes like someone poured their own backwash in a SodaStream. Plain ice water has more appeal to me. We keep a bunch of seltzer varieties stocked in the office, and many of my coworkers carry a fresh one in their hand at all hours of the day. I’ve started perceiving the passage of time by the next “crack” of a LaCroix can. (Admittedly, some of my resentment comes from being a PA on film sets and having producers yell at us when there was no La Croix left in the cooler, but that’s the entertainment industry for you.)
After sampling 17 flavors of Polar Seltzer, I have to admit that I’ve changed my tune. It’s the classic “enemies-to-lovers” cliche, really: Spend enough time in their presence, and you start to see another, more endearing side to them. Suddenly, BAM: you’re in love. (Mid-taste test, I started unironically saying the word “seltzies,” which is almost as bad as talking to your boyfriend in a baby voice in public.) Which brings me to the second thing you’ll learn about me: Apparently, I’ve been living under a rock. I completely forgot that the Polar brand even existed in the seltzerverse—and I had no idea they made so many flavors. And guess what? Most of them are pretty fantastic; in fact, I have yet to find a Polar flavor that I don’t like. They don’t taste like perfume. They’re never too sweet. And the best Polar Seltzer flavors manage a powerful, bold flavor without tasting too much like one thing. To me, Polar might be the GOAT of seltzers (sorry not sorry, LaCroix), and I’m honored to share my top ten with you. Here are the best Polar flavors that convinced me, a seltzer skeptic, to find true love. See what happens when you choose the bear?
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- Tart Cherry Limeade
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Polar’s Tart Cherry Limeade is very lightly tart, with a pleasant blend of cherry and citrus—but somehow the whole beverage still sings with flavor. Again, that’s the genius behind the best Polar Seltzers: Everything is quite balanced. (Also, I appreciate the ingredient list including “the essence of fresh limes,” which I’ll be stealing for the title of my debut album.)
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- Pink Apple and Lemon
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As someone often disappointed by apple-flavored bevvies, I really wasn’t expecting this to be one of the best Polar Seltzers on my list. But they really nailed this. It’s bright, lightly sweet like a Fuji apple, with a dash of sour lemon that somehow balances the tartness without making it too acidic. It’s like a Green Apple Jolly Rancher, minus the sugar—and a far cry from the highly concentrated sweetness of Snapple. It leaves a fresh taste in your mouth, which is hard to do with apple-y drinks, to be honest. It’s a great summery seltzy and makes an interesting base for more unique daytime cocktails. Even if you’re skeptical, definitely try it!
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- Ruby Red Grapefruit
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I’ve never tried a grapefruit beverage that was so balanced! The grapefruit is mildly bitter, a little tangy, but still incredibly reminiscent of real grapefruit. (I still don’t understand how Polar gets so close to the taste of fresh fruit, when the only two ingredients listed are carbonated water and “natural flavors.” What does that even mean?!) It’s bright and fizzy and super refreshing. Not to be blasphemous, but I prefer it to Squirt. Sorry. I’ll see myself out.
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- Blueberry Lemonade
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If you poured this over ice in a rustic, expensive looking mason jar, served it to me at a farm-to-table restaurant on a beautiful spring day, and charged me $7 dollars for it, I’d pay it, no questions asked, and still tip 20%. Most of the time, blueberry-infused beverages can be off-putting or barely reminiscent of blueberries. One sip of this, and you can picture wild blueberries plucked right from the bush. In case it’s not clear, I’m seriously impressed. (They didn’t add “the essence of fresh blueberries” to the ingredients list here, but damn it, I would have really believed it.)
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- Raspberry Lime
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As a flavor combo, “raspberry lime” initially didn’t invite much excitement from me. I was expecting something either too biting and bitter, or just plain boring. Not so! It is, in fact, quite lovely. The lime is subtle but still brightens the light bitterness of the fresh raspberry flavor. Polar really knows how to pare back on certain flavors to create an even, bright, chuggable seltzy. Raspberry Lime is perfect; no notes.
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- Mandarin
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Mandarin Polar Seltzer reminds me of a refined, elevated Sunny D. Like real mandarins, the flavor has a mild citrus tang, and it’s slightly sweeter than the standard orange. The effect is a seltzer that’s more refreshing than zingy—and heavenly as a brunchy cocktail mixer. It’s the best Polar Seltzer flavor for those who want something simple but unique.
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- Original
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Yes, even though the only ingredient is “carbonated water,” Original is still one of the best Polar Seltzer flavors. Go ahead. Fight me. I can’t help that it’s the perfect, quintessential sparkling water. I love Perrier, but it’s a bubble rave in your mouth. Sometimes you want something a little more calm. Polar’s carbonation is staticky without making you scrunch up your face. The water tastes fresh from a spring, too. What more could you want?
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- Lime
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Nothing really beats fresh squeezed lime in plain sparkling water, but Polar Lime Seltzer is pretty close. Sipping this in the middle of the work day somehow made me feel more important, classy, and interesting than I actually am. Like I was actually sipping a Gimlet at a nice hotel bar, waiting to meet my (very rich) client to wine and dine on the company card. The lime tastes zingy and fresh, the bubbles are crisp, and the overall quality is high. I haven’t directly compared Polar’s Lime Seltzer to LaCroix’s (our #1 best LaCroix flavor), but I imagine it would be a tough showdown.
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- Orange Vanilla
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World, I’d like you to meet Orange Vanilla: a creamsicle in seltzer form. Sipping this bright, beautiful seltzy gave me an instant dopamine boost. The creamy vanilla really smooths out the bubbly, citrusy orange in such a pleasing way. It’s cozy and refreshing at the same time. Just know: I went back and forth between this and Black Cherry for our coveted #1 best of the best Polar Seltzer flavor. I was conflicted as hell, okay? I adore both.
Credit: Merc / Total Wine
- Black Cherry
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Fam, this might be the best black cherry beverage I’ve ever had. Yep. I know I’m on the record as a cherry flavor apologist, but I don’t think cherry haters could possibly fault this. You get a hint of chokecherry that’s more crisp than tart, and not overly sour or smoky in the way that some black cherry bevvies can be. There isn’t an ounce of artificial aftertaste here, either—I know I keep using “fresh” to describe the best Polar Seltzers, but it’s true! They taste like real fruit. For its genius, surprisingly popular appeal, and simple perfect, black cherry is the best Polar Seltzer flavor, paws down.
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Other Polar Seltzers we tried: Cranberry Lime, Blackberry Mango, Strawberry Watermelon, Raspberry Pink Lemonade
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!