Credit: Liv Averett / Caliwater
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Is cactus water the new coconut water? Caliwater co-founder Vanessa Hudgens thinks so. And so do investors Demi Lovato, Benson Boone, and Glen Powell. But is it really?
I don’t think so. As far as I can tell, “cactus water” is really just prickly-pear-flavored actual water, while “coconut water” is the actual water within a coconut. That said, like coconut water, Caliwater Cactus Water boasts high electrolyte content and antioxidants—and, as they’ll tell you on the website, Caliwater is lower in sugar and more sustainably produced than many coconut waters.
Still. Cactus water is a very different beast. But marketing is marketing and I can’t blame them for trying to introduce their product to people by comparing it to a popular category. The real important question: Is Caliwater Cactus Water any good? I tasted five different flavors of it to find out. (Note: I based all of these reviews on the cans. Caliwater also comes in pouches, which it touts as being great to freeze or for kids.)
- Caliwater Pineapple
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Pros: It tastes good—like a lighter, more refreshing Pina Colada. There’s a definite, zesty, fresh pineapple flavor, but also a hint of coconut for some reason. It almost tastes like a Pineapple Spindrift—just not sparkling. It’d for sure be a good mixer for tequila or silver rum.
Cons: This is a con across the board: As mentioned above, Caliwater is not water from a cactus, it is H2O mixed with prickly pear cactus juice (or powder), agave, monk fruit extract, and natural flavors. Caliwater is water in the same way that Vitamin Water is water. That doesn’t mean it’s not good, but it’s not water.
Credit: Liv Averett / Caliwater
- Caliwater Prickly Pear
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Pros: Caliwater’s flagship Prickly Pear cactus water is bright, sweet, and fruity. It’s gentle. It tastes like raspberry juice, which makes sense since it’s made with prickly pear juice, lemon juice, and raspberry juice.
Cons: While the raspberry flavor is nice, I was really hoping to taste pure prickly pear. Would love if they scaled back on the raspberry and pushed the prickly pear to the forefront.
Credit: Liv Averett / Caliwater
- Caliwater Ginger Lime
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Pros: It smells super, duper gingery. Like, it’ll wake you up! It tastes very gingery, too. It’s spicy and sweet—swicy, as the kids say. It’s kind of like watered down, not bubbly ginger beer. I know that doesn’t sound like a pro, but it is.
Cons: There’s a little too much sw- in the swicy flavor profile. It’s a touch too sweet in a monk fruit way. And that sweet flavor lingers.
Credit: Liv Averett / Caliwater
- Caliwater Watermelon
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Pros: Even though it’s made with watermelon juice, this doesn’t taste like watermelon. How is that a pro? It’s not. But the fact that it tastes like a blend of cantaloupe and honeydew melon is a pro. I’ve never had a melon juice taste so uniquely melon-y! It’s refreshing and sweet and juist a little bit tangy. It doesn’t have any of that monk fruit sweetener aftertaste.
Cons: As I said, if you were hoping for watermelon, you’re not really going to get it here. Get on board the alternative melon train, my friend!
Credit: Liv Averett / Caliwater
- Caliwater Blood Orange by Demi Lovato
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Pros: Demi Lovato’s contribution to the line-up is totally fine. It tastes like lighter, more mellow Tropicana orange juice.
Cons: It’s boring and there’s a touch of that citrusy Emergen-C flavor in the mix. Let’s get some real blood orange flavor in here, Demi!
Credit: Liv Averett / Caliwater
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About the Author
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
Justine Sterling
Jessica Block
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!