A Definitive Ranking of the Most Popular La Croix Flavors
Wilder ShawUpdated March 27, 2023, 3:18 PM
The Joy of La Croix
It is my belief that the seltzer revolution would be nowhere without the help of La Croix’s sparkling water. Since its release in 1981, it has become a staple of offices, writer’s rooms, college dorms, and more. Because it’s been around so much longer than other brands, there are more options than you can shake a stick at.
What are the best La Croix flavors to drink, you ask? I grabbed a variety pack and ran through 14 of the most popular flavors. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: Here Are the Best Flavored Sparkling Water Brands To Drink
Best: Pamplemousse
£4.19 for an eight-pack from Target Shop Now I’ve been thinking about my favorite flavor of La Croix for almost a decade now.
There have been times when I thought it was Lime. There have been times when I thought it was Orange. But the truth is, I was just trying to dissuade myself from what I already knew: It’s Pamplemousse.
It’s always been Pamplemousse. Pampy is the perfect balance of bittersweet flavor, the perfect accomplice to a sandwich, and a perfect pick-me-up on a hot day. And look, I know, it’s 2023 and La Croix is no longer the best overall sparkling beverage brand (in my opinion, that belongs to Bubly). But Pamplemousse individually?
It’s the best in the game. Related: The Best Good & Gather Sparkling Water Flavors — and the Ones To Leave on the Shelf
2. Lime
£4.19 for an eight-pack from Target
Shop Now Lime, despite being one of the most ubiquitous fruits on the planet, is also one of the most delicate. Just a dash of lime, that’s all you need.
La Croix knows this, and that’s what’s up in its Lime seltzer. Just a dash. Absolutely nailed it.
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3. Pure
£4.19 for an eight-pack from Target Shop Now
Yes, yes, yes, call up the police and arrest me for being boring. I don’t care. This is a perfectly refreshing beverage right here.
You may think that the only point of buying La Croix is for flavor, but listen up: Flavor fades in one of these things, and fast. You know it. You don’t want to admit it, but you know it.
Every second that can is open, your La Croix is going downhill. Those last three or four sips from the can? Don’t act like you’ve finished those.
Pure doesn’t have that problem. I’m happy on this hill and ready to die up here.
4. Orange
£3.72 for an eight-pack from Walmart
Shop Now No notes. When I decide to splurge on La Croix — it’s definitely among the more expensive sparkling waters — Orange is always in the rotation.
It’s light and citrusy, but not blown out. Take my word for it and mix it with gin.
5. Lemon
£4.19 for an eight-pack from Target
Shop Now I don’t know how the Lemon flavor could improve, but it’s just a little bit too bland to reach any higher than fifth place. I like this very much, and I’ll always reach for it if it’s available, but unfortunately, the previous four just hit harder.
6.
Apricot
£4.05 for an eight-pack from Walmart Shop Now This is forgettable, but in a good way.
As with many La Croixs, it doesn’t beat you over the head with flavor. This is as easy to drink as any of La Croix’s best.
7. Berry
Available on Instacart
Shop Now If you, like me, find Razz-Cranberry to be a little too much of a dark fruit assault, grab a Berry. It’s vibrant, but the berry flavor is mild enough to be crushable.
8.
Peach-Pear
£3.99 for an eight-pack from Target Shop Now Like cilantro, pear seems like a divisive food.
I’m into pear, and that’s a good thing, because there is virtually no peach to be tasted in this drink. Hope you like pear!
9. Razz-Cranberry
£3.72 for an eight-pack from Walmart
Shop Now This is pretty aggressive. “Razz” and cranberry are both hard at work here, making this cran-raspberry flavor function more like a soda than a sparkling water. It would do in a pinch.
10.
Tangerine
£4.19 for an eight-pack from Target Shop Now Far too often, in an attempt to make something taste like tangerine or mandarin orange, a beverage will just taste like an orange peel.
While I do love bitter things, this would be better off in a drink mixer alongside some gin or Campari. A bitter sparkling water isn’t for me.
11. Mango
Available on Instacart
Shop Now This is not the most offensive mango seltz I’ve had. It’s also not the least offensive.
I don’t know what to say — fresh mangoes are great. Artificial mango flavor isn’t.
12. Passionfruit
£4.19 for an eight-pack from Target
Shop Now I wouldn’t say this tastes like passion fruit. I don’t know what this tastes like.
It’s not sweet like fruit, and it almost seems like it was made from a passion fruit that had all the sugar extracted from it. This one’s a no-thanks.
13. Key Lime
£4.19 for an eight-pack from Target
Shop Now Yeah, this isn’t as good as regular lime. It’s a noticeable difference, very much laced with that sugary, meringue-like key lime flavor.
Like cream soda, or something. There’s no need for a zero-sugar drink to taste this sweet.
14. Coconut
£3.72 for an eight-pack from Walmart
Shop Now In the very early stages of Lockdown 2020, I was walking through my local grocery store, staring at all the aisles that had been completely picked clean. I assume we all remember this moment.
As I was strolling down the aisles, I noticed that almost every box of bottled or sparkling water in the store was gone. Except, of course, Coconut La Croix. How do I feel about this beverage?
The same way everybody else does: Even when faced with dehydration at the gates of the apocalypse, I will not drink it.
Originally published March 27, 2023, 3:12 PM
