This sparkling water review comes to you thanks to a reader’s suggestion that I review Trader Joe’s fizzy lineup. Of course, I am happy to accommodate said suggestion as a TJ’s fan and sparkling water aficionado :). I recently went to my local Trader Joe’s and picked up every single sparkling water flavor they had.
Note: Trader Joe’s also carries a line of flavored seltzer waters that differs from the sparkling water being reviewed here. This Trader Joe’s Sparkling Water Review is specifically aimed at the zero-calorie fizzy waters they carry.
The obvious draw to Trader Joe’s fizzy water is the price - the bottles shown in the pictures cost $0.79 cents each. Here’s what I thought of each of the Trader Joe’s flavors I tried.
Trader Joe’s Blueberry Lemonade Sparkling Water
Blueberry Lemonade is a tart delight! You get that instant tart blueberry hit combined with punchy citrus that finishes like a well-balanced lemonade; one that’s not too puckery tart and not too saccharine sweet. Sometimes I have to take a few concentrated sips before I decide if I like a sparkling water or not, but this flavor was an instant winner in my book. Blueberry often flies under the radar over the sexier berries - raspberry and strawberry - but this beverage proves it deserves a spot in the limelight.
Trader Joe’s Cranberry Clementine Sparkling Water
Cranberry and Clementine are not happy bedfellows. I was so sure this would be a winner but the flavors just don’t complement each other here. The clementine flavor dominates, which would be okay probably if the flavor wasn’t like licking an unwashed orange rind. It’s just bitter with a hint of citrus. Not sure cranberry even bothered to show up; or if it did the only flavor it brought to the party was bitterness. I anticipate a level of bitterness or alkalinity when I drink fizzy water. Flavors should help temper it, not accentuate it. Sadly I’ll be passing on this one.
Trader Joe’s Grapefruit Sparkling Water
I adore how TJ’s Grapefruit Sparkling Water smells; it’s like having your nostrils tickled by grapefruit zest. Scent aside, the flavor is great too. It’s light, citrus-y, and well-balanced between tart and sweet. I suspect that even if you’re not a fan of eating the real fruit, you’ll enjoy this. It’s discernable as grapefruit rather than generically citrus, but absent the overpowering tart bitterness that accompanies taking a bite out of the real thing. It does have a slightly bitter citrus finish, but I’d expect nothing else from grapefruit.
Trader Joe’s Lime Sparkling Water
Simple, straightforward, and refreshing. Not a whole lot to say about TJ’s Lime Sparkling Water other than it’s a solid pick. The lime is subtle. I would have preferred more tartness personally; I love it when the tart, zesty citrus is more pronounced in citrus-flavored beverages. It gives off lemon-lime soda vibes, but without the saccharin aftertaste. It’s a solid fizzy lime flavor and at $0.79 a bottle I’ll happily purchase it again.
Trader Joe’s Lemon Sparkling Water
Rather than re-state what I wrote for TJ’s Lime Sparkling Water, jump back up and re-read. Like Lime, the Lemon is subtle. Too subtle. I want more of a tart punch, and more vibrant citrus notes. It falls a little flat. I’d purchase Lime again, but probably not Lemon. What flavor does come through is too artificial, like what I imagine my lemon-scented dish soap might taste like.
Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Sparkling Water
I wanted to love this one, but it fell flat. When I think of mandarin oranges, I’m thinking of those cute little oranges that pack a strong, sweet, citrus flavor. This was more like those sad, yellow-orange oranges you see in the grocery store that you stroll past because you know they have no flavor. The flavor (or lack thereof) is too muted. I was hoping to be punched in the face with sunshine citrus here but it’s lackluster at best.
Trader Joe’s Raspberry Lime Sparkling Water
LOVED immediately. It’s got that fun, slightly tart but sweet candy-like raspberry flavor to it. Emphasis on the berry. Which is finished up with a subtle citrusy lime hit. Seriously a fun experience to drink. It’s light and fruity and has 0 calories, what’s not to like here? I want to keep gushing about this flavor, but it really must be tried to be truly appreciated.
The Verdict?
So what are the best flavors of Trader Joe’s fizzy water lineup? In no particular order I have to go with:
- Blueberry Lemonade
- Raspberry Lime
- Grapefruit
Overall I wish Trader Joe’s sparkling water flavors had more realistic flavor profiles. Several of them seem too one-note and artificial. But at $0.79 a bottle, I’m not afraid to keep on sampling as I discover more flavors in-store.
If you LOVE flavored sparkling water as much as I do, you simply must check out my other reviews:
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