For the last decade, it seems like people in the US have become obsessed with fizzy water. And they’re all pretty interested in finding the best flavors and brands.
More recently, a few fizzy water makers have started using real fruit juice instead of fruit “essence” (which I never really figured out).
If you’re trying to cut down on your juice intake, or if you’re not counting calories (or if you’re trying to accumulate them, like I am), choosing any random type of fizzy water* and adding maybe a half inch of juice at the bottom of your glass (I typically use the fresh-squeezed tangerine juice at TJ’s or the “To the Power of Seven Purple” which is shelf stable) is *so* tasty and refreshing.
*(or make your own, if you have a reliable source of CO2 canisters)
note: I’m surprisingly excited about the raspberry lime at TJ’s. One of my besties really likes the tangerine La Croix. I’ve also been enjoying the black cherry vanilla at TJ’s—it has a cream soda vibe that I’ve missed. You can very easily shift the flavors around with the water or the juice.
I have a spritzer most afternoons with my snack and it ensures that I get at least one big glass of water in the middle of the day.
(I feel like the TJ's fizzy peach (winecooler) is pretty much just the alcoholic version of this, though I’ve heard that wine spritzers are supposed to be made with soda, e.g. 7up)
(There are also seasonal versions of this at TJ’s—around the holidays we stock up on their thin 4-pks of cranberry ginger. The ginger as the fizzy water has an element that is reminiscent of booze + special occasion, so I think of this one as a good non-alcoholic mocktail to serve to guests, and I also keep ginger beer and ginger fizzy water around for this purpose + as a home treatment for upset stomachs; I can serve it cold or make homemade jello with it.)
In the summer, when you may be running low on electrolytes. I recommend supplementing with something like 40,000 volts from Trace Minerals. It tastes terrible, so I mask the flavor by adding it to a juice spritzer.
Warning: I think fizzy water, as well as acid juice like a citrus juice are both mildly corrosive—don’t brush your teeth immediately after a juice spritzer, to minimize abrasion while your enamel is a little softened. Also keep in mind that fruit juice is generally not great for you, because there isn’t any fiber left in the fruit to slow down processing the sugars, so basically: all good things in moderation. No need to overdo and/or get addicted.