If you're as obsessed with your sparkling water maker as we are, you'll be glad to hear that there is a wealth of delicious sparkling water flavours you can add to the water to elevate your fizz. These 'syrups' can be added to your water once it's been bubbled and can transform your sparkling water into just about anything. So, not only will you have a constant supply of sparkling water at your fingertips, but you can also create a plethora of other beverages, from tonic water to fruity sodas and even your own 7UP or Pepsi at home.
Whilst you'll find that a lot of sparkling water flavours and syrups are branded to specific machines, the beauty of these is that you can use them with any sparkling water. That's regardless of the machine you've used or if your sparkling water is shop bought. As syrups and flavouring need to be added once you're water is already full of bubbles, you don't need to worry about any sort of compatibility.
Best sparkling water flavour at a glance:
• Best for taste: SodaStream Pepsi Max Cherry - Buy now from Ocado
• Best for cutting back on plastic: SodaStream Pepsi Max - Buy now from John Lewis
• Best for homemade tonic: SodaStream Classics Diet Tonic - Buy now from Ocado
• Best for mixers: Aarke Drink Mixers Set - Buy now from Aarke
We've shared the best flavours worth buying for your sparkling water, whether you're a fizz-fiend or want to be prepared for those gatherings with family and friends where a bottle of (non-alcoholic) bubbly is always welcome.
Best sparkling water flavour
Best for taste
www.ocado.com
SodaStream Pepsi Max Cherry is one of SodaStream's newest flavours which gives you the low-calorie and sugar-free version of classic Pepsi with the delicious added flavour of cherry. Tasting just as it does out of the bottle, each SodaStream mix gives you 9L of Pepsi Max Cherry so you can have your favourite beverage on tap. Excellent taste, convenience, and value in one.
Our review: "I love Pepsi Max Cherry so was initially sceptical that they'd be able to deliver the same amazing flavour in a mix - was quickly proven wrong. The cherry flavour is a little more prominent - like the Pepsi you may get at a restaurant where the cherry flavouring is more syrup-like - but this hasn't been a problem. In fact, having tried Pepsi Max Cherry from a shop-bought bottle recently, I actually found I preferred the more flavourful SodaStream version. Absolutely delicious and a mix I have stocked in the cupboard."
Pros
- Delicious flavour
- Easy to mix
Cons
- The flavour might be a little overpowering and not to everyone's taste
Best for cutting back on plastic
www.johnlewis.com
You can now make your own Pepsi Max at home! With this Pepsi Max mix, you can make a total of 9L of Pepsi - that's the equivalent of four and a bit 2L bottles from the supermarket. Not only are you, therefore seriously cutting back on plastic, but the flavour is authentic to the Pepsi Max taste you know and love. Designed to last, you can make fresh Pepsi at home to sup delicious sparkling cola whenever you like.
Our review: "As a Pepsi Max lover, with this mix being released, I'd really toyed with getting a SodaStream - and I'm so glad I did. We drink a lot of Pepsi in my household and this meant we could have it available on tap, whenever we wanted, without filling up the recycling bin at record speed. The flavour is surprisingly authentic with the only difference being that it seems a little more watered down - like the Pepsi you'd get at the cinema. I also really like that you can see it turn from sparkling water into Pepsi with the addition of the mix - even though it might not be deemed the 'healthiest' habit to have, seeing the water beforehand made me feel a bit better!"
Pros
- Authentic flavour
- Easy to mix
- Zero sugar
Cons
- Make sure to store those not yet opened in a cool place as advised - the mix became a bit tangy after being left in a hot cupboard space for a few months
Best for homemade tonic
www.ocado.com
Elevate your gin and tonics - and save money while reducing your plastic waste - it takes the sin out of the gin. This zingy flavour is part of the core range of Sodastream Classic flavours. The Diet Tonic flavour costs £5 (or buy in bulk for a better deal). This Sodastream Classic flavour makes 9 litres of flavoured fizzy water. It's a flavoured concentrated drink with sweeteners in a 440ml plastic bottle. Excluding the cap and label, these are made from 100 per cent recycled plastics.
Our review: "A family member noticed that he had less indigestion drinking Sodastream tonic water in comparison to canned Fevertree mixers, which gave him hiccups. And as someone who really enjoys the tang of quinine and opts for tonic water as my go-to soft drink, I can heartily say this Sodastream flavour makes superb tonic water. I'm looking forward to slicing lots of lemons and limes and picking mint from the garden for a big glassful. I know I'll earn the cost back on this Sodastream this summer, by no longer having to carry heavy bottles of soft drinks back from the supermarket. For a refreshing summer drink outdoors - this is well worth it."
Pros
- Natural flavours
- No aspartame
- Saves money in the long run
Cons
- Contains preservatives
Best for mixers
www.aarke.com
Perfect for the home bar, this set of four Aarke drink mixers means you can get creative with your cocktails and mocktails at home. With each bottle making about 15 drinks, the set includes four delicious flavours; bitter orange, spruce tonic, yuzu basil, and spicy ginger in four stylish bottles. Inspired by the Swedish bar scene, each drink has a vibrant taste and makes for a sustainable alternative to shop-bought single-use plastic bottles of pre-made mixers.
Customer review: "This is really tasty drink - something special for people who don't like very sweet soft drinks."
Pros
- Vibrant flavour
- Sustainable alternative to shop-bought mixers
- Stylish design to proudly display on your home bar
Cons
- Each bottle makes max. 15 drinks - can get more from other mixers at a lower cost
Best for easy use
www.ocado.com
Just like the pre-made mix you can buy in the supermarket, SodaStream's 7UP Free is a lemonade-style soft drink that's perfectly balanced with lemon and lime flavours to deliver a crisp, clean, refreshing taste and all with no sugar. Super easy to make, simply add to your bubbles after using your machine, you can make 9L, so you have plenty available to drink. It's also free from aspartame - something you may wish to avoid.
Customer review: "This is a drink I wouldn't buy ever; I only got it as it was sugar-free and to my surprise, I found that I love it, for whatever reason I call it my calm and relaxing drink. Tastes great and goes well with food."
Pros
- 7UP flavour
- Easy to mix
- Zero sugar or aspartame
Cons
- Some experienced a tangy aftertaste
Best organic flavouring
sodastream.co.uk
Feel-good vibes and soda fountain nostalgia are evoked by this vibrant Summer Orange flavour, which is certified organic and contains 20 per cent orange juice concentrate. Interestingly, the drink also contains organic carrot juice concentrate, which one can only assume is to enhance the colour. Make light and refreshing reduced-sugar mocktails, alcohol-free spritzers and fun slushies with this juicy, vegan-friendly and gluten-free cordial.
Our review: "It smells pleasantly of orange and just what I fancy after an invigorating walk along the beach. The colour is not exactly bright orange but that's because we've been conditioned to expect the dazzling hues of Sunny Delight from an eye-watering list of E-numbers. Those artificial additives are long gone - like the summers of our youth - and the all-natural ingredients are a positive reinforcement that this drink won't do me any harm. Soda Press Co want me to "recreate the magical feeling of summer all year round" with this cordial - which is all-lovely - as this is an adult version of orange squash that I used to get at my friends' birthday parties. Forget Capri Sun, this is much lighter and more delicate, but the zesty citrus is there... and I can't taste any carrot."
Pros
- All-natural
- Classy bottle
- A reduced sugar cordial
Cons
- Take a bit of trial and error to get it to suit your taste
Best for vitamins and minerals
en.waterdrop.com
Suitable for use in still and sparkling drinks, the Waterdrop Taster Pack has six Microdrink flavours, so you can find the right flavour for you before committing to the one. Unlike syrups or drops, this flavouring comes in cube form, which you simply drop in your drink and wait to dissolve. Each flavour is made up of natural ingredients with zero sugar, Vitamin C and B Vitamins included. Not to mention, it uses 98 per cent less CO2 and plastic compared to pre-filled beverages in 500ml plastic bottles.
Customer review: "I love these Waterdrop flavours I've used at least three every day over the past two weeks and really enjoyed every flavour. They are definitely helping me drink more water which is a good thing for hydration, plus I've ordered several other packs as I've been so impressed."
Pros
- Vitamins and minerals included
- Range of flavours
- Zero sugar
Cons
- This is a variety pack, so not all flavours may be to your taste
Best for flavour variety
The Aarke flavour drops are designed to give a refreshing hint of flavour to your sparkling water. Simply add five drops to 200ml sparkling water, or to taste, with six different flavours to choose from. Adding a dash of deliciously crisp flavour with sugar, calories, or artificial sweeteners, each Flavour Drip comes naturally from different berries and fruits, meaning they are also vegan and are free from animal-derived ingredients.
Customer review: "Absolutely obsessed with these flavour drops and its so easy to use, just a few drops and you have a new flavoured drink. Perfect to lift any sparkling water and it is so refreshing and uplifting. It tastes great and doesn't have any fake or funny aftertaste."
Pros
- Good flavour variety
- No calories or artificial sweeteners
- Easy to take on the go
Cons
- Might require more drops than stated to get the required flavour
Best for a tangy flavour
sodastream.co.uk
Crisp Apple is a concentrated drink with apple juice and natural apple flavourings from Sodastream Organic, created by Soda Press Co. Compared to other brands it contains 35 per cent less sugar, with 4.8g of sugar versus 8g of sugar in regular soda per/100ml. You can't go wrong with all-natural and organic ingredients as a premium alternative to real sparkling apple soda. Additionally, the substantial glass bottle is totally recyclable and made from 75 per cent recycled glass.
Our review: "It's my favourite of the three Sodastream Organic flavours. A good sniff of the open bottle gives me a hit of crisp green apple. And tasting it is like a levelled up Appletiser with slightly more complex tangy notes. Bubbles bounce over the rim of the glass and the outside is developing that wonderful chill that you get from very cold water. Drinking it is utterly refreshing and a bit of a morning pep in my coastal kitchen. I feel as invigorated as the seagulls seem to be! A wonderful and authentic apple taste that's refreshing and tasty. Also, it's a delicate golden colour, that looks very much like a glass of prosecco. Finally, I'm excited by the versatility of the Sodastream Organic flavours - I even mixed some Crisp Apple in with the Diet Tonic Sodastream flavour and thought it paired beautifully."
Pros
- Tangy apple flavour
- Versatile
Cons
- Need to add a lot to get a good taste
How do you add flavours?
Unlike you might with a squash, you must always fizz your water in your sparkling water maker before adding any flavour. Adding your flavour beforehand brings the water level too high and risks clogging the nozzle on your machine.
Once you've got your water fizzy and ready to go, follow the instructions of your chosen flavouring to add to the water.
SodaStream advises the following:
Syrups: Use the indicated lines on the cap of the flavour bottle to choose a regular or light sweetness level. Tilt the carbonating bottle at an angle and pour the flavour into your sparkling water.
Soda Press drink mixes: Add 2 tbsp (30 mL) of the Soda Press syrup to about a 2/3 cup (170 mL) of sparkling water. You can adjust the amount of syrup you add according to your taste.
Fruit drops: Take approximately half a teaspoon of your chosen flavour to use with one litre of sparkling or still water. Tilt the carbonating bottle at an angle and add the fruit drops.
What are the benefits of a sparkling water maker?
Having your own sparkling water maker at home has its benefits. Firstly, you can customise the level of fizziness to suit your needs. When speaking to sparkling water experts at SodaStream, they said, "Whether you like your sparkling water lightly fizzed or as bubbly as possible, you can sparkle your water to the exact level you like with the push of a button and add any flavours you like to make your perfect drink." Get creative with flavours and syrups, and take control of how much sugar is in your drinks if you do like a sweet beverage.
Choosing a sparkling water maker will also help to cut back on plastic waste. SodaStream goes on to add, "Do your part to look after the environment by making your own sparkling water at home, rather than buying ready-made bottles. SodaStream cuts the need to buy single-use plastic bottles, turning tap water into delicious sparkling water." The same can be said if you're a cola fan, as you won't need to buy your favourite fizz by the bottle.
Plus, you'll no longer end up accidentally running out as it's always on tap. However, you will need to consider the cost. This will depend on your sparkling water consumption and choice of machine, but as an example, a SodaStream gas cylinder refill will cost you around £20 and will give you 60L of sparkling water. So, that's £0.33 per litre.
In comparison, a supermarket's own-brand sparkling water could cost you anywhere from £0.40 to £1, depending on where you shop. Let's go with ASDA's four-pack of 2L sparkling water, costing £1.03. This works out at £0.12 per litre, so it's cheaper to purchase from the supermarket - even without the cost of the machine itself.
However, if it's the flavoured, branded products you love, you could be saving money in the long run. For example, a 2L bottle of Pepsi Max costs £2 - making it a whole £1 per litre. In comparison, the cost a SodaStream Pepsi Max mix (£6 for 9L) will cost you £0.66. Obviously, you'll need to factor in the cost of the machine and gas cylinder on top, but it frees you up to make a plethora of drink options without the risk of your fizz going flat in the kitchen cupboard.
It's also worth noting that sparkling water has its benefits too, from increased hydration to relieving constipation - the more you know!
Flavoured sparkling water recipes
As well as buying these delicious ready-made, sparkling water flavours, you can try making your own with these flavour combinations:
Ginger, lime and mint
Cucumber and mint
Apple, elderflower and mint
Kumquat and rosemary
Turmeric and honey
We'd also recommend checking out the following recipe selection,s which are packed with flavour combo inspiration,n including mocktails, cocktails, slushies, and punch.
Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Yours, specialising in home décor, furnishings and appliances. Having worked commercially on Yours magazine and Yours.co.uk for the past six years, she's previously hosted Yours Live events and loves looking for home inspiration online.
