How to Make Sparkling Water Less Blah & More YUM

Curious about what you can easily add to sparkling water to jazz it up this summer without adding a ton of sugar?

Think sparkling water is boring? Think again with these drink hacks!

If you’ve ever sipped a sparkling water and thought, “This tastes…meh,” you’re not alone. While fizzy water is a healthier choice than soda, it can sometimes fall flat in the flavor department. The great news is, there are a few easy ways to hack your drink into a refreshing beverage worth getting excited about!

If you are interested in more natural and low-sugar methods, this post is mostly about healthy water flavoring.

Here’s my top 6 methods on how to make sparkling water taste better:

1. A squeeze of fresh citrus can do wonders. 

Consider adding a few squeezes of fresh lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit to boost the flavor in sparkling water! In a pinch, you can even try adding a sprinkle of True Lime from the packet.

2. Use frozen fruit as ice cubes. 

Frozen blueberries, raspberries, and pineapple are excellent options. They chill your drink and slowly infuse flavor as they thaw.

3. Mix with flavored electrolyte powder. 

Look for low-sugar or natural options. These often come in fun flavors like pineapple, watermelon, or cucumber lime. Hydration packets are packed with electrolytes (like sodium, potassium, magnesium) that can help your body absorb water more efficiently — great for workouts, travel, heat, or hangovers

Here are two of my personal favorites: 

4. Infuse with natural extracts. 

Consider adding a little vanilla, almond, peppermint, or lemon extract for a fun twist. Fresh herbs like mint would also be something to consider adding for natural flavor.

5. Try adding balsamic vinegar. 

Hip2Save owner Collin loves to mix lemoncello sparkling water with a little balsamic vinegar for a unique taste. It gives it a surprisingly sweet, tangy, and complex flavor like a soda or mocktail! The rich umami flavor can tone down the bitterness of plain sparkling water.

6. Use sparkling water as a base to create unique mocktails!

This easy tarte cherry lime mocktail features lemon-lime sparkling water and cherry juice, which turns out to be a delicious combination and perfectly refreshing and fizzy. Garnish with some fresh cherries or sweeter maraschino ones.

What’s your favorite method to level up a sparkling water? Share with us in the comments so we can all get ideas for this summer! 

Here are 6 other refreshing mocktails to make this summer!