Since its debut in 2020, AHA Flavored Sparkling Water has become a standout in the beverage aisle due to its refreshing flavor combinations and vibrant, colorful packaging. The Coca-Cola-backed brand, along with popular competitors like La Croix, bubly, and Spindrift, leads a surge in seltzer sales by appealing to crowds who want a healthier, just-as-fizzy alternative to soda.
When AHA first appeared on shelves, I had only dipped my toe in the sparkling water, uh, waters and generally missed the sweetness I’d become accustomed to in other carbonated beverages. But, determined to cut back on my diet soda intake, I bought a few cans of AHA, which lists only carbonated water and natural flavors as ingredients. Two years later, the brand remains a favorite.
At my local Giant Eagle, I recently discovered three new AHA flavors: Fuji Apple + White Tea, Blackberry + Lemon, and Pineapple + Passionfruit. I exclaimed, “Aha!” before loading them into my cart because I couldn’t resist. (One day, you’re cool, and before you know it, you’re making puns at the grocery store.)
First, I sampled the Fuji Apple + White Tea flavor. Unlike the other two flavors, this variety is caffeinated, containing 30 milligrams of caffeine per can (about the equivalent of 1/2 cup of green tea). It is also the only variety to include electrolyte sources (calcium and magnesium chlorides and potassium bicarbonate) in its list of ingredients.
Although I don’t often gravitate toward apple flavors, I love this product. The water’s carbonation had the same sharp, refreshing bubble quality as other AHA products. It perfectly recalled the taste of a sweet, crisp Fuji. The white tea component was mellow but still detectable in the drink’s smooth finish. Also a fan of AHA’s caffeinated Citrus + Green Tea and Mango + Black Tea flavors, I will add this newest variety to my rotation.
Up next: Blackberry + Lemon. This flavor sounded the best to me on paper but was my least favorite of the three. I detected no lemon notes, which left a dominating blackberry flavor that didn’t taste very realistic. Its perfume-y quality left a harsh aftertaste. The product is not undrinkable, but I won’t buy it again.
Last was Pineapple + Passionfruit. This one made me double-check the ingredients list for fruit juice or sugar. Nope. The sweet, smooth tropical taste, including a subtly tart undercurrent of passionfruit, was purely the product of natural flavors. This product was not only my favorite of the bunch, but also a rival to my favorite AHA flavor, Peach + Honey.
“Aha!” is defined as “an expression of triumphant discovery, surprise, or derision,” so it is appropriate that my reaction to AHA’s new flavors involved a little bit of all three. See? Zero calories, zero sweeteners, and zero sodium do not have to equal boring.
Purchased Price: $3.99 each
Purchased at: Giant Eagle
Size: 8 pack of 12 oz cans
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Fuji Apple + White Tea), 10 out of 10 (Pineapple + Passionfruit), 4 out of 10 (Blackberry + Lemon)
Nutrition Facts: (per 12 oz can – all varieties) 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.