In a world filled with supplements and sports science, it’s an inarguable fact that getting enough water works miracles for your body and performance. A good water intake helps to improve skin health, digestion, muscle function and cognitive ability.
Of course, it's also vital during exercise, particularly if you sweat a lot.
Water flavouring can help to enhance your hydration, making the taste less monotonous and encouraging you to drink more water. It can also reduce your consumption of sugary drinks, which can be bad for your gut, weight and teeth.
Many water flavourings use natural ingredients or vitamins, which can also be beneficial for your health. If you’re looking to get hold of some good water flavourings, we’ve listed our top picks below.
Best water flavouring in 2024
SweetLeaf Water Drops
SweetLeaf says its Water Drops are crafted to be fully flavourful and wholesome, while they're also gluten-free, sugar-free and keto-friendly.
The brand also claims the drops use all-natural ingredients, with the sweetness coming entirely from stevia. This means there are no artificial ingredients and no carbohydrates, which is why the drops are said to also not provoke a glycaemic response.
The droplets are also zero calorie, gluten-free and keto-friendly. They’re completely absent of sugar, making them a good choice for mindful consumers.
Sugar content: None
Sweetener: Stevia
Available flavours: Peach Mango, Berry, Lemon Lime, Raspberry Lemonade, Tropical
Bulk Stevia LiquiFlav
- Buy now from Bulk (£3.49)
Stevia LiquiFlav from Bulk uses a natural sweetener derived from stevia that offers a way to infuse flavour into meals and beverages.
These LiquiFlavs are a smart choice for those seeking to enhance taste while minimising sugar and calories, with zero calories and sugars per serving.
Alongside water, they’re designed to be a versatile addition to protein shakes, yoghurts, cereals, smoothies and more, with more unconventional flavours like caramel and vanilla.
Sugar content: None
Sweetener: Stevia
Available flavours: Caramel, Vanilla
Dash Water
- Buy now from Dash Water (£48.00)
With four cans of each flavour in this 48 can variety pack, you can get a diverse taste experience every day or share with the whole family.
Dash Water says its drink is a refreshing alternative to sugary sodas that boasts a soda-like taste without any sugar, sweeteners or calories.
It’s crafted with only three pure ingredients: spring water, fruit and bubbles. The fruit comes surplus produce, which Dash say helps to cut down on waste.
Sugar content: None
Sweetener: Natural fruit
Available flavours: Raspberry, Peach, Lemon, Blackcurrant
Air Up Water Bottle
This innovative bottle allows you to enjoy calorie-free flavours through scent, without adding any artificial additives or sweeteners to your water.
By pairing your sips with aromatic pods, the Air Up Water Bottle is designed to elevate your hydration and transform the way you perceive taste, all while keeping your water refreshing and free from sugars.
It uses retronasal science to flavour up to five litres of water per pod. There are a range of pods available from Air Up, with different seasonal combinations.
Sugar content: None
Sweetener: None
Available flavours: Everything from berry to coffee
Liquid I.V. Electrolyte Powder
Liquid I.V’s Hydration Multiplier is a Non-GMO electrolyte drink mix fortified with Cellular Transport Technology. It’s said to double hydration delivery compared to water alone.
Liquid I.V say each stick of the mix packs three times the electrolytes found in traditional sports drinks, coupled with five vital vitamins. If you’re looking for flavoured water to boost performance, this could be a good option.
Sugar content: None
Sweetener: Allulose
Available flavours: Lemon/Citrus
Waterdrop Starter Set
Waterdrop’s Starter Set includes six Microdrink flavours with three hydration cubes each, all enriched with natural fruit extracts, essential vitamins and the benefits of being calorie-free, sugar-free, gluten-free and suitable for vegans.
Complete with a high-quality borosilicate glass bottle, available in either 600ml or one litre size, this set offers a stylish and sustainable hydration solution.
Sugar content: None
Sweetener: Allulose
Available flavours: Everything from cola to elderflower, with different bottles included
What to look for when buying water flavouring
Nutrition
Check the sugar content of the flavouring. Choose options with little to no added sugars, or those that use natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit.
If you're looking to minimise calorie intake, opt for low-calorie or zero-calorie flavourings.
Artificial additives
Avoid flavourings with artificial additives, including artificial sweeteners and preservatives. For most, a clean ingredient list is preferable.
Sustainability
Consider brands that are environmentally conscious and take steps to minimise packaging waste and their carbon footprint.
This is especially important with flavourings that require pods or capsules.