Kara Goldin quit drinking diet soda, started infusing her water with fruit at home, and then built a beverage company around the idea. That is the origin story of Hint, and it still explains why the brand exists: water that actually tastes like fruit without any sugar, sweeteners, or caloric ingredients getting in the way. The sparkling line takes that same philosophy and adds carbonation plus a touch of electrolytes.
Hint sparkling water flavors are zero-calorie, zero-sugar carbonated waters infused with natural fruit essences and electrolytes. The lineup includes flavors like Blackberry, Cherry, Peach Raspberry, Strawberry Lemon, and seasonal combinations, all made without diet sweeteners, preservatives, or juice. Hint regularly rotates its sparkling flavors, adding new layered combinations and retiring others throughout the year.
What makes Hint different from most sparkling water brands is what it leaves out. There is no sucralose, no aspartame, no stevia, no erythritol. In a market where many “zero sugar” drinks achieve their sweetness through artificial or natural sugar substitutes, Hint uses nothing but fruit essence and carbonation. U.S. bottled water retail sales hit $51.3 billion in 2025 according to the International Bottled Water Association, and Hint has carved out a real niche within that market for people who read ingredient labels carefully. This is the full honest guide to every Hint sparkling water flavor, published here on sparklingwaterflavors.com by the Sparkling Water Flavors Team.
What Is Hint Sparkling Water?
Hint sparkling water is a carbonated, fruit-infused water made by Hint, Inc., the company founded by Kara Goldin in 2005. The sparkling line launched as an extension of Hint’s original still (non-carbonated) fruit water. Each can contains purified carbonated water, natural fruit flavors, and electrolytes (potassium bicarbonate and magnesium citrate). There are zero calories, zero sugar, and zero diet sweeteners.
The electrolytes in Hint Sparkling serve mainly as a flavor enhancer. They add a slight crispness to the taste and a cleaner mouthfeel, but the amounts are small and not positioned as a sports hydration supplement. Think of them as a finishing touch rather than a performance feature.
Hint is vegan, gluten-free, kosher-certified, and free from preservatives. The brand sells through Target, Walmart, Amazon, Costco, and its own website at drinkhint.com.
Hint Sparkling Water Nutrition Facts
Hint sparkling water nutrition facts are consistent across all flavors. Per one 12 fl oz can:
| Nutrient | Amount per can (355 mL) | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 0 | 0% |
| Total Fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 0 g | 0% |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0% |
| Protein | 0 g | 0% |
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030, now recommend that Americans limit added sugar intake, with no more than 10 grams of added sugars per meal. Sugar-sweetened beverages remain a leading source of excess sugar in American diets, according to the CDC. Hint Sparkling bypasses the issue entirely: no sugar, no sweetener, no calories.
Hint Sparkling Water Ingredients
Hint sparkling water ingredients for a typical flavor include:
- Purified carbonated water
- Natural fruit flavors
- Potassium bicarbonate (electrolyte)
- Magnesium citrate (electrolyte)
No juice, no sugar, no diet sweeteners, no preservatives. The “natural fruit flavors” are derived from real fruit but are not juice; they are flavor extracts that provide taste without adding calories or sugar.
The electrolyte addition is a distinguishing feature. Most zero-calorie sparkling waters (LaCroix, bubly, Waterloo) do not include electrolytes. Hint adds potassium bicarbonate and magnesium citrate at low levels, which contributes to a slightly smoother, crisper taste profile without adding sodium.
Hint Still vs Hint Sparkling: What Is the Difference?
| Feature | Hint Still | Hint Sparkling |
|---|---|---|
| Carbonation | None | Yes |
| Electrolytes | No | Yes (potassium bicarbonate, magnesium citrate) |
| Calories | 0 | 0 |
| Sugar | 0 g | 0 g |
| Packaging | Bottles (16 oz) | Cans (12 oz) |
| Flavor count | 16+ | 10+ (rotating) |
The still line is the original Hint product and has a larger flavor selection. The sparkling line is newer, adds carbonation and electrolytes, and tends to feature layered flavor combinations (like Peach Raspberry or Cherry Vanilla) rather than single-fruit options.
Hint Sparkling Flavors at a Glance
| Flavor | Profile | Main Notes | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackberry ⭐ | Bold, deep, authentic berry | Ripe blackberry juices, flagship favorite | Buy |
| Cherry | Approachable red cherry | Fresh red cherry essence, light tartness | Buy |
| Peach Raspberry | Smooth, stone fruit & berry combo | Sweet peach leading into a sharp raspberry finish | Buy |
| Strawberry Lemon | Bright, summery berry citrus | Ripe strawberry pulp with a tangy lemon wrap | Buy |
| Blueberry Lemon | Tart, round, and zesty | Earthy blueberry notes cut with sharp lemon juice | Buy |
| Cherry Vanilla | Creamy, dessert-like cherry | Sweet red cherry rounded out by warm vanilla notes | Buy |
| Guava Lychee | Exotic, tropical, and floral | Musky tropical guava balanced by perfumy lychee | Buy |
| Pink Grapefruit | Pithy, zesty, clean citrus | Bitter-sweet grapefruit rind essence, dry finish | Buy |
| Lime | Sharp, zesty, basic citrus | Pure key lime peel extracts, refreshing bite | Buy |
| Tangerine | Warm, sweet orange citrus | Soft clementine juice notes, zero tartness | Buy |
Every Hint Sparkling Water Flavor Reviewed
Blackberry
Blackberry is the flagship flavor of the Hint sparkling lineup and the one most often recommended to first-time buyers. The blackberry note is clean and true to the fruit: it reads as ripe, slightly tart berries rather than candy or jam. The aroma from the can is immediate and recognizable, with a dark berry scent that sets your expectations before you take the first sip. On the palate, the flavor is medium-intensity. It is not as bold as what you would get from a Spindrift or Sparkling Ice, but it is meaningfully more present than many seltzers that taste like berry-scented air. The electrolytes add a subtle smoothness to the finish. The carbonation is moderate and consistent. This is a great all-around sparkling water for daily drinking, and the berry flavor holds up well even as the can sits open for a few minutes.
Cherry
Cherry delivers a classic red cherry flavor that sits on the sweeter side of the Hint sparkling spectrum. The aroma is bright and fruity, and the taste reads as fresh cherry with a light tartness that keeps it from feeling flat. It is not the bold, dark cherry you get from a black cherry sparkling water; it is lighter, more approachable, and less assertive. The carbonation lifts the cherry note nicely. The electrolyte addition gives the finish a slightly mineral quality that works well with the fruit. This is a good pick for people who want a straightforward, familiar fruit flavor without surprises. It is easy to drink in volume and does not cause flavor fatigue over the course of a full can.
Peach Raspberry
Peach Raspberry is one of Hint’s layered-flavor sparkling waters and one of the best examples of the brand’s recent strategy of combining two fruits into a single can. The peach leads with a soft, floral stone-fruit note, and the raspberry follows with a tart, bright berry finish. The two flavors are well balanced: the peach provides warmth and the raspberry provides acidity, and together they create a drink that feels more complete than either fruit alone. The carbonation sits at a medium level that lets both flavors express themselves. This is the Hint sparkling flavor to reach for when you want something with a little more complexity than a single-fruit option but still want zero calories and zero sweeteners.
Strawberry Lemon
Strawberry Lemon pairs a soft berry sweetness with a citrus punch. The strawberry note is the primary flavor on the palate, arriving first with a gentle, ripe-berry quality. The lemon comes through on the finish, adding tartness and brightness that prevents the strawberry from feeling too one-dimensional. The combination is summery and refreshing, and it works well very cold. This is the type of flavor that appeals to people who drink fruit-infused water at home: it tastes like dropping fresh strawberries and a lemon wedge into a glass of sparkling water. The electrolytes add their usual subtle smoothness without interfering with the fruit profile. A solid everyday option.
Blueberry Lemon
Blueberry Lemon takes the berry-plus-citrus formula and shifts it toward a darker, slightly richer profile. The blueberry note is mild and reads as fresh berries with a subtle sweetness. The lemon is brighter here than the strawberry version, with a sharper citrus edge that cuts through the blueberry cleanly. The result is a drink that leans slightly more tart than sweet. The carbonation is consistent and medium-bodied. This flavor is a good pick for people who find straight blueberry sparkling water too faint, because the lemon gives it backbone. It pairs well with lunch foods and works as a cleaner-tasting alternative to blueberry lemonade.
Cherry Vanilla
Cherry Vanilla is one of the newer additions to the Hint sparkling lineup, arriving with the brand’s 2026 refresh. The cherry note is the same clean, red-cherry profile from the standalone Cherry flavor, but the vanilla adds a smooth, warm undertone that makes the drink feel richer. The vanilla is subtle, more of a suggestion than a strong presence, but it rounds out the cherry in a way that gives the drink a slightly more dessert-like quality. The carbonation and electrolytes work together to keep the flavor from feeling heavy. This is the Hint sparkling flavor for people who want something that feels like a treat. It reads almost like a cherry cream soda without any of the sugar or sweeteners.
Guava Lychee
Guava Lychee is the most tropical and most unusual flavor in the current Hint sparkling lineup. Guava brings a musky, tropical sweetness, and lychee adds a perfumy, floral lift. Together they create a flavor that feels distinctly different from anything else on the Hint shelf. The aroma is immediately inviting, with a tropical fruit character that sets it apart from the berry and citrus options. On the palate, the guava is the dominant note, with the lychee adding brightness and complexity on the finish. This flavor will appeal to people who enjoy tropical fruits and are willing to try something outside the standard sparkling water flavor range. It is a bold choice from Hint and a good one.
Pink Grapefruit
Pink Grapefruit is one of the original Hint sparkling launch flavors. The grapefruit note is clean and honest, with the natural bitterness of real grapefruit coming through alongside a mild tartness. It is not as aggressively bitter as some competing grapefruit sparkling waters, which makes it more approachable for drinkers who are grapefruit-curious but not grapefruit-committed. The carbonation is moderate and works well with the citrus profile. The electrolytes smooth out the finish slightly. This is a reliable, everyday citrus sparkling water that does not try to be anything more than what it is: clean grapefruit water with fizz. A solid choice for meals.
Lime
Lime is the simplest citrus option in the Hint sparkling lineup. The lime note is sharp and zesty, with a clean, straightforward character that reads as real lime peel. There is a slight bitterness on the finish that gives the drink a small amount of edge beyond basic lime seltzer. The electrolytes contribute a subtle mineral smoothness. The carbonation is consistent. This is the Hint sparkling flavor to reach for when you want something familiar and uncomplicated, or when you need a base for a mocktail that will not fight with other ingredients. It does exactly what it promises and nothing more.
Tangerine
Tangerine delivers a warm, sweet citrus flavor that is softer and rounder than the Lime or Pink Grapefruit. The tangerine note reads as a peeled mandarin-type citrus with a gentle, almost floral sweetness. It is not tart or sharp; it leans into the sweeter side of the citrus spectrum. The carbonation lifts the flavor without overwhelming the delicate fruit character. This is a good pick for people who find lemon and lime sparkling waters too aggressive and want something gentler in the citrus category. The warm sweetness of the tangerine also makes it work well as a late-afternoon drink when you want something light and easy.
How Hint Sparkling Compares to Other Brands
| Feature | Hint Sparkling | LaCroix | bubly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sugar | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g |
| Electrolytes | Yes | No | No |
| Diet sweeteners | None | None | None |
| Flavor style | Layered fruit combos | Single fruit essences | Single fruit, some combos |
| Caffeine | No | No | Yes (Bounce line only) |
| Direct-to-consumer | Yes (drinkhint.com) | No | No |
Hint’s biggest differentiators are the electrolyte addition and the strong direct-to-consumer model through drinkhint.com. The brand also takes a more creative approach to flavor combinations, releasing new layered combos regularly. Pricing runs higher than LaCroix and bubly at retail, but the Hint website frequently offers subscription deals and variety packs at competitive per-can costs. For more detailed flavor comparisons, check out our guide to bubly sparkling water flavors on sparklingwaterflavors.com.
Is Hint Sparkling Water Good for You?
Hint sparkling water is a healthy choice for most people. It has zero calories, zero sugar, and no diet sweeteners of any kind, which puts it ahead of many “zero sugar” alternatives that rely on sucralose or stevia. The added electrolytes (potassium bicarbonate and magnesium citrate) are present at low levels and contribute mainly to taste rather than serving as a meaningful electrolyte supplement.
Sparkling water counts toward your daily fluid intake, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The slight acidity from carbonation is minimal and far less erosive to tooth enamel than sugary drinks. Drinking it with meals reduces any minor acidity risk.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030, emphasize cutting sugar-sweetened beverages. Hint Sparkling contains nothing to cut.
Key Takeaways on Hint Sparkling Water Flavors
Hint sparkling water stands out by combining zero calories, zero sugar, and zero diet sweeteners with added electrolytes and layered fruit flavors, a combination no other major brand matches exactly.
The strongest flavors in the current lineup are Blackberry for a clean berry experience, Peach Raspberry for a more layered profile, and Guava Lychee for something tropical and different.
Hint rotates its flavor lineup regularly, so the best way to stay current is checking drinkhint.com or trying the variety packs at retail.
For more sparkling water flavor guides and honest comparisons, browse sparklingwaterflavors.com to find the right fit for your taste.
References
- International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), “Bottled Water Market: 2025 Data,” bottledwater.org
- Hint, Inc., “Our Products,” drinkhint.com
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030, realfood.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Get the Facts: Added Sugars,” cdc.gov
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “The Nutrition Source: Water,” hsph.harvard.edu
- BevNET, “Hint Refreshes Sparkling Lineup, May 2026,” bevnet.com
🍊 Hint Flavor Matcher Quiz
Answer 2 quick questions to discover your ideal Hint Sparkling match!
1. What is your fruit flavor style?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Hint water sparkling flavors?
Hint sparkling water flavors rotate seasonally. Commonly available options include Blackberry, Cherry, Peach Raspberry, Strawberry Lemon, Blueberry Lemon, Cherry Vanilla, Guava Lychee, Pink Grapefruit, Lime, and Tangerine. The brand frequently adds new layered combinations.
Which Hint water flavor is the best?
Blackberry and Peach Raspberry are consistently the best-received Hint sparkling flavors. Blackberry delivers a bold, clean berry experience, while Peach Raspberry layers soft stone fruit with a tart berry finish.
Does Hint water have caffeine?
No. Hint sparkling water is entirely caffeine free across all current flavors. The brand does not offer any caffeinated sparkling options.
Where to buy Hint water sparkling flavors?
Hint sparkling water is available at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Costco, and through drinkhint.com. Variety packs are a good way to sample multiple flavors. Some options are online exclusives.
Is Hint water sparkling or still?
Hint makes both. Hint Still is the original non-carbonated fruit-infused water. Hint Sparkling is the carbonated version with added electrolytes. They are separate product lines.
How many Hint water flavors are there?
Hint offers dozens of flavors across its Still, Sparkling, and Kids lines. The sparkling lineup alone has included more than a dozen flavors, though availability shifts as the brand adds and retires options.
Does Hint water have sugar?
No. Hint sparkling water has zero sugar, zero diet sweeteners, and zero calories. The flavor comes entirely from natural fruit essences.
Is Hint water flavored with real fruit?
Hint uses natural fruit essences and flavors derived from real fruit, but there is no actual juice in the can. This keeps calories and sugar at zero.
What is the newest Hint water flavor?
Hint refreshed its sparkling lineup in May 2026 with layered flavors like Cherry Vanilla and Guava Lychee. Check drinkhint.com for the latest availability.
Is Hint water good for you?
Yes. Hint sparkling water has zero calories, zero sugar, no diet sweeteners, and added electrolytes. It counts toward daily hydration and is a clean swap for soda or juice.