Waterloo is the Austin, Texas brand that built its whole reputation on one promise: bolder flavor than La Croix. Founded in 2017, it’s still independently owned, which is unusual in this category since most of the big names (Bubly, Perrier, San Pellegrino) belong to Pepsi, Nestlé, or Coca-Cola. Waterloo answers to nobody but itself, and its tagline sums up the approach: “Water Down Nothing.”
That approach clearly worked. What started as a small Austin upstart is now sold in more than 18,000 retail locations, and the company says it grew three times faster than the category average in 2025.
Waterloo Sparkling Water Ingredients
Every can is purified water, carbon dioxide, and Non-GMO Project Verified natural flavors. That’s it. Zero calories, zero grams of sugar, zero sweeteners of any kind (natural or artificial, so no stevia or monk fruit either), and zero sodium. The complete waterloo sparkling water ingredients list is clean and simple. It’s also caffeine free across the entire lineup.
Waterloo uses roughly three times more natural flavoring than a lot of its competitors, which is the reason the flavor tastes stronger and lands closer to the real fruit. There’s no juice in any Waterloo can — it’s all built from natural flavor extracts. Does Waterloo use natural flavors? Yes, the brand uses extracts derived from real botanical sources to achieve its punchy profile.
The water itself starts as purified tap water rather than a spring source, which goes through a multi-step filtration process before carbonating and canning.
Waterloo Flavor List & At A Glance Guide
If you are looking for the complete waterloo flavor list, the table below ranks and details every core and seasonal option, including a quick shop link for each.
| Flavor | Profile | Main Notes | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grape ⭐ | Rich, bold, authentic | Fresh grape garden taste (Best seller) | Buy |
| Black Cherry | Deep, full-bodied | Tart and sweet scrambled cherries | Buy |
| Lemon Lime | Crisp, clean citrus | Sour lime and zesty lemon blend | Buy |
| Watermelon | Candy-like, summery | Sweet watermelon Jolly Rancher energy | Buy |
| Strawberry | Bright, true berry | Sweet pulp, no sour aftertaste | Buy |
| Peach | Soft, aromatic stone fruit | Juicy fresh-plucked peaches | Buy |
| Grapefruit | Citrus-forward, tart | Ruby Red zesty tangerine/grapefruit notes | Buy |
| Summer Berry | Fruity, slightly sour blend | Rich raspberry, blackberry combo | Buy |
| Orange | Sweet-tart citrus | Vibrant juicy orange essence | Buy |
| Pineapple | Zesty, tropical sweet | Sun-ripened pineapple slices | Buy |
| Blueberry | Invigorating tart-sweet | Scrumptious ripe blueberries | Buy |
| Original | Plain, crisp carbonation | Purified carbonated water only | Buy |
Best Waterloo Flavors: Core Reviews
In this waterloo sparkling water review, we evaluate the best waterloo flavors based on how closely they resemble real fruit. Here is our ranking of the top options. Which Waterloo flavor is the best? Grape is the consensus favorite.
Waterloo Grape ⭐ Top pick
Waterloo grape is the brand’s signature flavor and the bestseller since launch. It reads like real grape — crisp, firm-skinned, and bold — rather than grape candy or medicine. A well-blended, energy-restoring choice that has won over many former LaCroix fans. Which Waterloo flavor tastes most like soda? Waterloo grape is a strong contender because of its rich, grape-soda-like aroma.
Summer Berry
Waterloo summer berry is a fantastic blend that carries a rich mix of blackberry and raspberry. It’s bold, tart-sweet, and brings a refreshing berry character with a healthy dose of carbonation.
Black Cherry
Deep and full-flavored, closer to a rich cherry than the thin flavor of competitors. Highly carbonated, natural, and free of artificial sweeteners.
Watermelon
Watermelon leans candy-sweet, reminiscent of a watermelon Jolly Rancher. Serve it cold and enjoy it fast for the best sweet-tart profile.
Other Core Flavors
- Orange: Waterloo orange vanilla is technically the orange flavor, though they also sell a straight orange. The orange vanilla option delivers a sweet-cream citrus flavor that stands out in the category.
- Blueberry: Invigorating ripe blueberry notes with an ideal balance of tartness.
- Peach: Waterloo peach offers soft, aromatic stone fruit notes of fresh-plucked peaches. Best served cold.
- Pineapple Coconut: A distinctive tropical combination that rounds out the citrus tang.
- Cherry Limeade: Waterloo cherry limeade blends cherry and lime, with lime dominating the notes and giving it a soda-shop style finish.
- Grapefruit (Ruby Red): Bold, authentic grapefruit bitterness that ranks highly.
- Cran Raspberry: Tart and berry-forward.
- Ginger Citrus Twist: Spicy ginger warmth combined with citrus zest.
- Blackberry Lemonade: Waterloo blackberry lemonade combines sweet blackberry blended with sharp lemonade.
- Guava Berry: Light, tropical, and subtle.
- Tropical Fruit: Waterloo tropical fruit brings a cocktail-like blend of pineapple, mango, and passionfruit essences.
- Lemon Lime: Waterloo lemon lime is a clean, crisp, sour lime and zesty lemon blend that competes directly with Sprite.
New Waterloo Flavors
What is the newest Waterloo flavor? Waterloo has been moving fast on new waterloo flavors, introducing several seasonal and permanent options:
- Lemon Italian Ice: Guy Fieri collab. Proved so popular it graduated to a permanent year-round flavor in 2026.
- Banana Berry Bliss: A creamy banana, orange, and berry mix.
- Melon Medley: A juicy mix of honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon.
- Dessert Series (Fieri Collab): Apple Pie A La Mode, Coconut Lime Cooler, and Root Beer Float. These new waterloo flavors bring a nostalgic dessert profile to the unsweetened sparkling water category.
Waterloo Sparkling Water Variety Packs
The variety pack carries 24 cans containing several Waterloo flavors, helping you test them all in one go rather than purchasing multiple packs separately.
The Waterloo PFAS and Quality Controversy
There’s no independent, published PFAS test result for Waterloo specifically. It wasn’t included in Consumer Reports’ widely cited 2020 test of 12 sparkling water brands. Waterloo states its water goes through multi-step filtration and meets federal and local standards, but that’s a company statement rather than third-party lab data.
In January 2026, a TikTok creator publicly asked Waterloo for its annual bottled water quality report. The company responded that its products are not classified as “drinking water,” so that particular report doesn’t apply. The exchange drew criticism online for a perceived lack of transparency, though it didn’t reveal any specific contamination finding.
Waterloo vs LaCroix: Is Waterloo Healthier Than LaCroix?
When comparing Waterloo vs LaCroix, both brands offer zero calories and zero sugar. The main difference lies in flavor style: Waterloo uses roughly three times the flavor concentration of LaCroix, giving it a much bolder taste that registers immediately. In terms of health, both are excellent options, but LaCroix publishes its PFAS testing results (1.16 ppt in 2020), whereas Waterloo has no independent public data. Neither contains sodium, sugar, or sweeteners.
| Brand | Calories | Sodium | Sweetener | Flavor Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | 0 | 0 mg | None | Bold, intense, closer to real fruit |
| LaCroix | 0 | 0 mg | None | Subtle, essence-based |
🍇 Waterloo Flavor Finder Quiz
Answer 2 quick questions to find your ultimate bold Waterloo flavor match!
1. What is your preferred flavor profile?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are all Waterloo sparkling water flavors?
Waterloo offers around 18 flavors. Year-round options include Grape, Black Cherry, Lemon-Lime, Watermelon, Strawberry, Mango, Peach, Grapefruit, Blueberry, Blackberry Lemonade, Lemon Italian Ice, Banana Berry Bliss, and Melon Medley. Seasonal flavors include Summer Berry and the Dessert Series (Apple Pie, Coconut Lime, Root Beer Float).
Which Waterloo flavor is the best?
Grape is Waterloo's best-selling and most popular flavor, praised for tasting like real grape rather than artificial candy. Black Cherry and Summer Berry are also highly rated for their bold berry profiles.
What is the newest Waterloo flavor?
The newest Waterloo flavors include Melon Medley, Banana Berry Bliss, and the limited-edition summer Dessert Series: Apple Pie à la Mode, Coconut Lime Cooler, and Root Beer Float.
Does Waterloo use natural flavors?
Yes. Waterloo uses natural flavor extracts derived from real botanical and fruit sources. It is Non-GMO Project Verified and contains no artificial flavors or synthetic colors.
Is Waterloo healthier than LaCroix?
Both are extremely healthy zero-sugar options. The choice is down to taste: Waterloo has a bolder, more intense flavor profile, while LaCroix has a more subtle essence. Neither contains calories, sugar, or sweeteners.
Does Waterloo contain sodium?
No. Waterloo sparkling water contains zero milligrams of sodium per serving across all flavors. It is completely sodium-free.
Is Waterloo sweetened?
No. Waterloo contains no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or natural sugar substitutes like stevia or erythritol. The taste comes entirely from unsweetened natural flavor extracts.
Which Waterloo flavor tastes most like soda?
Waterloo Grape and Black Cherry are most frequently cited as tasting like soda due to their rich, bold aromas and robust flavor profiles. The seasonal Root Beer Float also mimics soda flavor profiles very closely.
Where can you buy Waterloo sparkling water?
Waterloo is sold nationwide at major retailers like Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Costco, as well as online through Amazon and major grocery delivery services.
Does Waterloo have caffeine?
No. Every flavor of Waterloo sparkling water is 100% caffeine-free, including all seasonal, limited-edition, and collaboration releases.