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This article is part of Dry January, Straight Up, your no-BS guide to cutting out alcohol for 31 days—or longer. SELF will be publishing new articles for this series throughout January. Read more here.
Alcohol has never really been my thing. I don’t like how it makes me feel (anxious AF) or how most of it tastes (like nail polish remover). In the past, not wanting to sip a glass of red wine at a nice dinner or do shots on a Friday night made me self-conscious, especially when I was nursing a glass of water while everyone around me was ordering another round. But now, nonalcoholic drinks are in—which means I can sip a refreshing mocktail at my own pace, and there’s less of a chance someone will bother me about why I’m not drinking.
Some zero-proof spirits that are technically nonalcoholic still taste like a hangover waiting to happen. If you’re like me and you don’t miss the burn of alcohol (or if having a drink that mimics it isn’t a great idea for your sobriety), reach for a refreshing bev that won’t make you second-guess whether it’ll give you a buzz instead. We tested a bunch of sodas, teas, seltzers, and other drinks that’ll quench your thirst—we’re confident one of our picks will become a new favorite in your fridge.
Our top picksBest Soda: Culture Pop SodaBest Tea: Just Ice TeaBest Seltzer: Topo Chico SaboresBest Sparkling: San Pellegrino Italian Sparkling DrinkBest Mix-In: Rose’s Sweetened Lime JuiceBest Coconut Water: Once Upon A Coconut WaterBest Coffee: Pop & Bottle Oat Milk LatteShop the best nonalcoholic drinksThese are the fruity, sweet, and fizzy refreshments we always stock up on.
Best Soda: Culture Pop SodaProsNot too sweetComes in a bunch of flavorsAvailable in variety packsConsVery fizzyI’ve never been able to fully get on board with flavored seltzers—tasting fruit essence without the tanginess or sweetness just seems unnatural. Enter Culture Pop’s probiotic soda, which is everything my beverage dreams are made of.
It comes in several flavors, but my favorites are Wild Berries & Lime and Watermelon & Lime. Each one tastes halfway between a crisp Spindrift seltzer and a sparkling juice. It toes the line perfectly and hits every single time I crack open a can.
Size: 12 fl oz can | Sugar: 8 grams per can
Best Tea: Just Ice TeaJust Ice Tea
Organic Iced Tea
ProsNot too sweetFruit flavors don’t taste artificialConsGlass bottle is a little heavySELF’s tester has a few requests for her iced tea: “It should be slightly sweet, not too strong, and if it’s flavored, it shouldn’t taste too artificial.” Every flavor she’s tried from Just Ice Tea checks these boxes, and then some. “The black teas are refreshing and brewed just right, and the green tea is light and doesn’t taste too bitter or soapy (my pet peeve!).” A bottle a day has even helped her kick coffee in the morning.
Size: 16 fl oz bottle | Sugar: 0 to 19 grams per bottle, depending on the flavor
Best Seltzer: Topo Chico SaboresProsVery flavorfulComes in a few fruity combinationsConsMight not be sweet enough for someThis seltzer uses a splash of real fruit juice to kick things up a notch. “Often, I find that flavored sparkling water tastes pretty weak, but the raspberry flavor here is immediately noticeable and contributes a perfect balance of sweet and tart,” one tester says of the raspberry and lemon combo. Heads up: You’ll want to get a case of these on auto-ship, stat.
Size: 12 fl oz can | Sugar: 0 grams
Best Sparkling: San Pellegrino Italian Sparkling DrinkSan Pellegrino
Italian Sparkling Drink
ProsGreat citrus flavorSlender can fits in most cupholdersConsContains a lot of sugar, compared to other picks on this list“San Pellegrino I’ll reach for when I’m feeling fancier and want to pretend that I’m at an Italian cafe,” one SELF tester says. The brand is famous for its bright citrus flavors—our tester loves Blood Orange—and I can attest that Limonata is delish. Trust us both: A lot of zest is packed into one slender can (and a pack of these is a whole lot cheaper than a flight to Italy!).
Size: 11.15 fl oz can | Sugar: 26 to 31 grams per can, depending on the flavor
Best Add-In: Rose’s Sweetened Lime JuiceRose’s
Sweetened Lime Juice
ProsTangy, but not too sourLasts longer than fresh limesConsSome reviewers don’t like that it contains high fructose corn syrupI always have a bottle of this lime juice in my fridge, and I reach for it any time I make a mocktail at home. A splash of this and some juice into a glass of seltzer over ice…perfection. It adds a great tang to an otherwise boring drink. Also, who doesn’t love playing bartender by whipping up fancy concoctions right in their own kitchen?
Size: 33.8 fl oz bottle | Sugar: 2 grams per serving (1 tsp)
Best Coconut Water: Once Upon A Coconut WaterProsLight and refreshingGood variety of flavorsConsSome Amazon reviewers think it tastes artificialIf you like to sip on coconut water (or any tasty, nonfizzy bev), put this one at the top of your list. It thoroughly impressed one SELF tester with its thin consistency that’s easy to slurp down. “This one is honestly so refreshing,” she says. “The pineapple flavor in particular gives it a nice, citrusy aftertaste.”
Size: 10.8 fl oz can | Sugar: 16 to 21 grams per can, depending on the flavor
Best Coffee: Pop & Bottle Oat Milk LattePop & Bottle
Oat Milk Latte
ProsDairy-freeNot too sweetConsOnly available with oat milkIf you prefer coffee over fruity seltzers or sodas, you’ll enjoy these little cans that are easy to take on the go. “They’re so delicious! They’re the perfect pick-me-up in the a.m. and save me countless trips to my local Starbucks,” one SELF tester says. “Personally, the seasonal peppermint mocha cold brew is my fave.” She’s not mad at the boost of caffeine (80 mg per can) she gets from these either.
Size: 8 fl oz can | Sugar: 8 grams per can
More great drinksWe had to draw the line somewhere on which drinks take home the “best” title. But you’ll find even more tasty options that SELF staffers and testers love to sip on below.
Nixie Sparkling WaterProsUnique flavorsUnsweetenedRefreshingConsSome Amazon reviewers report issues with the packagingLa Croix and Bubly may dominate grocery stores, but this one deserves the same hype. “Nixie’s flavor combinations are interesting and delicious—the Ginger Lime is one of my go-tos,” one SELF tester says. “Their seltzers don’t contain any sweeteners, either, so they’re super refreshing.” Close your eyes, relax, and (if you focus) you can pretend you’re on a tropical island while sipping one.
Size: 12 fl oz can | Sugar: 0 grams
Health-Ade KombuchaProsSlightly fizzyComes in a bunch of flavorsConsSome people may not like the taste that comes from fermentationIf you never jumped on the kombucha bandwagon, now’s your chance. “They can taste very different from brand to brand. After a lot of trial and error, this one is my all-time favorite,” one SELF tester says, adding that it’s slightly sweet tangy, instead of sour or vinegar-y. “I think the Pink Lady Apple flavor is the best because it tastes like sparkling cider, but I like to sip on different Health-Ades at night when I’m unwinding from a long workday!”
Size: 16 fl oz bottle | Sugar: 13 to 19 grams per bottle, depending on the flavor
True Lemon Shaker and Lime ShakerProsVersatile, can be used in almost any drink or recipeShelf-stableConsDoesn’t add any sweetness“I’ll put True Lemon or Lime in anything,” one SELF tester says. All you have to do is shake the powder (which is just crystallized lemon or lime, respectively) into your drink to immediately add a zesty kick.
“It makes water and soda more interesting, helps seltzers taste stronger, and adds something extra to tea,” our tester says. “I love that it lasts way longer than fresh citrus and is easy to sprinkle in pretty much every drink. I even cook with it—it’s great for salad dressings and marinades!”
Size: 2.12 oz shakers | Sugar: 0 grams
OranginaOrangina
Citrus Sparkling Juice
ProsLightly fizzyDoesn’t taste too sweetConsHas a lot of sugar in it, compared to other picks on this listIf you crossed orange juice with orange soda, you’d get this citrusy bev. “Orangina is the OG—if you know, you know. It’s a little fizzy, a little sweet, and basically tastes like sunshine in a bottle,” one SELF tester says. FYI: “There is a tiny bit of pulp in it, but since it’s carbonated, I barely notice it.”
Size: 14.2 fl oz bottle | Sugar: 40 grams per bottle
Hint WaterProsFlat, not fizzyZero sugarConsMight not be flavorful enough for someIf you’re not into seltzer, Hint could be your dream drink: It’s flat water that has a refreshing, fruity flavor, without any fizz or added sugar. “When my doctor told me to start drinking 120 ounces of water a day, my jaw dropped—I love H2O, but not that much. Hint Water has been my savior for years,” one SELF tester says. “It’s not caffeinated, doesn’t have any sweeteners, and is easier for me to sip on than carbonated seltzer sometimes. I’ve yet to find a flavor I don’t like.”
Size: 16 fl oz bottle | Sugar: 0 grams
Brooklyn Best LemonadeProsMade with real fruit juiceContains less sugar than some other big brand lemonadesConsSome reviewers think it tastes watered downSipping on a can of this will remind you of pulling up to a local lemonade stand—just with less sugar. “It feels like in-between a super citrusy lemonade and a sparkling water,” one SELF tester says. “I reach for it in the afternoon when I want a fun beverage, but don’t want something super sweet and overpowering.”
Size: 12 fl oz can | Sugar: 18 grams per can
MioProsShelf-stableSuper easy to useConsSome Amazon reviewers don’t like the aftertasteYou can take one of Mio’s tiny flavor droppers with you almost anywhere—work, the airport, the gym, and everywhere else you need to hydrate. “The cool thing about them is they don’t take up much space and they don’t expire quickly,” one SELF tester says. Her pro tip: “Sometimes, I get seltzer cans that have a flavor but aren’t flavorful enough, so I squeeze drops right into the can and gently mix it—it’s lazy and effective.”
Size: 1.62 fl oz bottle | Sugar: 0 grams per serving (0.5 tsp)
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