Sparkling water is atrociously terrible.

r/

If unwanted pop-up software updates had a taste, it would be this. I have tried different brands and different flavors plenty of times, always hoping this would finally be the day I liked it, but it’s just appalling every single time. Most of the flavors have practically no taste whatsoever, and the ones that do taste like if you tried to describe a raspberry over the phone to someone whose never had fruit in their life. Of course, I’ve also heard that it’s an “acquired taste”. However, if you have to try something 37 times in order to finally start to enjoy it, it’s not very good. It’s literally worse than both the things it tries to replace: soda and plain water. I’d literally rather take my chances with soda and die an early death than fulfill any desire for carbonation with the monstrosity that is sparkling water. I’m pretty confident that whoever invented this was either trying to prank their mother-in-law, or was throwing a party and wanted all their guests to leave and never return.

Comments

  1. AutoModerator Avatar

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  2. Nychthemeronn Avatar

    I love sparkling water so much that I’ve stopped drinking still water all together. Please take my upvote

  3. fasow Avatar

    Take my upvote I was fat and quit soda for soda water now I love it. I don’t think its an unpopular unless youre in the eu

  4. coffeemonstermonster Avatar

    “the flavors have practically no taste whatsoever”
    “I’d literally rather take my chances with soda and die an early death than fulfill any desire for carbonation”

    It sounds like you actually like carbonation, and the problem is that you’re addicted to sugar.

  5. diandays Avatar

    Not unpopular

    Sparkling water is hated by most people

  6. HeronOrganic3727 Avatar

    I enjoy sparkling water but also enjoy software updates. They bring new features and fix existing problems. Upvote for sure

  7. revanite3956 Avatar

    I agree with you, sparkling water is vile.

    Unfortunately that seems to be an unpopular take, so have my entirely sympathetic +1.

  8. xnmtx Avatar

    Couldn’t agree more, I’ve tried so many flavors & they all taste like battery acid. I’m convinced that everyone who claims to like that shit is lying to themselves

  9. seajayacas Avatar

    It is an acquired taste, the OP hasn’t got it

  10. CarCertain3064 Avatar

    TV static drink

  11. voldugur21 Avatar

    From what I’ve read when the CO2 is added, it creates carbonic acid, which gives it its shifty flavor.

  12. SirDarkDick Avatar

    Put down your Sodi Pops

  13. NoneOfThisMatters_XO Avatar

    We like that they have “practically no taste.” Not everyone needs something sickly sweet like you.

  14. Exhausted_920 Avatar

    Everytime I see sparkling water, it reminds me of the meme where dogs try it. why is it spicy? 🤣🤣🤣

  15. tranquilrage73 Avatar

    I had to stop drinking regular pop/soda for a variety of reasons. And I realized what I missed was the bubbles. So, for me, unflavored or hint of flavor (with no sugar/sweeteners) helped fill that void.

  16. retiredcheerleader Avatar

    Sorry imma drink my tv static every day!!!!

  17. edwardturnerlives Avatar

    Sparkling water is dog shit

  18. FluffyStormwise Avatar

    Like Tv Static. I feel you

  19. 518Gummies Avatar

    It’s like the default in Europe when you ask for water.

  20. chaircardigan Avatar

    Nah. It’s awesome.

  21. Katya-YourDad Avatar

    It’s water with farts I hate it

  22. toomuchtv987 Avatar

    Not unpopular with me! I think it tastes like poison. If I want bubbles, I drink soda, but I think I only do that like 2-3 times a year at most.

    My related unpopular opinion is that icy cold plain, still water is the most delicious drink on earth.

  23. After-Dream-7775 Avatar

    You’re not wrong. They smell good, but it’s as if the flavor evaporates into the smell and dissipates into the air and you’re left with crap.

    Now I make my own sparkling water by fermenting. I use a ginger bug, sometimes a turmeric bug. Healthy, and I control the sugar, the ingredients, no chemicals, probiotic, and good for the guts.

  24. stargirlllllllllll Avatar

    I love sparkling water but I genuinely don’t understand why you’re trying to force yourself to like it lol. You don’t, there’s nothing wrong with it

  25. cyainanotherlifebro Avatar

    >soda and plain water

    But let’s be honest, mostly soda.

  26. tubular1845 Avatar

    I don’t know how anyone drinks it, shit is nasty.

  27. Massive-Branch12342 Avatar

    U gotta take this upvote from me..

    I’m on the opposite side of the spectrum – each sparkling water flavor tastes like corresponding pop brands to me: regular => sprite, orange => Fanta, etc.;

    You’d have to pay me to go back to drinking soda

  28. Mad-chuska Avatar

    Sounds like you love sweet drinks. I personally love having a Coke Zero for the taste accompanied by a soda water for sustenance.

  29. StrawbraryLiberry Avatar

    I hate soda in general, I’m not sure why we made water into soda.

  30. Historical_Clock_864 Avatar

    What new clever thing will people compare sparkling water to next?!?!

  31. Tapir-Horse Avatar

    God I hated sparkling water for years and years and years. A few months ago I decided I needed to reduce my energy drink consumption so I started drinking the sparkling water at work for the carbonation. It tasted terrible for about a week but then suddenly…. It was good. Maybe it took a week for my taste buds to die, who knows. But it’s healthier for me so I’ll accept it.

  32. Jawshiewah Avatar

    I’ll take my water flat please

  33. EriclcirE Avatar

    You don’t like ‘soda with depression’?

  34. thing_m_bob_esquire Avatar

    Sparkling water tastes like TV static. And comes in flavors like “shipped next to watermelon” and “strawberry with a low battery” and “packaged by someone who had grapefruit for breakfast”.

  35. NorthShoreHard Avatar

    You’d have to be pretty fucking stupid to try something 37 times trying to convince yourself you like it.

    People have different tastes. It’s OK chief.

  36. craniumrinse Avatar

    I agree with you so does this mean I have to downvote ??? lol but for real it’s weirdly poky on my tongue and not tasty at all

  37. clickme28 Avatar

    Fresca all day everyday

  38. WayneTerry9 Avatar

    Yeah carbonation tastes disgusting, it’s only palatable with thick sugar death syrup of soda

  39. Rebokitive Avatar

    There was a time I disliked it too. Back then, I loved soda though. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but one I’m extremely happy I acquired.

    Why? Because once you acquire the taste, it’s like a switch flips in your brain and suddenly soda tastes like an IV of maple syrup diabetes. Staying away from excess sugar has never been so easy.

  40. afterlife_music Avatar

    It’s better with chilled vodka and lemon.

  41. Thuggish_Coffee Avatar

    Shout out to Spindrift!

    And La Croix…the peoples sparkling water

  42. tbodillia Avatar

    I think all of the flavored drinks are how you describe the sparkling water. It’s the old joke: anybody that calls gatorade by a flavor and not a color is a cop.

    I bought a soda stream just to make sparkling water at home. I prefer non flavored, like Topo Chico. Such a great unpopular opinion!

  43. [deleted] Avatar

    I’m so close to buying a soda stream, please take my effort. This is as good. An unpopular opinion as cheese does not belong on a hamburger. Well done.

  44. Distinct_Analysis944 Avatar

    Used to hate sparkling water and now its all i want. You may need to cut back on the sugar op as that impacts how you taste the sparkling water

  45. Agreeable_Winter2327 Avatar

    Sparkling water is some of the most foul stuff I have ever tasted! I don’t like the carbonation, so soda is a no go too. Though, I will drink a Sunkist orange, by choice, once every few years.

  46. Creepy_Cupcake3705 Avatar

    I despise sparkling water, but judging from the comments, it’s unpopular!

  47. Zealousideal_Sir_264 Avatar

    Yeah it’s gross. Give me tap water with no ice, please, you snooty-ass waiter. And that better be a whole tuna steak, ya bastard. Not some tiny gelatinous cube with a drizzle of bullshit.

    /s (in case a robot mod thinks I’m calling an actual person those names)

  48. Krypt0night Avatar

    Agreed. Haven’t ever had a sip that didn’t taste like TV static. Fucking gross. 

  49. DiffDiffDiff3 Avatar

    These guys are horrible

  50. wimbs27 Avatar

    Have you tried mineral water?

  51. PhoebeGema Avatar

    It is so refreshing esp mixed with regular very cold water! Or mad into iced TEA!

  52. Dlh2079 Avatar

    Stuff is absolutely trash, im with ya

  53. ReiHammer Avatar

    This is an unpopular opinion?

  54. AardvarkIll6079 Avatar

    This is unpopular? I don’t know a single person that likes it.

  55. Master-o-Classes Avatar

    I don’t get it either. When the cola dispenser runs out of syrup, and you just get the carbonated water, it is disgusting. I can’t believe anyone drinks that stuff on purpose.

  56. Noodlefanboi Avatar

    It goes great with alcohol though. 

  57. ucfknight92 Avatar

    I’ve tried so hard to like it, and I enjoy so many things. Just hasn’t worked. It’s one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever tasted.

  58. Admirable-Pound-4267 Avatar

    I don’t think sparkling waters are supposed to be super flavourful lol. When I drink them it’s mostly for the bubbles. I’m okay with just a hint of flavour.

  59. edbutler3 Avatar

    I find it interesting that CO2 actually has a flavor. I’m a fan of it.

    A few dashes of Angostura bitters added to club soda is my favorite thing to order In a bar if I’m limiting my alcohol intake. (Bitters do contain alcohol, but the amount you use in a soda and bitters is minimal.)

  60. AdmirallahuAckbar Avatar

    Liquid death just came out with soda flavored sparkling water and the 12oz cans only have like 2 grams of sugar which i think is more than enough. The root beer one + vanilla ice cream is divine. Looks trippy cuz it’s clear. I just got my friend off of sodas by having him try one

  61. Ram820 Avatar

    Mineral water w fiz n maybe a pinch of flavor. Y’all are new, shit was a fade back in the day n appropriately died. Then y’all y’all resurrected trash

  62. Lovingly-ducky Avatar

    >If unwanted pop-up software updates had a taste, it would be this. 

    this sent me lol. Great opening. I disagree but this is exactly the sub for this, upvoted.

  63. HoneyWyne Avatar

    Totally agree

  64. TitansRPower Avatar

    I absolutely hate it. I despise it. Sparkling water is fucking disgusting. A downvote for you, OP. You are correct.

  65. TricellCEO Avatar

    Genuinely surprised this is an unpopular opinion.

  66. ReverseMillionaire Avatar

    I love that it’s easily available in Europe. I don’t like sparking water at room temp though. Still water excels at being decent at room temp and hot. Sparkling water isn’t good with spicy foods either

  67. Decent_Philosophy899 Avatar

    Have you tried spindrift? They use actual fruit juice to flavor. I don’t care for anything with “natural flavors” but I do tolerate them when that’s all that’s available

  68. cosmiiicwarrior Avatar

    An unpopular opinion that I have understood for years finally someone gets it 😭

  69. pinchhitter4number1 Avatar

    I agree but add some Mio or other flavorings and it’s great. It helped me drink less soda.

  70. SkullLeader Avatar

    IMHO sparkling *mineral* water is better than regular sparkling water. Regular sparkling water has a funny taste to it. Most of those that are flavored, the taste is pretty subtle because its not sweetened and they’re basically trying to maintain the drink at zero calories. In any case drinking them straight is sort of meager at best but mixing with fruit juice usually makes both better.

  71. vaikunth1991 Avatar

    Not unpopular outside europe

  72. Sudowoodonym Avatar

    My guy ❤️

  73. realhorrorsh0w Avatar

    I know a lot of people don’t like it, but I’m glad it’s popular if it gets people to stop drinking so much full-sugar soda. Their teeth and endocrine system appreciate it.

  74. babyivan Avatar

    Flavored seltzer is yuck. Only the plain is good!

  75. Grishinka Avatar

    Try it hot from being left in a car. You’ll hate it even more.

  76. normott Avatar

    Agreed. Its disgusting. I like it to dilute fruit juice

  77. vilogrim Avatar

    Not unpopular. It is even the default kind of water in my country.

  78. Quartrez Avatar

    Downvoted. I’ve tried a handful of brands and it’s all the same experience: the carbonation just makes it taste awful. I like drinking regular water anyway so that’s never been an issue for me.

  79. shorewoody Avatar

    I like the burps.

  80. BokChoyFantasy Avatar

    I thought the same too when I was young. Tastes change as one gets older and now I love it. It will happen to you.

  81. Roaches_R_Friends Avatar

    What “acquired taste” means is that your mouth is so acclimated to soda that you can’t taste right. I used to drink soda a lot, but then I switched to sparkling water, and about a month later, I had a soda again, and by then it tasted like syrup compared to the waters. It was almost a little disgusting. So I’ve preferred sparkling waters ever since.

  82. TheEpicSquish Avatar

    I don’t like sparkling water or soda. The taste and bubbles is just a bad time for me all around.

    So I just stick to plain basic tap water. Maybe a bottled water on occasion if I’ll be out and about all day.

  83. Coneskater Avatar

    There’s a big difference between natural spring mineral water (naturally sparkling) and unflavored soda water.

  84. ernievo4 Avatar

    Just left Amsterdam and they sell sparkling water just as much as they sell still. I even had an “encounter” with someone and they offered me sparkling water after the fact. I was very confused as to how the carbonated water was supposed to help replenish my fluids, but nonetheless I refused because why on earth would I ever drink sparkling water when there’s still available.

    I also had a grapefruit bubly on the plane and the best way I can make an analogy of the taste is by comparing it to how sometimes when you urinate and you consume medicine or asparagus and you can smell that something is off with your body… that is how the grapefruit flavoring felt to me it felt like something was up with what I was drinking 🤣

  85. SecretScavenger36 Avatar

    It tastes so bad. Like sour almost but not really. Idk how to describe it. It’s like licking a rock and the rock being bubbly?

  86. beasty4k Avatar

    You’re entitled to your opinion, but it’s wrong.

  87. Soft_Secret_1920 Avatar

    Sparkling water is way better than people who overuse and misuse the word ‘literally’.

  88. Doctor_M_Toboggan Avatar

    I would say that most people drink it not because they think tastes better, but because sparkling waters have zero or near zero calories and 12oz soda typically has like 120-150. I think what makes your opinion unpopular is no one is forcing you to drink them. If you wanna show up to a bbq with a 12 pack of coke or a 2 liter of Mountain Dew I doubt anyone would care. But you’re acting like it was forced upon you instead of bringing your own preferred beverage.

  89. Present-Bill9581 Avatar

    Yeah its no cucumber water thats for sure.

  90. Bolognahole_Vers2 Avatar

    Sparking water helped me kick soft drinks and lose weight. Sometimes you just crave that bite from the carbonation, and not all the sugar.

  91. Raamyr Avatar

    Are you american and fat?

  92. ping Avatar

    Try it with something very sweet, eg.. chocolate cake and soda water. Once it hooks you you’ll never look back.