At the end of the day, though, I am a Polar fan through and through, even going so far as ordering cases of it 10 years ago when I moved from Worcester, Massachusetts (where Polar is headquartered) to Chicago (where a bottle used to be a rare discovery).
There are so many reasons to love Polar: their cute bear mascot (Orson), the fun flavors (Unicorn Kisses, anyone?), the pretty, artwork-laced cans (which, fun fact, can be downloaded as phone wallpaper from their website), and the fact that it’s still family-owned and operated by the Crowley family (since 1882!).
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So when I was offered the dream assignment—to try Polar’s 21 core flavor lineup—I approached it with the seriousness and thoughtfulness it deserved (while quietly geeking out inside). I gathered my whole family around our kitchen table on a recent visit back home to Connecticut, cracked open all 21 flavors, and got to work. Here’s how they ranked, from worst to best.
Does Seltzer Really Taste Different in a Bottle Vs. a Can?
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I asked America’s Test Kitchen Senior Science Research Editor Paul Adams, who has run similar taste tests on fizzy beverages, whether packaging really makes a difference. He explained that carbonation retention and even the feel of the container can influence how we perceive flavor.
Related: Sanpellegrino Drops ‘Bright’ New Sparkling Water Flavor
How We Tested These Seltzers
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Polar is known for having larger CO₂ bubbles, something seltzer enthusiasts love debating on the subreddit r/sparklingwater (yes, really). Larger bubbles deliver a sharper, more assertive fizz. By contrast, finer bubbles (like those found in Pellegrino or Perrier) feel softer and more delicate. Luckily, my family is all firmly in the big-bubble camp.
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I gathered my mother, Donna; father, Fred; and brothers Max and Ben, and we each got out our drink glasses and Google Forms, sipping and discussing out loud with each other before moving on to the next sample. This was not a blind taste test; we knew the flavors ahead of time. Some flavors surprised us. A couple disappointed. And one quickly earned permanent fridge status.
21 Flavors of Polar Seltzer, Ranked Worst to Best
21. Blueberry Lemon
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This one did not win the room. I wrote that it "Smells like blueberry pie but it tastes more like lemon ultimately. I don’t think I taste the blueberry very much." Fred was blunt: "Not good. Foul odor." Ben said it was "Too floral, tastes like soap or bath salts or something," and Donna and Max both said it simply wasn't one of their top picks of the 21 cans and bottles.
20. Strawberry Watermelon
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This flavor divided us. I wrote that it tasted "like a Jolly Rancher. I kind of love this one!" But the rest of the table strongly disagreed, cementing it near the bottom of our list. Fred called it "Fake watermelon taste." Ben wrote, "Naaaaasty. These flavors need some sweetness, otherwise it just tastes like chemicals." Donna found it "Artificial tasting." Max said, "Fake strawberry, real watermelon. Ok."
19. Pineapple Pomelo
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I thought this one was very pineappley "like when you eat a very ripe, sweet pineapple, but I dont taste the pomelo as much." Fred said, "Sounds better than it tastes. Not bad though." Ben wrote, "One sip is plenty." Donna appreciated the "good pineapple scent and mild bitterness from the pomelo." Max described the fragrance of bitter pomelo pith: "Tastes faintly bitter, but not fruity." This one might be good in a tropical cocktail or mocktail, but we'd skip it for every day drinking.
18. Strawberry Crème
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One of the newer flavors in Polar's core lineup, this is another one that divided the room a bit. I said it tasted exactly like Creme Savers candy (I was a child of the 90s) and Fred agreed, nothing the strawberry candy-like aroma. Ben found it "Interesting and fun on the first sip and then gets old fast…too artificial tasting," while Donna noted a "weird after taste." Max wrote, "Tastes link a pink Starburst." If you're looking for a candy-like bubbly sip with zero sugar, this will be your new BFF.
17. Raspberry Lime
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A classic flavor, this one is available almost everywhere you find Polar. None of us found the lime partiularly overpowering, noticing the hints of lime instead. I wrote that it was definitely more raspberry than lime but I didn't mind it for every day drinking. Fred said, "I don't really taste the raspberry or lime, but it's good." Ben called it "Clean, neutral, boring. It would never be my pick." Donna wrote, "Good raspberry smell but no lime." Max described it as "Very subtle, not much lime flavor."
16. Lime
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Related: Does Sparkling Water Hydrate You?
15. Original
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The original sparked debate. I noted it had "smaller bubbles [than the flavored ones]…it’s super effervescent." Fred wondered, "Why bother with all of the flavors available? Too bubbly." Ben said, "The bubbles are poking at my mouth. Very aggressive." Donna found it "Refreshing. Clean, mineral-forward. Plain, but not boring." And Max called it "Very refreshing and prickly compared to flavored samples. I should drink this more often." If you need a crisp, clean go-to, look no further.
14. Lemon
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Lemon flavored things can often be hit or miss as they can veer into Pledge or Lysol territory pretty easily. And Polar Lemon is a flavor I have never bought for fear of just that. However, I was pleasantly surprised, and so was the rest of my family. Ben described it as "very natural but mild. Like if you squeezed a couple drops of lemon juice into a glass of water." Donna found it "Super subtle. Clean." Max called it "a good neutral seltzer for everyday drinking."
13. Mandarin
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I was excited for this one because what's better in the dead of winter than juicy, bright citrus?! However, the flavor was a milder than I would have liked, but still pretty good. Fred noted "Fragrant mandarin notes, but not much flavor." Ben said, "It’s good but it doesn’t taste much like mandarin." Donna wrote, "Mild mandarin." Max said, "I wouldn't have guessed this was mandarin flavored. It's refreshing tho."
12. Cranberry Clementine
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I called this one "another middle of the road flavor–not too strong, very well balanced." Fred wanted more clementine flavor. Ben said "It’s no-nonsense. Cranberry lime is more straightforward, [but] with this it’s hard to figure out the clementine flavor. But it’s not bad." Donna liked it and said it was clean with "a great clementine flavor but subtle cranberry." Max called it an "Unexpected hit."
11. Cranberry Lime
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"One of my favorites. An old standby," I wrote. "Really smooth balance between two tart and zesty flavors." Ben said it tasted "like a very standard, traditional kinda seltzer flavor. It’s not amazing but it does what it’s supposed to do." Donna wrote, "This is good but tastes just like the pomegranate and cherry flavors to me. No lime!" Max said, "About right! Appetizing, light cranberry lime."
10. Blackberry Mango
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My brothers and I were fans of this one while my parents weren't as crazy for it. I noted that this one was really well balanced and could taste both the blackbery and mango, as opposed to some other flavors that didn't have a good of a balance. "It would be great as a mixer for a tropical drink." Fred said, "Not bad, but not a strong flavor." Ben wrote, "This one is full flavored and pleasant." Donna noted, "Mango scent, no blackberry...not a fan." Max said, "Actually does taste and smell like fresh blackberries, and some mango. It's good!"
9. Toasted Coconut
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This was one of the few cans that we opened and immediately got hit with an aroma right away (in a good way). I wrote down that it smelled like coconut popsicles and immediately made me think of sitting on the beach in the sun. Fred said, "Tastes like toasted coconut! Not bad." Ben agreed it was "Not bad but a little strong. Could be nice with some Caribbean food." Donna described it as "Subtle, but nice." And Max's description hit the nail on the head: "[Smells] like when you run out of shampoo and you put some water in the bottle to rinse the last bit out. I kind of like it!"
8. Vanilla
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Related: Here’s What Happens to Your Body if You Drink Sparkling Water Every Day
7. Ruby Red Grapefruit
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Polar's Ruby Red Grapefruit is an old standy and general all-around crowd pleaser, if a bit mild. After tasting this one, I noted that I wished for a stronger pithy grapefruit flavor but still keep this one stocked in my fridge regularly. Fred agreed, saying "Good grapefruit aroma, but not enough grapefruit flavor." Ben wrote, "I don’t taste any grapefruit...still enjoyable." Donna said, "Excellent!" Max described it as "Not as strong as the bitter pomelo flavor, but sweeter."
6. Pomegranate
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Another flavor that none of us had tried before but really enjoyed as a group. I wrote, "This one tastes tart and sweet, juicy and fruity. Exactly like pomegranate arils. They nailed this one!" Fred said, "Nice aroma on this one; its very good." Ben wrote, "Really pleasant." Donna said, "Very good!" And Max wrote, "Good! Reminds me of pomegranates."
5. Black Cherry
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This one was bold, crowd-pleasing and definitely deserved to be in the top five. I described it as a "much stronger flavor than many of the others. So good! Bold and jammy. Reminds me of a black forest cake. One of my favorites!" Fred said, "Bright cherry flavor, nice aroma. Excellent." Ben wrote, "Full-flavored and fragrant." Donna said, "Excellent! Good scent and flavor."
4. Ginger Lime Mule
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This one surprised my father since he is not a huge ginger fan, earning a "Pretty good!" comment. I thought the ginger was "super punchy and well balanced with the lime. If I close my eyes, I could almost fool myself into thinking I have a Moscow Mule right now." Ben noted it had the same aftertaste as ginger ale and "gets the point across." Donna wrote, "Excellent ginger flavor and mostly very crisp." Max said, "Nice ginger taste. The warmth complements the tingly bubbliness of this one."
3. Orange Vanilla
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One of our absolute favorites and we all had the same idea in our notes: This one is an orange Creamsicle in a can. I wrote it "smells exactly like an orange cream pop…I love this one so much!" Fred agreed: "It's a Creamsicle. Excellent!!" Ben said the flavor was spot-on and it "really hits the spot." Donna wrote, "Excellent! Not overpowering. Just right." Max said, "Creamsicle! Smells and tastes like it."
2. Georgia Peach
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Another standout can that we all couldn't get enough of. I described it as "Not a strong aroma of peach but when you sip it, it's reminiscent of a lush, sun-ripened peach in an orchard. Fred said, "Surprisingly tasty. Peachy!" Ben wrote, "I could drink a whole can and not get tired of it. I had seconds of this one." Donna said it was "Natural flavor. Clean. Orchard fresh." And Max wrote, "Makes my mouth water! Just a little peachy.”
1. Pink Apple & Lemon
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