I’m not quite sure when or why I become one of those people. You know, the ones you see at summer parties holding a colorful can of water, like a prop, a necessary part of their personal ensemble. Sparkling water isn’t a drink, it’s a lifestyle, they might say.
Maybe I became like them after trying a Cran-raspberry La Croix at a friend’s autumn party, sitting on the back porch and feeling adventurous. Or perhaps it was one of those desperate days when I was dying of thirst and there wasn’t a Starbucks in sight. Either way, I’ve leapt onto the La Croix craze, and it’s like opening up a door I didn’t know existed. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Sparkling water is super trendy
I used to think of sparkling water as something that only soccer moms enjoyed. I, on the other hand, was a millennial, who was supposed to drink kombucha and green tea. As it turns out, sparkling water is now for everyone, and it can be found anywhere. It is displayed attractively at Target and Whole Foods, glowing with appeal. When I had lunch with a new group of friends recently, one girl announced that she couldn’t wait to try the new off-brand version of La Croix (cleverly named “Bubly”). This brand has a strawberry flavor, she said, genuinely excited. According to Vox.com and the International Bottled Water Association, sparkling water consumption increased by 60% from 2010 to 2014, and it’s still on the rise.
Not all sparkling water is created equally
I’ll admit I’m still a little confused how sparkling water is flavored (they call it “naturally essenced”), and the tastes vary widely from flavor to flavor. My personal faves are La Croix’s Tangerine and Cran-raspberry, but opinions on these flavors run the gamut, according to any Google search (from “household cleaner” to refreshing” and everything in between). No one can seem to agree on essence preference. Also, some carbonated waters add sodium to their beverages, which is something I have avoided in brands.
I started to care about the graphic design of the can
The metallic sheen, faded neon colors, and jumble of fonts on La Croix cans somewhat bothers me, but that’s also part of their charm. In fact, when La Croix considered rebranding, the public survey indicated that consumers didn’t want the design to change because of its nostalgia factor. I will even admit that I tried the Palla Alta brand of sparkling water because of its appealing graphic design (and I think it tastes better than La Croix, probably not because I love the art on the can…). I’ve had entire conversations at work lunches analyzing sparkling water from a design standpoint, but that’s another topic…
I still love and prefer normal water.
My love affair with La Croix hasn’t replaced my true love of regular water in the least. Interestingly, though, carbonated H20 counts as part of your daily water intake and helps you stay hydrated.
