I don’t drink soda. I haven’t in almost 3 years which is amazing because I used to be a hardcore soda addict. Thing is, I’m a thirsty person. I drink about 150+ oz. of water a day and I like to change up the delivery method (iced tea, hot tea, seltzer water, Crystal Light, etc.) So you can imagine how excited I was when I spotted these new Fast Flavor Sticks at TJ’s.
Two yummy sounding flavors (pomegranate cherry and iced tea with lemon), easy to use, not too much junk in them, 15 calories per serving (30 per packet). Cool!
Actually, it wasn’t so cool. The flavors were just weird. The overly fake sweeteners were awful and the suggested packet to water ratio was all off. Maybe it’s because I prefer mixes like this really watered down? But the pomegranate cherry was so insanely sweet and fake tasting I could only take a few sips. The iced tea with lemon was alright but it didn’t taste like anything. Some fresh lemon squeezed into it mellowed the flavor but still it tasted gross to me, like cardboard or something.
I’ve since tried them with 32 oz. of water instead of 16 and I liked it much better. Still, not great though.
Overall grade: Pomegranate Cherry, C- & Iced Tea with Lemon, D.
I’ll be sticking with Crystal Light from now on, thankyouverymuch.
Domestocrat 
I love that you give such honest assessments. I am a soda drinker as well and have limited my intake to 4 – two in the morning and two in the evening. I drink water in between. My favorite flavor addition is Propel Zero Lemon Flavored…not as harsh as Crystal Light and is vitamin added. Like you, I am a thirsty person – there is always a bottle of water or soda in my hand!
Thanks! I’ll have to try that Propel mix!
Propel has sucralose artificial sweetner, which is an excitotoxin. Sucralose is very bad news. I would recommend getting a frig water filter, like Simply Filtered, and then use refillable bottles or something.
I second propel zero! You can also get G2 packets at Shaws (i’ll generally mix half of one in my water bottle for the gym), and vitamin water zero which is made with stevia, though I feel bad about buying the actual plastic bottles all the time.
Good to know!
Have you tried Emergen-C? I love that stuff and it’s also low in calories and high in vitamins.
Oh yeah, I love it! But I don’t know if I love it enough to drink recreationally…I think it might be too medicinal.
Totally agreed. I can really taste the Stevia and the Cherry Pomegranate is way too strong for 16 oz. of water.
Too much, right? Yuck!
Also, FYI if you put the Trader Joe’s ones (the Pomegranate anyway) into carbonated water, it EXPLODES like mentos in pepsi. Just ask my kitchen floor.
Haha, good to know!
I actually really like the Pomegranate Cherry flavor! The Lemonade is okay when I run out of it, but I do prefer it. I’m a total sucker for sweets, though. I used to drink the Fruit Punch Mio as a soda alternative, but I think these are much less chemical-y. I only wish I could find something similar (I love cherry!) that was a little more economical.
Sometimes I stock up on Crystal Light at Target when it goes on sale.
Regular Crystal Light? You might as well drink soda. Flavorings are chemicals. I avoid Cyrstal Light as much as I avoid Diet Soda…. ALWAYS!! My Doctor said I might as well drink soda if I am drinking Crystal Light.
I like the Trader Joe Pomegranate Cherry Flavor a bunch. I am guessing others feel that way since lately there is a supply demand problem and I can’t get it at my store.
Yeah, that tends to happen with TJ’s seasonal/special items.