Hint Flavored Water: Taste Test

If it is as tasty as you say, I will have to find some. I don't like flavored water, myself, but my little boy just loves it. And I'd rather he drink it than a lot of the juices that are out now, because there is so much sugar in them.

Now if they would come out with a "sparkling" version of it, because he just LOVES his "Sparkle Juice"!

It seems odd to me to have a zero-calorie sweetener simply called a fruit essence? What exactly is a "fruit essence" that has zero calories?

I wonder if it stocks here? I don't remember seeing it last time I was at the store, but I don't exactly live in a buzzing metropolis.
I don't really mind the added sweeteners, there's so much conflicting evidence, and I've not had any unpleasant side effects, but my father is really on me about using them (Mum not so much, when I buy Splenda I make sure she's the one I'm shopping with). It'd be great to have a non-disgusting tasting flavoured water, because I simply don't like it straight.

Just to clarify, Hint does not have a sweetener. It is unsweetened, so unlike "flavored water beverages" hint has a clean finish, not a clingingly sweet finish.

Kara - Thanks. What I meant is that it is naturally sweet from the fruit flavors.

Jim said:
It seems odd to me to have a zero-calorie sweetener simply called a fruit essence? What exactly is a "fruit essence" that has zero calories?[...]

From my understanding and "essence" is the result of a distillation process of the water with fruit extracts or essential fruit oils - basically as the water is distilled and the steam collected for bottling, the "essence" of flavor is infused in the water without adding sweetener, fruit juice or other things to flavor the water mildly.

The "sweetness" you think is there is really a trick of the tounge - the smell of the fruit (or other essence) and the taste in the water makes you think it's sweet when it's not.

They could be using a different process than distillation and actually adding something to the water - but from other products that are available (or have been but are no longer on the market) the distillation process was the method used.

I'd be curious to try this. It sounds really good and there are no artificial sweeteners, so it might be worth a try. I'll keep my eye out for it at the store.

I wonder if using fruit essences will take off in the beverage industry? Especially if they're that yummy tasting.

Amazing that people will pay actual hard earned money for this. It certainly has a 'feel good factor'... looking at that very nice packaging makes you feel you're doing something good eh?

For the kids though, if it means they'll drink more water well so be it but I've found kids like all of us, are creatures of habit. Get them into water and they'll think nothing of it. The schools here in the UK have done a great job in encouraging the kids to have water -- based on some research I believe that showed the brain power benefits of proper hydration.

I've tried Hint water, and I preferred Glaceau's Fruit Water. Hint tasted distilled or dry, where Fruit Water tastes more refreshing.

I also started using agave nectar and citrus fruit to flavor my own water.

Cris said:
I've tried Hint water, and I preferred Glaceau's Fruit Water. [...]

I used to drink Glaceau Fruit water until they added fructose to sweeten it.

After reading about this, I went to buy some and was warned by an employee that Lime Hint Water turns brown after a few weeks. Ick.

brown? never heard that one. you are supposed to drink it though after it is opened...just like any other single serve beverage. unless of course you want a drink that is filled with preservatives and coloring.

i love the mango/grapefruit flavor and the pomengrate and tangerine. have you ever considered having some kind of contest for a new flavor? or is there a flavor council that adheres to rigorous testing before accepting new flavors?

I used to drink the Flavored LeNature Ice Water and LOVED it! Well, they recently went belly up. Nothing to do with their sells, just lies about $$$. I have been searching for a water like theirs. THIS IS IT! It is named just right, HINT. It has a HINT of flavor, nothing over powering, no fake stuff, all natural, and best of all NO after taste! If you got the chance to taste LeNature Ice Water Flavored, and liked it, you will also like this! Two bad things,… 1) It is EXPENSIVE! About $1.83 a bottle vs LeNature you could buy 4 for $1.99! 2) You cannot find it, so this is where my first point comes in…you have to order it online by the case, which is $44.00 for 24, 16 oz bottles. I sure hope they adjust the cost, or get it local. With gas prices the way they are, I may have to quit drinking it before my husband kills me or makes me walk to work (25 miles)….LOL

I, too was a Le-Nature lover until their bad politics landed them in trouble. I discovered HINT and realized that Le-Nature was not the best! I love HINT...the variety of flavors, no sugar, no artificial sweetners, no aftertaste, just refreshing water with a dash of fruit flavor! The downside is that there are not alot of places that sell it in my area and the price is quite high. (the cheapest I have found is $1.60 per bottle) Hopefully, with wider distribution, they will be able to lower the cost.

I loved Hint water! When I saw there was a water with no sweeteners added I was so excited b/c I too had been a fan of Glaceau Fruit water. Hint is kinda hard to find, though (I have only found them in one place in Dallas so far) so I looked into buying some online. Whoa! $1.83 per 16oz of water! I think I will drive back to the little store Sprouts and pick a bunch up for the 10/$10. Really, good tasting water if you are looking for a nonsweetened product.

fruitwater has just a hint of fruit flavor. perfect in the morning as there isn't too damn much going on in the drink so its not harsh on the tummy. less than 5 g sugar (DIABETICS?!!). no artificial sweeteners (HELLO!) this stuff has such a cult following someone started a missiontrying to stop it from being squashed. www.savethefruitwater.com. def worth the time to check it out.

I have been searching for unsweetened flavored water for years. I'd prefer sparkling but in this search I also came across a website that is selling a carbonation infuser so maybe I could use it with the Hint water.
I have lived in Florida for years, in mostly smaller cities and have never run across this or anything similar. Can I order this and have it sent or will you be expanding your market?
Here's hoping it makes it to my house!

I first spied Hint water at Genova's deli in Oakland, Ca. and chose the Watermelon. OMG, delicious and then I was on a mission to find more. My favorites are of course the Watermelon and the Tropical although I like all of them. I have been ordering them by the case and now it is not a chore to drink more water, its like drinking dessert, very refreshing and delicious. I hope HINT goes everywhere! Thanks Kara for a great water!