The 44-Cent Trader Joe's Find I Cross the Border To Buy

Every afternoon around 3 to 4 p.m., you'll find me engaging in what my family jokingly calls "mom's self-care routine," a habit I got into two summers ago when fun ice-cube trays started trending on social media. I never knew I could appreciate ice so much until I started having it in different shapes and sizes.

The ice is just one component of what I consider pure beverage bliss. Once afternoon rolls around, I fill an insulated tumbler with my ice of choice, crack open a refreshing can of flavored sparkling water, and savor each effervescent sip until the kids burst through the door from school and daycare. My husband jokes that maintaining this fizzy fix is my secret strategy for being a good mother—and he might not be entirely wrong. It helps take the edge off, you know?

As someone who crosses the Canadian border regularly to stock up on American grocery finds, I can definitively say that if I could only buy one thing in the U.S., it would be sparkling water. And Trader Joe's sparkling waters would be at the top of that list. At $3.49 for a package of eight 12-ounce cans (that's 44 cents each), it’s cheaper than LaCroix by about 10 cents a pop and has the same, if not a better, range of elevated and seasonal flavors.

Trader Joe's Sparkling Water

• Price: $3.49 for eight 12-ounce cans

• Why I Love Them: TJ's flavored sparkling waters are affordable and delicious. Plus, they have yummy seasonal flavors. If you're a fan of La Croix, you'll love this brand.

Why I Love Trader Joe's Sparkling Water

While LaCroix might be the name brand everyone knows, Trader Joe's sparkling water delivers everything I love about premium sparkling water at a more wallet-friendly price point. The flavor lineup, for example, is just one of the ways in which the Trader Joe's brand stands out. Beyond the usual suspects like lemon, lime, grapefruit, and plain, they offer sophisticated combinations that feel crafted rather than engineered: raspberry lime, blueberry lemonade, cranberry clementine, and newer, more seasonal varieties, like winter sangria and black cherry vanilla.

I haven't been able to get the winter sangria yet, but I suspect it might quickly take the top place. For now, my personal favorite is the raspberry lime. It's distinctly flavorful without tasting artificial.  I also love the carbonation level, which can be difficult for some off-brand sparklers to get right. It's energetic enough to give me the perfect level of crispness without feeling like it's too much. The bubbles seem to last longer, too. I've had many other brands go flat fairly quickly, but that's never been an issue with my TJ's stash.

How I Use Trader Joe's Sparkling Water

These sparkling waters are delightful on their own, and "mom's self-care routine" is exhibit A. But as a drinks recipe developer, I like how they sparkle as a versatile mixer (See what I did there?). I love using them for weekend entertaining as the foundation for cocktails and mocktails.

The cranberry clementine adds a fun twist to a low-alcohol Paloma and makes a fantastic base for a mimosa-style spritzer with a splash of prosecco and a twist of orange. The raspberry lime can be added to almost any kind of citrus-forward cocktail to give it a more rounded flavor, some effervescence, and, in some cases, even to help reduce the alcohol. I like adding it to gimlets, margaritas, mojitos, and caipirinhas, sometimes with muddled raspberries. It even turns a simple vodka soda into something special with no additional flavoring.

I'm looking forward to trying the winter sangria flavor to create a more robust sangria-style mocktail with fresh pomegranate juice, fruit slices, and a sprig of rosemary. It'll be seasonally festive and could be an excellent option for designated drivers and anyone taking a break from alcohol. At $3.49 per eight-pack, these sparkling waters aren't the cheapest option on the market, but they are, by far, the most special for the best price. Great on their own and a versatile mix-in, they've been my best find this year. As such, they've earned a permanent spot on my Trader Joe's shopping list. And, of course, in my afternoon ritual.

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