Review: Snapple Antioxidant Water

I know you're more accustomed to seeing book reviews here, but this is something a little different. The good folks at Snapple were kind enough to send me some samples of their new Antioxident Water, which is their answer to now-Coca Cola-owned glacéau's Vitamin Water, the previously uncontested king of fancypants agua (Pepsi-owned SoBe also makes a similar product called Life Water).

Snapple got famous selling iced tea, but they were probably tempted by the burgeoning multi-billion dollar flavored water industry. So how do Snapple's products compare to the other guys? Remarkably well, to tell the truth. In fact, given a blind taste test I would have a tough time distinguishing them from the comparable varieties of Vitamin and Life Water. I gather that some flavors are better than others, but the four I was sent -- Tropical Mango, Orange Starfruit, Grape Pomegranate and Raspberry Acerola -- were all very tasty and satisfying.

These aren't health drinks, despite their creative marketing. They contain 50 calories per 8 oz. serving, and each bottle is 2.5 servings. Add it up and you're at around 125 calories for a 20 oz. bottle, all of which comes from sugar. It's real sugar -- not that high fructose corn syrup crap -- so you're much better off drinking one of these than an equivalent amount of Soda. That said, I do really like them. I've always loved Gatorade, and these might be even better. If you're a Vitamin or Life Water drinker definitely give Snapple's Antioxidant Water a shot. If you've already tried them, let us know your thoughts in the comments.