I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m notoriously bad at drinking enough water. Hydration is one of those things everyone tells you to prioritize, and for good reason. It affects energy levels, digestion, focus, skin, recovery… basically everything. And yet, I still find myself halfway through the day realizing I’ve had a coffee, maybe another coffee, and not nearly enough water. It’s something I’m actively trying to work on by consuming the best non-pop drinks money can buy. And the grocery beverage aisle has officially had a massive glow-up, especially in Canada.
What’s helped is finding ready-to-drink beverages that make hydration feel less like a chore and more like something I actually look forward to. Think: sparkling waters, functional drinks and not-so-bad-for-you sodas that bring flavour and fizz without being overloaded with sugar.
I love strolling the aisles at Sprouts or Whole Foods when I’m visiting the states-side just to see what’s new, but lately it’s been clear that Canada’s non-pop offerings are catching up in a big way.
When I attended the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) tradeshow in Toronto, a Canadian conference with an exhibition featuring natural, organic and wellness products, I was genuinely impressed by the number of standout Canadian-owned brands on display. The drinks aren’t just about quenching thirst anymore – they’re functional. They support energy, digestion or overall wellness.
These are the drinks I genuinely look forward to enjoying during my day. The ones that live in my fridge, come in my bag for busy workdays, join me for my workouts, ride along for road trips. And those moments, for me, are when plain water just won’t cut it. These aren’t diet drinks or “health drinks” that taste like a sacrifice in the name of fake sweetener.
Celsius
Celsius tastes like an energy drink for people who don’t like energy drinks. The new Spritz Vibe flavour just confirmed that for me. It’s light, citrusy and refreshing, without the syrupy weight energy drinks are known for.
The energy it gives me feels steady. I say thanks to green tea extract, B vitamins and guarana seed extract. It gave me a boost without any jitters I’d normally get from a second coffee of the day.
Poppi
I first discovered Poppi at the Expo West tradeshow back in 2023. It was the first probiotic soda I had ever tasted. At the time, the brand was making waves in the U.S., it has slowly started to trickle into Canadian stores since. As more options joined the lineup, Poppi became one of those drinks I kept buying out of curiosity, and now a habit.
I recently tried Cranberry Fizz. It’s bright and lightly sweet with a noticeable apple cider-vinegar tang(emblematic of most Poppi flavours), balanced by that sharp cranberry bite.
Origen
I don’t blame you if you’re put off by the name, but don’t diss it until you try it. Sea water electrolytes sound like it would taste salty, but Origen somehow makes it work. Made in Québec, the drink maker uses deep ocean seawater as a natural electrolyte source, so the flavour is mineral-forward and intentionally salty – but not in a bad way.
I’m someone who genuinely loves salt and anything with a briny flavour, so this was right up my alley. I tried the orange-mango flavour, and I definitely taste the salt. The small pouches let you add it to water if you want to control the intensity, which I appreciate. It’s clutch after a run or when you’re feeling generally depleted and need a hydration boost.
Say It Ain’t Soda
Made in Canada, Say It Ain’t Soda will make you rethink what “pop” even means. When I think of pop, I think overly sweet, artificial, and more about sugar than flavour. This is where Say It Ain’t Soda sets itself apart.
Blossoming Orchard is lightly floral and crisp, made with carbonated water, pear, lemon and ume juices, along with lavender and butterfly pea flower (known for its antioxidant properties and natural blue hue making it a fun drink to add on ice).
This is what I reach for when I want fizz without a sugar crash. It tastes elevated but easy on the palate, making it easy to sip. This drink is a great option for daytime hangs, workdays at your desk, or anytime you want something sparkling that’s a little more exciting than soda water.
Gnusante’s 52 North
Birch sap feels like one of Canada’s best-kept hydration secrets. 52 North taps birch trees in Northern Ontario, using sap that’s naturally rich in minerals and subtly sweet. The blackcurrant flavour adds a gentle tartness without overpowering the drink’s clean, earthy base.
Ooya
This one feels grounding in a way most ready-to-drink beverages don’t. It’s less about bold flavour and more about quiet nourishment, making it ideal for slow mornings, post-workout rehydration, or anytime you want something that feels genuinely connected to where it comes from.
Infused with real fruit, herbs, and botanicals, this water-based drink has no added sugars or artificial flavours. The result is clean, refreshing, and easy to drink, but unlike many other beverages on this list, it isn’t trying to energize, fizz, or deliver a functional boost.
I find it encourages me to drink more without overwhelming my taste buds, making it a genuinely practical hydration option for long days when everything else feels like too much.
Matcha Ninja
If you love matcha and a little buggles, this drink gives you the best of both. Matcha Ninja blends real matcha with pink lemonade, creating a carbonated drink that’s bright, refreshing, and still distinctly matcha-flavoured. You get the earthy, slightly grassy notes balanced by citrus and fizz.
This canned drink delivers a gentler caffeine lift than coffee does, making it a smart afternoon option when I want focus without feeling wired. Functional, refreshing, and well-balanced, this is an easy way to enjoy matcha in a ready-to-drink format.
One Last Sip
Hydration may not be the most glamorous wellness habit, but getting to taste-test my way through these drinks definitely didn’t feel like a chore. If anything, it made drinking more water (or at least water-adjacent beverages) way more enjoyable.
Whether you’re into electrolytes, subtle infusions, gentle caffeine, or soda swaps that don’t leave you crashing, there’s something on this list for every kind of sipper. Proof that staying hydrated doesn’t have to mean forcing down plain water all day. Sometimes it just means finding a drink you actually look forward to opening.
And if this is what “doing research” looks like, I’m more than happy to keep sipping.