Real Fruit vs Artificial Flavouring: What Are You Actually Drinking?

How to Choose a REAL Sparkling Water

Ever looked at a drinks ingredients list and been unsure what all the words actually mean? You’re not alone. Many people search for a healthy sparkling waters but end up without a clear picture of what they’re drinking.

We thought we’d take you through what these unpronounceables mean in simplest form and how you can keep an eye out for them.

Let’s start off easy.

Real Fruit

There’s no trick here. If your sparkling water has real fruit then you’ve got a real winner. That fruit has come from the plant, not a factory and still has all its natural fruit characteristics (and usually you can taste the difference).

Fruit Extract

Fruit extract takes all the goodness from the real fruit, including vitamins and minerals, through various ways of extraction, to create a concentrated syrup. Unlike fruit juice, the process of creating fruit extract in most cases doesn’t bring high sugar levels with it but rather little to none.

Natural Flavours

Natural flavours sound good in theory. To be defined as a natural flavour rather than artificial, the ingredient must be derived from plants or animals originally. However, the ingredient don’t have to stay in this form but can then be taken and adjusted chemically.

Artificial Flavours

This one’s as fake as it gets. Fully created in a lab using chemicals without any connection to real plants or animal components.

Sweeteners

Sweeteners are often considered an alternative to sugar. They can be artificially created or natural such as honey or stevia and as the word describes, sweetens food or drinks.

Sugar

Sugars are carbohydrates naturally occurring in most foods. However, as they are also largely added to our food to improve flavour.

Some of these sound a little scary right? Don’t worry, with this knowledge you can go out and shop consciously. The more we’re aware of what we’re putting in our bodies, the more pressure we put on big food and drink companies to change for the better.

While you’re here, we thought we’d reintroduce ourselves.

Here’s what you need to know about our healthy flavoured sparkling water.

Skinny Fizz has two ingredients. Yep just two.

Sparkling water + real fruit extract. Our lemons and limes are grown in sunny Gisborne and our raspberries in Waikato.

With just 0.2 grams of sugar per can, we’re proud to have no added sweeteners, or artificial flavours. Simply sugar from the homegrown fruit itself.

So next time you’re feeling a little parched, take a look at your options before you pick up a drink packed with the nasties. A refreshingly real choice is always there for you.

Chur,

Skinny Fizz Team