Add fresh fruits and herbs One of the tastiest ways to hack your seltzer is with a simple fruit-herb combo. Sure, fruit alone would be great, but pair it with fresh herbs and these drinks develop a unique, complex taste that you won’t find in any bottled seltzer. A few of our favorite combinations: Rosemary and grapefruit slices, blueberries and sage, strawberries and basil, pineapple and ginger, and lime slices and mint. Make a natural energy drink Here’s a crazy idea: Add chia seeds, a squeeze of lemon or lime, and a touch of honey to your seltzer. Apparently this drink, called a chia fresca, has been a thing in Mexico and Central America for years. The texture is weird but awesome—you still get the fizz from the seltzer, but because chia seeds become gelatinous when submerged in water, it’s thicker and more substantial than your average drink. Bonus: You get a dose of omega-3s, protein, and fiber thanks to chia. Try this recipe from Oh She Glows. MORE: Coconut Water Is Lame: Five New Drinks That Are Healthier. Add bitters for a classy mocktail At the bar and want to lay off the sugar-loaded cocktails and high-calorie beer without looking like an orthorexic jerk who doesn’t know how to have a good time? Order up some seltzer with a splash of bitters, which are basically classy botanical extracts made from various plants and fruits that lend a complex, bittersweet flavor to your drink for just a few calories and a touch of alcohol. Add booze for a lighter cocktail And for those of you who do want some booze—but maybe not all those calories—simply cut your drink with seltzer. My favorite mash-up: Sauvignon blanc + naturally flavored lime seltzer + fresh strawberries. The result is a light and fresh sangria-style drink that’s perfect for summer. MORE: Coconut, Burch, or Maple: Which Is Best? Find one that tastes awesome all on its own No time to mess around with fruits, herbs, bitters, and booze? Keep it simple and opt for a naturally flavored seltzer that tastes great without add-ins. La Croix, the hipsters’ brand of choice, has some seriously delicious flavors like cerise limon (cherry lemon), pamplemousse (grapefruit), coconut, peach pear, mango, and passionfruit. Hint Fizz is another favorite, offering up options like cherry, peach, and blackberry.
