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Drinks So Good, Our Judges Finished Every Last Sip
Explore the standout sips from Good Housekeeping’s 2026 Snack Awards, from refreshing sparkling drinks to creamy, protein-packed smoothies.
From upgraded basics to café-worthy convenience, this year’s beverage winners are redefining what it means to sip smart. While water will always be the gold standard for hydration, these standout drinks will bring bold flavors, functional benefits, and refreshing variety to your daily routine.
To find the best of the best, our panel of registered dietitians, culinary experts, and taste testers sampled an impressive range of contenders, from buzzy functional sodas to ready-to-drink lattes and sparkling newcomers. The result is a collection of Good Housekeeping 2026 Snack Award winners that impressed on every level, delivering craveable taste, clever innovation, and serious refreshment with every sip.
OLIPOP creates nostalgia-inspired prebiotic sodas with functional benefits, combining classic soda-shop flavors with added fiber and significantly less sugar than traditional soft drinks. Available in flavors like Orange Cream and Shirley Temple, each can delivers a refreshing, bubbly sip with just 5 g of sugar and added prebiotics to support a healthy gut.
TEST RESULTS: Testers raved about the flavors, saying the cans captured the taste of vintage soda without being overly sweet. “The soda had great flavor and despite being relatively healthier than many other sodas, it didn't taste like it. And it was extra bubbly too,” one said. GH’s dietitians were also impressed by the high-fiber blend of prebiotics, which adds digestive benefits alongside the fun flavor experience.
Dairy-free yet rich and creamy, Equator’s Oat Milk Latte starts with an 18-hour cold brew made onsite in California for a smooth, café-quality taste. Made without artificial ingredients or shelf stabilizers, the organic coffee delivers a satisfying grab-and-go option with significantly less added sugar than many competitors.
TEST RESULTS: “I absolutely love this coffee. It’s nutty, creamy, dark, and rich,” said judge and food influencer Lindsay Ostrom. “The sweetness is subtle — just the right amount. And the aesthetic experience of the tiny glass bottle is truly delightful. Grabbing one of these out of the fridge at 2 p.m. was a highlight of my day.”
Inspired by ume (Japanese plum), this nonalcoholic sip from Aplós is tart, floral, and refreshingly balanced. It’s infused with 100 mg of functional mushroom lion's mane for a naturally calming effect.
TEST RESULTS: “Crisp, complex, and strikingly sophisticated,” said GH Senior Food Editor Susan Choung. “The ume brings a tart, slightly savory fruitiness that keeps each sip intriguing. It’s refreshing, grown-up, and feels right at home in a cocktail glass.” Taste testers gave it top scores across the board, with one saying, “While many mocktails just taste like juice, this drink felt complex like a quality cocktail does. I also felt very relaxed after drinking, thanks to the included adaptogens.”
Elmhurst is redefining what a premade protein shake can taste like. With real pistachios and premium vanilla extract in its Pistachio Crème flavor, the shake delivers 27 g of plant-based protein without gums, stabilizers, or artificial ingredients.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s nutrition director called it her favorite protein shake yet, comparing the flavor to that of a pistachio almond cookie and recommending that it be served well chilled: “It strikes the perfect balance of sweetness without the lingering aftertaste that’s so common in shakes like this.”
It doesn’t get more refreshing than Evolution Fresh’s cold-pressed watermelon juice. Featuring a hint of real lemon, this bright, hydrating drink delivers 451 mg of naturally occurring electrolytes with no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or colors.
TEST RESULTS: “It’s incredibly thirst-quenching and exactly what you want on a hot day,” said GH recipe pro Susan Choung. Testers agreed, noting that the hint of lemon was an unexpected but welcome addition that elevated the flavor. “There is also a very small amount of watermelon pulp that gives it a slight texture that adds to the flavor too, in a wonderful way,” one tester said.
With a filling blend of 25 g of plant protein and 6 g of fiber, this plant-based nutrition shake from Ka’Chava is equal parts delicious and nourishing. Just mix with your liquid of choice for a creamy, cacao-forward shake that’s smooth and not overly sweet.
TEST RESULTS: The shake excelled in both taste tests and nutrition evaluations with GH’s registered dietitians, who praised its silky chocolate flavor and balanced macronutrient profile. Food influencer Kevin Curry called it his new go-to, adding, “Not only did it dissolve well, but it tasted much better than other vegan proteins out there.”
Made with specialty-grade beans and brewed in-house, La Colombe’s Cold Brew delivers a coffeehouse-style experience on the go.
TEST RESULTS: Testers praised the rich flavor with a pleasant bitter edge as well as the shelf-stable grab-and-go can. GH’s food and nutrition pros welcomed this unsweetened option, noting that many canned coffees on shelves today contain excessive amounts of added sugar.
A better-for-you approach to sports hydration, Recover 180 uses a coconut water base combined with electrolytes and essential vitamins, skipping the added sugar and artificial ingredients.
TEST RESULTS: Testers appreciated it as a healthier alternative to conventional sports drinks and enjoyed its light tropical fruit profile. “I loved the flavor and the calorie content given its size. It really made me feel more hydrated, and the taste was better than a lot of similar drinks—it felt a bit more refined,” one tester said.
This fruit-forward seltzer from Hiyo—with passion fruit, tangerine, and a calming blend of ashwagandha and L-theanine—tastes like a tropical escape. The caffeine-free sip delivers plenty of flavor for just 30 calories and 3 g of sugar per can.
TEST RESULTS: The layered flavor profile felt more elevated than many typical nonalcoholic canned drinks, winning over both taste testers and judges. “It is bright and fruity and makes a unique nonalcoholic addition to our drink fridge,” said judge and food influencer Lindsay Ostrom.
What sets Ohy’s sparkling water apart from others is that it’s infused with hydrogen for smoother bubbles and a crisper taste than that of typical seltzers. It has magnesium as well, to support muscle function and help you feel your best.
TEST RESULTS: Taste testers really liked the lighter carbonation in this seltzer along with the vibrant cherry lime profile. GH culinary pro Susan Choung agreed, noting, “The cherry adds a light fruitiness, and the lime brings a zesty lift that keeps the flavor bright and refreshing.”
The fan-favorite collagen powder is now available in a convenient ready-to-drink shake. Vital Proteins combines high-quality collagen peptides with a smooth chocolate flavor for a creamy shake that delivers 30 g of protein with no added sugar.
TEST RESULTS: Food influencer Kevin Curry praised the shakes as a great grab-and-go option, calling them tasty, creamy, and super chocolatey. Testers also appreciated the mess-free convenience and liked it as an easy way to support hair, skin, and nails with added collagen.
Wildwonder blends prebiotics and probiotics into a sparkling functional drink brewed with real herbs that’s as refreshing as it is flavorful. The lightly sweet sip includes a blend of juniper berries, violet flowers, and real blackberry puree.
TEST RESULTS: The vibrant flavor, the floral notes, and the perfect amount of fizz made it a hit with taste testers. And the fun, colorful packaging made it something they wanted to reach for over and over again. “The blackberry is vibrant and juicy, while the violet adds just a whisper of floral complexity,” added GH culinary pro Susan Choung.
It’s never been easier to get your creatine in, thanks to Koia’s new strawberry shake. Each bottle delivers 32 g of plant-based protein, 6 g of gut-healthy prebiotic fiber, and 1,000 mg of creatine to fuel muscles and support sustained energy throughout the day.
TEST RESULTS: Testers were impressed by the smooth consistency, noting that it lacked the grittiness often found in protein shakes. “The strawberry has a very light, pleasant taste, not too sweet at all, and I felt satisfied and less hungry afterward,” one tester said.
Made with organic pea protein, Kate Farms’ thoughtfully formulated shake is designed to help fill common nutrient gaps. Each serving delivers 25 g of plant-based protein, 6 g of fiber, and 27 vitamins and minerals to support a variety of nutritional needs.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s Nutrition Director appreciated that the drink packs in a wide range of nutrients without any added sugar. Taste testers also gave both the chocolate and strawberry flavors high marks, noting that the texture stayed smooth from the first sip to the last.
Best known for its organic juices, Uncle Matt’s enters the yerba mate category with a smooth, wholesome version sweetened with organic wildflower honey and balanced with a touch of stevia.
TEST RESULTS: GH culinary pro Susan Choung, a yerba mate fan, especially enjoyed this sip. “The earthy character of the mate comes through nicely, and the touch of stevia is subtle enough not to distract. It delivers that classic yerba mate lift without having to brew a thing.”
This unique smoothie from Karviva has an ingredient list featuring superstars including organic cacao, wild chestnuts, quinoa, gluten-free oats, flaxseed, and pear. Lightly sweetened with monk fruit, it’s free of added sugars while packing 20 g of natural plant protein and 8 g of fiber.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s dietitians highlighted the nutritional balance, and taste testers described it as rich, chocolatey, and smooth. “I really enjoyed the taste of this drink, and it kept me very satisfied,” one tester said. “I could see anyone who is a fan of chocolate milk really liking it.”
Don’t be fooled by its simple design—this sparkling water from CVS’s Well Market delivers a high-end sipping experience and has a bright citrus profile driven by a curated blend of all-natural flavors. The drink has zero calories and no added sugars but still delivers on bold taste.
TEST RESULTS: The seltzer outranked others in our blind taste tests, and GH Senior Food Editor Susan Choung raved about the perfect bubbles and the vibrant Tahitian lime flavor. We also love that it’s an affordable option with a premium taste.
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