From prebiotic soda to bone broth hot chocolate, we’ve been going through something of a beverage renaissance lately.
It makes sense considering that young people are drinking less alcohol and simultaneously seeking out bold, new flavors. One of them is pickle juice, which is, in my opinion, a vinegary delight. Grocery store shelves are lined with pickle-flavored pretzels, popcorn, hummus, and, as of July 1, pickle sparkling water.
“Fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha, and pickles have become much more mainstream, and we are seeing pickled ingredients appearing on menus everywhere,” Francesca Zampi, the CEO and co-founder of YEW sparkling water, told Business Insider. She added people are “becoming much more open to savory, complex flavors.”
When I saw her LinkedIn post announcing the brand’s new pickle flavor, my taste buds pricked up. It costs £1.69 ($2.26) per can and is currently available at Planet Organic, London’s version of Whole Foods, and online. It contains no added sugar, just two calories, and “natural ingredients.”
For me, the pickle is no flash in the pan. I still salivate at the thought of the now-discontinued pickle-flavored Lays potato chips I would eat as a kid every summer in Portugal, where I stayed with my grandparents. I savor the gentle burn of dill pickles fresh out of the jar corroding my mouth tissue.
I’ll admit I am newer to the sparkling water category, but since I massively cut down my alcohol consumption at the beginning of 2026, it has quickly become one of my most ordered and purchased beverages.
In short, this drink sounded perfect for me. I had to try it, and I’m glad I did.
I opened the can and was hit by the strong aroma of pickle brine
I haven’t been impressed with the flavored sparkling waters or prebiotic sodas I’ve tried in the past. I often find them to be too sweet or too artificial-tasting. I was hoping that wouldn’t be the case with a savory flavor.
I am happy to say that YEW’s pickle sparkling water tasted natural and tart.
As I opened the minimalist white and green can, a strong aroma of pickle brine wafted into my nostrils. I was expecting a more intense pickle flavor than I tasted on first sip, but as time went on, the pickley-ness built.
Zampi recommended drinking it chilled, straight from the can, to preserve the “crisp acidity and freshness.” As my can hadn’t been refrigerated for long enough I drank it out of a glass with ice, which I found to be delicious.
As I took little sips out of my ice-filled glass, I was transported from my apartment to a pub garden or beach. I added a lemon slice, too, which made it feel more like a special occasion drink. This dovetails with Zampi calling the beverage a “satisfying” alcohol alternative. “It has that complexity and savory edge that you don’t often find in soft drinks,” she said.
Zampi said it isn’t designed as a mixer because, being a flavored water, the pickle taste is on the lighter side. While this does make for a refreshing and moreish soft drink, I am tempted to try it with a Diet Coke à la Dua Lipa.
Pickle sparkling water definitely had the potential to be gimmicky, but for me, this was thoughtfully executed and hopefully marks the beginning of many more innovative and healthy soft drinks to come.
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