Quick answer: the best new drinks to try right now are the ones that taste like something without leaning on sugar. Our shortlist: tart craft soda (like Reckon), shrubs, sparkling tea, prebiotic soda, yerba mate, switchel and kombucha. Here is what each one actually tastes like, so you can pick.
1. Tart craft soda
The easiest swap if you love soda but find it too sweet. Tart craft soda leads with acidity, so the first sip is bright and the finish is dry. Reckon comes in tart Cherry and bright Apricot, built on a barley malt base, with about 1/3 the sugar of a typical cola. Try it if: you want something that still feels like soda.
2. Shrubs (drinking vinegars)
Fruit, sugar and vinegar, topped with sparkling water. Punchy, tangy and very adult. Try it if: you like sour candy and pickles in equal measure.
3. Sparkling tea
Brewed tea with bubbles, usually lightly sweet or unsweetened. Elegant at dinner. Try it if: you want something that reads fancy in a wine glass.
4. Prebiotic soda
Sodas built around added fiber, from brands like Olipop and Poppi. Sweeter and more classic-soda in flavor than tart craft soda. We compared them honestly in Craft Soda vs. Prebiotic Soda. Try it if: you want classic soda flavors like cola.
5. Yerba mate
A South American tea with an earthy, grassy taste and real caffeine. Try it if: you want a lift; skip it late in the day.
6. Switchel
An old farmhouse drink of water, cider vinegar, ginger and a sweetener. Spicy and sharp. Try it if: you like ginger with a bite.
7. Kombucha
Fermented tea, tangy and lightly fizzy, with a flavor that varies a lot by brand. Try it if: you like funk and sour together.
Quick compare
| Drink | Taste | Sweetness | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tart craft soda (Reckon) | Tart, crisp, dry finish | Not too sweet (12–15g) | None |
| Shrub | Tangy, fruity, vinegar bite | Varies | None |
| Sparkling tea | Tea, light and dry | Low | Some |
| Prebiotic soda | Classic soda flavors | Medium | Usually none |
| Yerba mate | Earthy, grassy | Varies | Yes |
| Switchel | Ginger, vinegar, spice | Varies | None |
| Kombucha | Funky, sour | Low to medium | Trace |
Where to start
If you only try one new thing this month, make it the one you can grab cold and drink with dinner. A Reckon variety pack gives you both flavors. Simple. Sober. It's Gonna Be OK.
About Reckon: Reckon is a tart craft soda from an old-world recipe, a brand of Joy Filled Beverages Ltd., based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Two flavors: Cherry (90 calories, 15g sugar) and Apricot (80 calories, 12g sugar), about 1/3 the sugar of a typical cola. Caffeine-free, no artificial colors or sweeteners. Find it in Cleveland at Leavened, Amba, Larder, Kiln, Abundance Culinary, Rood, Doinks Burger Joint and Constantino's Market, or at drinkreckon.com.
Frequently asked questions
What's a good new drink to try?
If you want something genuinely different that still feels like a treat, try a tart craft soda like Reckon: it leads with tartness instead of sugar, so it tastes nothing like a cola. Shrubs, sparkling tea and yerba mate are other easy places to start.
What new drinks are popular in 2026?
Drinks with less sugar and more character are having a moment: tart and not-too-sweet craft sodas, prebiotic sodas, sparkling teas, shrubs and yerba mate. Most are easy to find in cans.
What is tart craft soda?
A soda built around acidity and real flavor rather than sweetness. Reckon, for example, uses a barley malt base and lactic acid for a crisp, tart finish, with 12–15g of sugar per 12oz can against roughly 45g in a typical cola.