I Tried Olipop’s New Pomegranate Flavor, and I Can’t Get Over How Surprisingly Refreshing It Is (My New Fall Drink!)

I love pomegranates, even if getting to the good stuff is a bit of a project. You have to wrestle the fruit to get all of the little seeds out, and you inevitably make a mess, but once you get past the extraction process, you’re rewarded with juicy little bursts of flavor that strike the perfect sweet-and-tart balance. So when I saw that prebiotic soda brand Olipop had introduced a new Pomegranate Sparkle flavor, I needed to know more. I already love Olipop, and pomegranate is one of those flavors I’ll pretty much always gravitate toward, so I had to try it for myself to see if this bubbly new flavor lived up to its name.

According to Olipop’s October 1 flavor announcement, Pomegranate Sparkle is a limited-edition prebiotic soda that’s a “blend of juicy pomegranate, sweet quince, and tangy passion fruit.” (Quince is a fruit that resembles apples and pears but is usually sweeter with a hint of guava flavoring.) According to the flavor announcement, “the taste begins bright and tart, then settles into a smooth, tropical sweetness with a fresh, juicy finish.”

If you’re looking to try Olipop’s new Pomegranate Sparkle, the limited-edition flavor is available on the brand’s official website and at retailers nationwide, including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Costco. A 12-pack typically costs around $35.99 on Olipop’s website, while Target lists individual 12-ounce cans for $2.49. Availability may vary by location, so you can also use Olipop’s store locator to see whether the pink cans are stocked near you.

I was really surprised by how refreshing this drink tasted from the first sip. It has a very fruity aroma, with a sweet, juicy pomegranate scent that came through as soon as I cracked open the can. I also noticed hints of apple and pear in the background, which I’d attribute to the quince flavoring, adding a little extra sweetness without overpowering the pomegranate.

Sometimes fruity drinks can taste too sugary or leave you feeling like you need a glass of water afterward, but this wasn’t like that at all. The pomegranate flavor gives it a juicy, slightly tart bite, while subtle apple and pear notes I detected, likely from the quince, soften that tanginess with a hint of natural sweetness — it tasted almost like a mix of fresh fruit juices, with a nice bubbly finish. I really liked how light and fresh it tasted!

As someone who already loves Olipop and pomegranates, I went into this taste test with pretty high expectations, and I’m happy to say Pomegranate Sparkle didn’t disappoint. It hits that sweet spot between fruity and refreshing without being too sweet or too tart. I also love how what I perceived as notes of apple and pear give it a little something extra.

I’d happily drink another can, especially if I wanted something fizzy and flavorful that wasn’t overly sweet. Plus, the pink packaging is ridiculously cute, which certainly doesn’t hurt. I’d definitely recommend trying it while it’s still around!