Singles To Go! Sunkist Soda Drink Mix Review: Worth It?
I taste-tested the Sunkist soda drink mix in the Orange flavor. Zero sugar, non-carbonated, and one packet flavors a whole bottle. Here's how it went.
Reviewed by
Scott Ayres
Welcome to the Product Demo lab where I (Scott) demo products so you can make an educated buying decision. I keep it real, honest and laid back.
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Quick Verdict
One orange packet, one bottle of water, and I got a bright citrus drink with zero sugar and zero fizz. It tastes like Sunkist soda that forgot to be carbonated. For a grab-and-go flavor packet, that’s a fair trade.
Buy if you:
- drink plain water all day and want orange flavor without sugar
- want single sticks you can toss in a bag, car, or desk drawer
- like Sunkist soda but are cutting back on soda cans
- are counting carbs and need a zero-sugar flavor fix
Skip if you:
- expect real carbonation, this mix is flat, not fizzy
- dislike the aftertaste that sugar-free sweeteners leave
- only want the exact taste of a cold Sunkist soda can
| Flavor tested | Orange |
|---|---|
| Sugar | Zero sugar |
| Carbonation | Non-carbonated |
| Serving | 1 stick per 16.9, 20 oz water |
| Pack size | 72 packets (6 sticks per box) |
Sunkist Soda: One Packet, Bright Orange Water
I tore open an orange stick, dumped it into a bottle of water, gave it a shake, and it was drinkable in seconds. That’s the whole pitch behind the Singles To Go! Sunkist Soda Drink Mix, and it delivers on the easy part. No spoon, no measuring, no mess. If you already like Sunkist soda, this is the powdered orange cousin that lives in your bag instead of your fridge.
The first sip surprised me. It’s sweet and citrusy right up front, closer to orange candy than orange juice. What it isn’t is bubbly. So if your brain expects a soda, adjust that expectation before the first taste.
What’s Inside the Little Sticks
The one spec that matters more than any other: non-carbonated. Everything else, zero sugar, one stick per 16.9 to 20 oz bottle, dissolves in seconds, is straightforward. But if you miss that first word and expect fizz, the whole experience feels broken before it starts.
The orange is one flavor in a wider lineup. The brand also does Grape, Lemon Lime, Mango Orange, Peach, Pineapple, and Strawberry, so if plain orange isn’t your thing there’s a shelf of options.
How the Orange Flavor Held Up
The orange tastes bold, not watered down. I made mine in a standard water bottle and the color turned a clear, bright orange within a few shakes, which tells you the powder dissolves fast. No clumps sitting at the bottom, no gritty last sip. Flavor-wise it’s a punchy orange, sweeter than juice and rounder than a diet soda.
Cold water helps a lot. Room-temperature water made the sweetness feel a little heavier, and a couple ice cubes pulled it back into refreshing territory. If you want it to read most like a Sunkist soda orange, drink it cold.
It’s Flat. That’s the Catch.
The thing your mouth keeps waiting for is fizz, and it never comes. This is a still drink wearing a soda’s name. That mismatch is the one friction here. Every time I lifted the bottle expecting bubbles, my brain filed a tiny complaint. It’s not a flaw in the product, it’s just physics of a non-carbonated mix, but it’s worth setting your expectation before the first sip so you’re not let down.
There’s also the sugar-free sweetener note. Zero sugar means artificial sweetening, and that leaves a faint aftertaste on the back of the tongue. It’s mild, and it faded faster with cold water, but if you’re sensitive to that kind of finish, you’ll notice it.
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Sunkist Soda Drink Mix Singles
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Who This Sunkist Soda Mix Actually Fits
This is for the plain-water person who’s bored of plain water. If you keep a water bottle at your desk or in your car and want flavor without cracking a can of Sunkist soda every afternoon, the sticks fit that gap perfectly. They’re small enough to stash in a bag pocket, a lunchbox, or a glovebox.
It’s also the easiest swap I can think of for someone cutting soda cold turkey. Zero sugar and no carbonation means nothing on the label fights a keto or calorie-counting goal, and you’re not pouring 44 grams of sugar into a kids’ water bottle the way a real Sunkist can would. That’s a genuinely useful trade, not just a marketing claim.
Powder Sticks vs. a Can of Sunkist Soda
A can of Sunkist soda wins on fizz and pure nostalgia. No powder mix reproduces carbonation, so if bubbles are the whole reason you drink orange soda, the cans stay king. The mix wins on sugar, portability, and price-per-drink. One box of sticks flavors a lot of bottles, weighs almost nothing in a bag, and skips the sugar entirely.
Put simply: the can is a Friday-afternoon treat; the sticks are what you keep in your gym bag so you don’t reach for a vending-machine soda at 3 p.m. One lives in the fridge, the other lives in your pocket. Different jobs, and the sticks do their job well.
Tips Before You Order
Start with a full bottle of water, not a half. The powder is dosed for 16.9 to 20 oz, and squeezing a stick into a small glass makes it taste syrupy and too sweet. If your first try is too strong, add more water rather than tossing it.
Shake, don’t just stir. A quick capped shake dissolves it far cleaner than swirling with a spoon. And keep the water cold. That single habit does more for the flavor than anything else. If orange isn’t your favorite, remember the same brand does grape, pineapple, peach and more, so you can build a variety stash from one line.
Pros
- Bold orange flavor that dissolves fast with no clumps
- Zero sugar, so it fits low-carb and calorie-watching plans
- Single sticks travel anywhere: bag, car, desk, lunchbox
- One stick flavors a full 16.9, 20 oz bottle, so it stretches far
- Wide flavor lineup beyond orange if you want variety
Cons
- Non-carbonated, so it never delivers the fizz a soda name implies
- Sugar-free sweetener leaves a faint aftertaste some people notice
- Too strong if you under-fill the bottle
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sunkist soda drink mix carbonated?
No, it’s non-carbonated. It carries the Sunkist soda flavor but comes out as a still drink with no bubbles. If fizz is what you’re after, a can of Sunkist soda is the only way to get it.
How much water does one packet flavor?
One stick is dosed for a 16.9 to 20 oz bottle or glass. Use less water and it tastes syrupy; use a full bottle and the balance is right. Pour, shake or stir, and drink.
Does it really have zero sugar?
Yes, it’s a sugar-free drink mix. That’s what makes it a fit for keto, low-carb, or general soda-cutting goals. The trade-off is the artificial sweetener leaves a slight aftertaste some people pick up on.
What other flavors does the line come in?
Beyond orange, the Sunkist line includes Grape, Lemon Lime, Mango Orange, Peach, Pineapple, and Strawberry. So if plain orange isn’t your pick, there are six other options to try from the same brand.
Can kids drink it?
Yes, it works fine in a kid’s water bottle as a lower-sugar flavored option. It’s zero sugar and non-carbonated, so it’s a milder alternative to a real soda can. Mix it a touch weaker for younger kids if the flavor comes on strong.
How do I store the packets and how long do they last?
Keep the sticks in a cool, dry spot like a pantry or a drawer. The powder is shelf-stable and doesn’t need refrigeration until it’s mixed. Sealed sticks hold up well, which is why they’re handy to stash in a car or bag.
Does it stain a reusable water bottle?
The orange color is bright, so a quick rinse after each use is smart to avoid tinting a clear plastic bottle over time. A regular wash handles it. I didn’t see any lasting stain from single uses.
Is this the same as drinking a Sunkist soda?
Not exactly. The flavor is close to Sunkist soda orange, but it’s flat instead of fizzy and sugar-free instead of sugary. Think of it as the everyday, portable version rather than a swap for the can.
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Get it now
Sunkist Soda Drink Mix Singles
Get the best price on Amazon →This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
About the reviewer
Scott Ayres
Welcome to the Product Demo lab where I (Scott) demo products so you can make an educated buying decision. I keep it real, honest and laid back.
