Popular Kool-Aid Flavors, Ranked Worst To Best

Ranking worst on our list is this Kool-Aid aguas frescas drink mix in jamaica, or hibiscus. Agua fresca translates to cool water in Spanish and is a Mexican drink that is a lot like flavored water, per Epicurious. The sugared beverage is typically made with fresh fruits, but it can also contain herbs or flowers. It's meant to be substantially sweet, yet lighter in flavor than a typical punch. 

While a jamaica-based agua fresca certainly sounds refreshing, Kool-Aid's take on the hibiscus drink misses the mark with a flavor that verges on artificial (and not in the fun, nostalgic way). There are no Amazon ratings above four stars for the product listing of this mix. One review went so far as to say that the drink was "bloody red and thick," calling it "the worst of all Koolaid flavors." If you're new to Kool-Aid or are thinking of trying out a new flavor, we wouldn't recommend this one.

Mandarin oranges are a smaller, sweeter, less acidic member of the citrus family than other types of oranges. This tasty fruit is the base of this Kool-Aid aguas frescas mandarina-tangerine drink mix. In this drink, which comes in a light blue package decorated with mandarin segments, we really don't taste anything aside from the barest hint of mandarin. An extra scoop of sugar does little to improve the flavor, which is too subdued when you're craving a bold drink like Kool-Aid. 

Reviewers on Amazon back our sentiments up, such as one shopper who wrote, "I gave it a couple of sips, and I was a little surprised to see there was very little flavor. To be honest, I didn't really taste any, but my family said they could very faintly taste it." Several users called this flavor overly sour, while another recommended using two powder packets in each recipe to make it taste less "watered down." However, one user noted that aguas frescas are often supposed to be subtle in flavor, so if you appreciate beverages like this, then mandarina-tangerine could be the pick for you. If you're craving something bolder, though, look elsewhere.

Mixed berries are always a welcome flavor in everything from fruit smoothies and oatmeal to indulgent pies and cobblers. Plus, blue-hued beverages often sit high on our rankings of sugary drinks, such as the most popular Gatorade flavors. That's why we wanted to love this mixed berry Kool-Aid — but were disappointed when we didn't.

While some products can get away with a vague "mixed berry" title, this Kool-Aid flavor depicts strawberries and blueberries on its packaging. For that reason, it's much more noticeable that the beverage lacks the flavor of these specific fruits. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly this drink tastes like, but it certainly has more of an artificial blue raspberry vibe than a genuine berry flavor. However, this drink has a mostly so-so to positive reception from many reviewers on Walmart. One review reads, "I bought this because they were out of Tropical Punch Kool-Aid. Not as good, but not bad." This sums up our view: Even though this isn't the worst Kool-Aid drink we tried, it also isn't the best, and we'd recommend other flavors first.

Peach, a sweet fruit that's in season in the summer and beloved in all kinds of pies, puddings, and cobblers, can be difficult to replicate in artificially flavored treats. After all, why eat or drink a peach-flavored product when biting into the ripe fruit is almost better than eating candy? The same goes for fresh mango, which is so satisfying on a hot day. For these reasons, we were skeptical of peach mango Kool-Aid at first — but pleasantly surprised when we tried it.

You can find lots of people singing the praises of this Kool-Aid flavor on Twitter, with many claiming it's their favorite of all. One Amazon review notes that this drink mix has a "nice flavor" and is "not too sweet [and] very refreshing." The reviewer added, "The first flavor you get is the mango flavor with a sweet peach flavor aftertaste," and we would have to agree. The orange-colored beverage is more mango-forward than peachy, but it still boasts a tasty blend of the two fruits. While we wish there were more peach notes in this Kool-Aid, we would still recommend the flavor to first-time Kool-Aid drinkers.

If you've ever had a Sprite or 7 Up, then you're well familiar with the taste of lemon and lime flavored drinks — and you may be a big fan of them. Kool-Aid offers its own version of the classic flavor combination with its lemon-lime drink mix.

With more than 3,000 ratings on Amazon, lemon-lime Kool-Aid certainly seems to be popular among customers. The product has just as high of a star rating on the retailer's site as many of our favorite flavors do, with one reviewer calling it "the best flavor Kool-Aid makes." The user added that it's refreshing and tasty even if you use less sugar than the recipe calls for — a significant point since many people find the need to add extra sugar to Kool-Aid's other citrusy drink mixes. When you want something tart but not overly acidic, we'd recommend this lemon-lime libation. The only downside is that many reviewers say it's hard to find in stores, so you may have to buy it in bulk online or be patient if you want to buy it in person.

Besides in name, Kool-Aid Sharkleberry Fin drink mix does not have any relation to Mark Twain's classic novel. Nor does it appear to contain any actual huckleberries, which are similar in appearance to blueberries but more tart in flavor. They're also the state fruit of Idaho, according to the Idaho County Free Press.

So, what does this mysterious Kool-Aid flavor actually taste like? As the fruits shown on its packaging (strawberries, oranges, and bananas) suggest, it tastes a lot like a strawberry banana smoothie in juice form. The drink is perfect for kids since it's more sweet than sour, and its depiction of the classic Kool-Aid man riding on top of a smiling shark is sure to attract little ones to the box. However, older customers seem to enjoy the beverage, too, based on their Amazon reviews. The product has 4.7 out of 5 stars, with several reviewers calling it the best or their favorite Kool-Aid flavor. Multiple reviews mention that the drink is ideal for the summer, which means it's a solid contender for best beachside mocktails.

Strawberries "are the most widely grown fruit crop" in the world, reports Food Source Information, with all but 6% of American households eating them in a given year. The beloved berry is popular in everything from school lunches to jams and jellies. Since its flavor is so well received on its own, Kool-Aid had big shoes to fill with its strawberry drink mix.

This fruity drink is just as sweet and tasty as an actual strawberry, with a pink color that reminds us of the pigment of strawberry frosting. It also doesn't hurt that this flavor can be found in stores a bit more easily than other flavors, giving it a greater number of fans. A particularly enthusiastic Amazon reviewer said, "Strawberry is a great Kool-Aid flavor, my favorite growing up, and we've tried them all, even the hard to find flavors." Thankfully, its full-on strawberry flavor means it's much less tangy than strawberry lemonade Kool-Aid, which makes it ideal for drinkers who prefer a sweet taste over a sour one. We'll happily drink this beverage when we're craving strawberries but don't have any on hand.

It's a challenge to find anyone who doesn't appreciate a cooling glass of lemonade on a hot day. This beverage takes many of us back to summertime celebrations — like the Fourth of July — and is a staple at both restaurants and in grocery stores. It only makes sense, then, that there's a Kool-Aid lemonade drink mix, and we're happy to report that it's a good one.

Lemonade seems like a pretty easy drink to get right, but we all know the frustration of buying it at the store and then finding it to be way too sweet, absurdly sour, or just plain wrong. That's evidently why many customers appreciate that unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid lets you control the amount of added sugar or sweetener. One Walmart reviewer stated, "My family and I love this flavor. It is super light and amazing and being able to add your sugar preference is amazing." We concur: This not-too-tart Kool-Aid delivers on citrusy flavor, and the fact that you don't have to squeeze your own lemons to enjoy it makes it all the sweeter.

There may not be a more nostalgic (or more controversial) drink flavor than grape. Though grape-flavored candy or jelly might not be everyone's cup of tea, it's perfect in drink form for anyone who enjoys the bold taste of artificial grape flavor. Trust us, you need only to get past your reservations about grape-flavored products to enjoy Kool-Aid's truly wonderful grape drink mix, which is delightfully kid-friendly in taste.

In fact, we prefer grape Kool-Aid over other grape beverages because it allows you to adjust the flavor with more or less water or more or less sugar. We add more liquid when we're in the mood for a lighter taste, while we whip up a more potent concoction when we're craving that signature fake grape flavor. This drink is especially popular with Walmart shoppers, with one online review saying, "This is my favorite flavor of Kool-Aid. It's so flavorful without being overpowering. It's cheap and makes a huge batch." Even if you're wary of grape juice, we suggest that you try this drink out — you won't regret it!

Besides blueberries and corn, it's difficult to find any food or drink that is naturally blue. Though very few things are natural about this blue raspberry lemonade Kool-Aid, it is undeniably delicious when you're craving something reminiscent of your candy-loving childhood. Even if you aren't typically a fan of raspberry-flavored beverages, we think you'll have a hard time turning down a few sips of this drink.

This brilliantly blue Kool-Aid is heavily debated as one of the best of the bunch, with fans all over the country claiming blue raspberry lemonade as their favorite flavor of the drink mix by far. Many customers find the power to be a great add-in for punch or other drinks, with one Amazon reviewer sharing, "I mixed 5 of these with the noted amount of water on the packet, Splenda, and one large can of pineapple juice and served it as punch at my little girl's birthday party. It was really tasty!" Even though we know raspberries aren't blue, we don't care: This Kool-Aid was nearly impossible to put down after a single sip. It left our mouths blue and our thirst satisfied.

How could we not put one of the best known Kool-Aid flavors at the top of this list? Holding the number-one spot is, of course, none other than the brand's famous tropical punch drink mix. No matter how you go about mixing and drinking this Kool-Aid, there's no denying the incredible taste of this scarlet red treat. It seems that no matter who you talk to about their favorite Kool-Aid flavors, tropical punch always comes up in the conversation.

As shown on the blue box, this Kool-Aid evokes notes of cherries, oranges, and several other types of produce you might find in a colorful fruit punch. We find that it's hard to get tired of this flavor, as it has so many different tastes packed into each sip. If you go to the Walmart website, you'll see that this flavor sells especially well as Kool-Aid Jammers, the brand's pouched beverage line. One reviewer wrote, "I really don't drink Kool-Aid very often but when I do this is the Kool-Aid that I drink." When you're looking for a sweet and sippable pick-me-up, you can't steer wrong with tropical punch — whether you're in the mood for a Jammer or a classic, semi-homemade cup of Kool-Aid.