As sophisticated as Hint is, it was not even inspired by adults. Certainly, company founder Kara Goldin is now happy to be able to grab a bottle of cucumber- or pear-infused water as she races through her daily agenda. But as a mother of three, her initial motivation was that although her children were drinking natural fruit juices instead of soda and other drinks, four glasses of juice each day were providing far too many sugar calories. She developed Hint as an alternative beverage that is flavorful and thirst-quenching; one that satisfies a sweet tooth with a hint of sweetness, but without sugar or sweetener. Goldin’s philosophy is summed up in Hint’s slogan: Drink Water, Not Sugar™.

We have had other brands of fruit-infused waters; but even though most flavors were natural, they were so heavy-handed that they seemed artificial. With Hint, the formulations have just the right subtle touch. All of the flavors are natural, and many are prepared from organically grown produce; all are added to purified water. The standard line, which can be purchased from the company’s website, includes Cucumber, Lime, Pear, and Peppermint, plus Apple from the Hint Kids line. Seasonal flavors include Cranberry-Orange, Pomegranate-Tangerine, Tangerine, and Raspberry-Lime.

We drink Hint:

• For general refreshment, instead of mineral water and iced tea

Last summer, Hint was named to THE NIBBLE’s “Best of Show” list: our favorite products from the July 2005 Fancy Food Show. Given how difficult it is for any new product to get off the ground—much less a new water, where the shelves are dominated by huge corporations†—we are delighted to see how much distribution Hint has obtained in the past six months. There’s a long way to go, however, and you can help make this wonderful brand more available to all of us:

• Ask your local retailer to bring in the line. Retailers are always looking for something new, and they truly are susceptible to consumer demand.
• If you’re a parent with influence over the choices available to your children at schools and recreational facilities, you can exert it on behalf of the Hint. Kids love flavors like Pear, Raspberry Lime, Strawberry-Kiwi and Tropical Punch.

† The top 10 brands of water in America are made or distributed by PepsiCo (Aquafina), Coca-Cola (Dasani, Evian [with Danone]), Nestle Waters (Poland Spring, Arrowhead, Deer Park, Ozarka, Zephyr Hills, Ice Mountain) and Crystal Geyser.

You can get a case of 24 bottles of Hint delivered to you for $44.00, which includes shipping. The cost of $1.83 per 15-ounce bottle is roughly the same as what you might pay at retail, including tax. And you don’t have to carry cases of water around. Just click over to DrinkHint.com. However, do beseech your local retailers to carry Hint, so you can pick up a bottle of whatever flavor you’re in the mood for, whenever you please.

Recently, we stayed at a posh San Francisco hotel—coincidentally for the Winter Fancy Food Show, where we visited the Hint booth and again partook of all of the flavors. At the hotel, a large pitcher of water for guests was laden with fresh mint, lemon and lime slices, and whole jumbo strawberries. It was such a beautiful still life, we hated to disturb it; but thirst trumped art. The taste was exquisite: each fruit and herb flavor had infused so clearly into the water. We could not imagine why everyone didn’t infuse water like this all the time, and we vowed to prepare pitchers of exciting flavored water as soon as we got home.

Photo by Melody Lan.

Hint WATER

Cucumber, Lime, Mango-Grapefruit, Pear, Peppermint, Pear, Pomegranate-Tangerine, Raspberry-Lime, Tropical Punch

• 15-Ounce Bottle
  Suggested Retail Price
  $1.69
• Case of 24 Bottles
  Shipping Included
  $44.00

Purchase online at DrinkHint.com

Prices and flavors are verified at publication but are subject to change.

Read more about fine waters in the Bottled Waters section...