REVIEW: Crystal Light Liquid Strawberry Lemonade

Crystal Light Liquid Strawberry Lemonade

I imagine Shakespeare was a connoisseur of lemonade.

Why, if he were around right now, he’d probably say something like, “Oh, ye citrus beverage of my youth, why do I crave for thee in the bitter of winter?” Then, he’d probably sit down and write a sonnet, maybe pull out some iambic pentameter. I dunno, but I do know that, if his love for lemonade were true, he, like me, would’ve been tickled to see that one of Crystal Light’s newest ventures came in the form of strawberry lemonade.

Gotta give it to Crystal Light: they’re game for innovation. Every time I pass the powdered drink aisle, there’s a new flavor: Mango Passionfruit, Cherry Pomegranate, Snozzberry (oh, wait, I don’t think that last one’s been done yet. Can they get on that?).

While the notion of portable, squeezy liquid concentrates isn’t the newest thing on the block, Crystal Light’s always experimenting with uncharted territory flavors that don’t threaten to decay my bicuspids or sag my rump. I don’t know if all this flavor experimentation is admirable, but it is risky, and I respect a company willing to haggle with the Devils of Downfall.

The design of these little buggers is fetching in that short-and-curved kinda way. At the same time, it somewhat reminds me of a mini robot alien sent to Earth to bring the galactic armada tumbling upon us.

Crystal Light Liquid Strawberry Lemonade Flip Top

“Take me to your leader.”

Upon flipping open the cap, the smell is magical enough, with hints of lemon drops, artificial strawberry, and maybe something fruit punchy.

The recommended serving is “1 squeeze” for 8 ounces, so I shook the contents to make sure the flavors were distributed, gave it a solid squeeze, and watched as the color poofed out with a sort of pink lava-lamp glow, a color that disperses itself upon stirring around.

Crystal Light Liquid Strawberry Lemonade Stirred Up

Yes, it’s a little murky, but the pink adds something magical. I imagine this is what unicorn swamp water would look like.

The romp in interactive drink preparation was nothing but joy.

The tasting, however, was the opposite of joy.

It started as a hit of salty water, then went into some sort of faint cotton candy bubblegum. I added more squeezes into the water, thinking that maybe I just got a bad blend on my first squeeze, but it only concentrated the saltiness, resulting in something that tasted like a melted sea-salt-and-cotton-candy popsicle.

Oh, I was so sad. I really wanted to like this. I really did. I tried it multiple times with varying degrees of concentrate: one squeeze, measured squeezes, at breakfast, at dinner, while doing handstands in my kitchen (a fun and difficult challenge, but still not very tasty). I even offered it to a friend who needed to take off a few pounds.

Crystal Light Liquid Strawberry Lemonade and the Sultan

He said it was dastardly, which I thought a bit hyperbolic of him.

Maybe I just got a bad bottle. Maybe there was a mix up at the factory. Maybe a Crystal Light employee was seeking vengeance for an under-salted lemonade s/he had in his/her youth. I dunno. I appreciate that I didn’t waste any calories on this experience and I know Crystal Light can make some pretty decent lemonades, but this just isn’t one of them. Nonetheless, I hold hope for the future. Crystal Light is willing to take risks. Even when they fail, they shall try, try again.

Maybe next time.

(Nutrition Facts – 1/2 teaspoon – 0 calories, 0 calories from fat, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 15 milligrams of potassium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 12 grams of sugars, and less than one gram of protein.)

Other Crystal Light Liquid reviews:
Drink What

Item: Crystal Light Liquid Strawberry Lemonade
Purchased Price: $3.29
Size: 1.62 fl. oz.
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 3 out of 10
Pros: Smells magical. Sugar free. Interactive preparation. Cool bottle. Cap snaps securely shut. Doing handstands in the kitchen. Shakespearean sonnets.
Cons: Tastes of watery, over-salted Jolly Rancher. Lingering cheap cotton candy taste. Unicorn swamp water. Galactic armadas that take over the planet.

12 thoughts to “REVIEW: Crystal Light Liquid Strawberry Lemonade”

  1. I tried all 4 flavors if this and it gave me, let’s say, some intestinal distress. I’ll stick with Mio.

  2. I think this actually taste pretty good. Im a big crystal light fan..its all we usually drink. i’d give it 8 out of 10.

  3. It’s the only flavor from Crystal Light I liked. I actually don’t put as much as they say because it’s too strong for me.

  4. I tried the Pomtini flavor which is identicle to the multiple other berry/pomegranate drink enhancers out there. The packaging was a poor choice by the co. It’s more annoying to have to have to remove it from the cardboard. I’m sure stocking staff at stores LOVE stocking each bottle individually in that awkward packaging. It’s not a bad flavor. Just nothing special.

  5. I tried the ice tea which I thought was quite good. I like being able to order water and get a drink without paying $3.00 for lousy ice tea.

  6. I bought crystal light today in the Peach flavor. got home, got a big glass of ice and water, and put a squirt of the peach in it. not expecting much, was like Wow! this is really, good. drank 3 glasses so far. going back tomorrow for the cherry pomg. this is really good

  7. I had been using the traditional crystal light natural lemonade for many years and loved it! I just recently started using CL liquid strawberry Lemonade, the flavor is terrific! But after a few days of using it I started noticing that I am more thirsty than ever….not sure why? I typically drink 15-18 glasses of water a day with a squirt of CL in each glass. I’m wondering is it because there is 30mg of sodium/ serving could this be causing me to be thirsty? I’m tempted to switch back to the old CL ……if not I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop drinking water, I’m always thirsty!! Help with ideas or suggestions, please!

  8. I’m a little concerned about this product. I bought one of these on clearance in Target and began to use. Whenever I drink it, I can’t stop drinking it. it’s obviously beyond artificial. Hopefully, still allowed for human consumption. The list of ingredients are concerning. The propylene glycol, the (preservative) potassium sorbate, the acesulfame potassium( which doesn’t sound good at all; just my opinion), and of course the sucralose ( hidden word for artificial sweetener. I plan to research more on this product. I would not constantly use this product. I’ve mentioned to people how diet drinks and things of this sort are potentially no good for the human body. I do believe natural sugar is better for you. However, I am a sucker for an innovative product with a little funky squeeze. I am concerned it’s like crack in a bottle or a trip of LSD swirling into your water!!! Go all natural with food. As much as possible! God Bless!

  9. The Bluebarry Razz is by far the best tasting squeeze liquid I’ve ever tried. This is how the Berry Burst Mio should of tasted (but instead the blue mio tastes awful). I also noticed the expire date lasts longer then the Mio as well.

    If you haven’t tried it, give the Blueberry Razz a try, I usually do a solid squeeze and a half into a 500ml water bottle.

  10. Drinking “natural” sugar is not good for you. If you are afraid of artificial sweeteners then you should drink the healthiest beverage: plain water.

  11. I tried the Strawberry Lemonade liquid and really like it. I prefer mine a little darker so I like that I can adjust it which you cannot do with the powder. I tried mixing it with a little more than half water and the rest unflavored seltzer and found it was even better that way. I am trying to cut back on the amount of diet soda I consume and this has a lot less artificial sweetener than the sodas do which is another reason why I like using it. I think it’s really whatever you prefer but for me I like it and plan to continue using it.

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