I can’t possibly be the only one who gets overwhelmed at the grocery store these days, can I? It seems every new visit reveals more never-before-seen products, ranging from genius to straight-up wacky. Whether it’s your favorite childhood cereal revamped with extra protein or a collaboration between Oreo and Reese’s we didn’t know we needed until it happened, it’s hard, even for a food editor, to keep track of new launches.
At this point, it feels like we’ve seen just about everything (bubble bath soap-inspired soda, anyone?) And while there is a time and place for novelty and maximalism, I’ve been finding myself gravitating toward simpler products. Ones that only require a quick glance to know exactly what they’re all about—which, in turn, makes them somehow more memorable.
That was certainly the case when Bawi, a relative newcomer to the fizzy drink category, recently landed on my kitchen counter. If you’re not familiar with the brand yet, then listen up, because you won’t want to miss this.
Introducing Bawi Agua Fresca
Bawi
Meet Bawi, an Austin, Texas-based beverage company that emerged in 2024. Bawi takes classic agua fresca flavors, such as pineapple and lime, and reimagines them with a boost of bubbly and significantly less sugar. The result is a crisp, effervescent, fruit-forward drink that’s not only refreshing and perfectly sweet, but also very satisfying, opening the door to a whole new way to enjoy agua fresca.
Aguas frescas, which translates to “fresh water,” are non-alcoholic drinks from Mexico, made by blending water, sugar, and ingredients such as fruit, flowers, seeds, grains, or a combination of such. Giant vats of agua fresca can be found everywhere in Mexico, from street cart vendors to restaurants to homes. Popular varieties include horchata (made with rice and cinnamon), jamaica (made with hibiscus), and tamarindo (made with tamarind). While they are super popular in Mexico, they can also be found throughout Latin America and some pockets of the United States.
Bawi currently has four flavors in its lineup: El Limón (lime), La Piña (pineapple), La Maracuyá (passion fruit), and its latest addition, La Guayaba (guava).
If you’ve never had agua fresca, the best way to describe it is like a combination of juice and flavored water. Depending on the variety, aguas frescas can be made on the spot by blending fresh fruit and water for a cooling, thirst-quenching drink or by soaking ingredients in water overnight. The latter yields something highly concentrated in flavor, with a juice-like appearance but a much more rewarding sip—at least for me.
Add some carbonation, and the humble agua fresca soars to new heights. Seriously. I guzzled down a can of Bawi’s passion fruit flavor far quicker than I thought I would. It was wonderfully vibrant and tart with a tropical edge, true to the fruit itself. Honestly, I almost forgot this wasn’t a soft drink until I polished off a can and noticed my teeth weren’t coated in a sticky residue, as they would be with, say, Mountain Dew.
And it’s not just me who’s smitten. “I absolutely love this! I bought a case for my family to try, and it is so refreshing, especially chilled or over some ice. We love how it’s not overly sweet, but still crisp and bubbly!” wrote one reviewer on Amazon. “The guava is our favorite flavor so far, but we will have to try the other ones. 5 stars recommend!”
Another fan mentioned they love taking Bawi to the beach, noting that the drink tastes like actual fruit rather than artificial sweeteners. “Honestly, it feels like a treat without being too much,” they added.
Bawi is currently available for purchase at major retailers in select regions, including Target and Whole Foods, as well as on Amazon and its website. For the most up-to-date information on in-store availability, use Bawi’s store locator.
With so many new fizzy drinks flooding the market, Bawi stands out for its minimal ingredients and bold, fresh flavor. If you’re looking for a fun new sip to have on hand, this one’s worth trying.
