Pi-No Colada is another sparkling water mocktail in Waterloo’s summer offerings.

If you like coconut, you will love this. I’ve never had a sparkling water that was so coconutty tasting. And I don’t meant it tasted like coconut water – it really tastes like rich, sweet, coconut cream.

The pineapple flavor was very mild, just enough to give it some acidity and kick.

It doesn’t quite taste like a Pina Colada, and of course it doesn’t have the same mouthfeel. But it somehow captures the essence of Pina Coladas, and brings back beach memories.

And of course there are the bubbles. And zero calories – a “real” Pina Colada has 250 calories! And the can says vegan, right on the side. (I know, one would hope sparkling water would be always be vegan, but .- ya never know.)

I can’t think of any way to improve this with tweaks or garnishes – just serve very, very cold. It’s a perfect late summer sip.

EDIT 9/09/24 – I was wrong when I said there wasn’t a way to improve this with tweaks or garnishes. The other night I was cooking a curry and had some canned coconut milk left over. I decided to stir about two tablespoons into my Pi-No Colada and holy coconuts! The drink turned a beautiful creamy, frothy white and the taste was incredible!

This is a seasonal summer drink – Waterloo’s autumn Spiced Apple will soon be released. But at the moment there are still cartons of Pi-No Coladas in the stores.

If You Drink “Real” Pina Coladas

Be aware that many Pina Colada cocktails are NOT vegan. Traditionally, a Pina Colada is made with coconut cream, pineapple, and rum. But bars will often add dairy to the coconut cream. Hopefully, now that coconut milk is so widely available, that will not be as common. Pina Colada mixers may also contain dairy, so read the ingredients carefully.