Born out of a University of Florida lab,Gatoradehas fueled athletes and quenched thirst since 1965.
What started as an energizing elixir meant to replenish carbohydrates and electrolytes has become much greater.
And, as with any iconic brand, it has grown to offer an army of products.
Photo: Megan Hageman. Design: Eat This, Not That!
There are powders, pods, gels, and protein bars sporting the orange lightning bolt logo.
Its bottles have multiplied exponentially, presenting an entire rainbow of colors and tastes.
Naturally, there’s a never-ending debate about which flavor is best.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
I wanted to see for myself which one is the tastiest.
To start, I rounded up every 28-ounce bottle I could find.
Let’s dive into the results.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Fierce Green Apple
Green Apple is one of the less prominent flavors in Gatorade’s Fierce collection.
The latter point is not confined to the Fierce series but is worth mentioning.
The look:Easily distinguishable in a vibrant shade of lime green that reminded me of Nickelodeon slime.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
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Several other elusive renditions have been spotted, including Strawberry Lemonade and Strawberry Watermelon.
According to the bottle, this hue comes from purple sweet potato juice.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
I’m detecting a trend here with the Fierce flavors.
I think “fierce” may be code for extra shots of syrupy sweetness.
The taste:I can’t figure out what this flavor is meant to taste like.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
I’ve heard some people say it gives off hints of melon, but that seems far-fetched.
The taste:The cherry flavoring is evident as you take your first sip: sweet and refreshing.
However, this one comes with a big but.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
After the fruitiness subsides, the liquid tastes almost briny and concentrated, leaving you with a soapy aftertaste.
This does not leave a great lasting impression, and it is not something I want from a beverage.
Lemon Lime
At last, we reach Gatorade’s original thirst-quenching flavor, Lemon Lime.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:This will be controversial: I find Lemon Lime to be all but flat in flavor.
Plus, it hits you with an edge of saltiness similar to what you experience in the Glacier Cherry.
The world may never know, and Gatorade is unlikely to reveal its secrets.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The look:Difficult to distinguish from some of the other blue Gatorade options, especially Cool Blue.
It is the most vibrant, with a deep color reminiscent of the middle of the ocean.
The taste:After Arctic Blitz, this is one of the most confusing flavors.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
You don’t get an overwhelming cherry taste like you do with Glacier Cherry.
Instead, it’s more like berry with Stevia or artificial sweetener.
Whatever Gatorade was going for with this new fabricated fruit, it missed the mark.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Fierce Grape
Once again, we dip into the Fierce flavor series.
This time, we’re looking at Grapea taste that has historically been quite polarizing.
People tend to either love or hate it with no middle ground.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
I, however, land somewhere between both strong viewpointsan unbiased third party.
The look:Undeniably Fierce, but noticeably more of a royal blue than a deep grape-like purple.
The taste:You’re first hit with a robust grape juice essence.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
But the liquid quickly resolves into something more watery and less defined.
It’s similar to a grape Kool-Aid, where the water-to-powder ratio is slightly off.
Or, better yet, a cough syrup that is mild enough not to make you gag.
Photo: Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
So, I suppose, in summary, it’s perfectly consumable.
But not for everyone.
Good luck guessing what it tastes like.
From its coloring, we can predict that it may be another grape-inspired beverage.
Or perhaps it contains notes of acai, elderberry, or even plums?
I had never experienced the Rush, so I was excited to find out.
The look:More like grape than the Grape Gatorade, itself in a shade between mauve and violet.
The taste:Fresh with a scaled-down grape flavor.
Mystery solved, sorta.
Another taste seems to be hiding in the background.
They are still on the market, and I picked one up at my local Kroger.
The look:Icy Charge earns points for boasting the most captivating color.
I stared at the sloshing liquid for a while before labeling it as a dusty blue.
In the light and at certain angles, it gives off glimpses of periwinkle.
The taste:This one surprised me with a tropical vibe that does not match its appearance.
It’s subtle yet invigorating in the best ways.
Fruit Punch
Listed as the third-ever flavor, Fruit Punch is an iconic Gatorade variation.
It’s the flavor with the highest likelihood of staining your tongue and lips with its bright red hue.
The look:Bright and bold crimson reda color that always stands out from the crowd.
I swear I see these blue bottles more often than longstanding originals such as Fruit Punch and Lemon Lime.
Its flavor origins are again under wraps, hidden underneath a nonsensical name.
It has slightly tart cranberry notes with slightly seedy sour berry notes."
Sounds like a cupful of bilgewater to me, but I guess we’ll find out.
It’s also one of the most transparent colors.
The taste:I can make out something like light strawberry mixed with some orange.
If I could say that this one tastes like blue, I would.
I’m guessing others would agree with that sentiment.
It’s sluggable and energizing every single timeeven though the flavor is difficult to pinpoint.
Orange
Orange is another OG Gatorade.
Orange will always taste orange.
The look:Close to a carrot or even pumpkin orange.
It’s a shade or two darker than other orange drinks or sodas.
The taste:Fruity and full of citrus, but not too tart or acidic.
When you bring up the lid, it smells like fresh-squeezed oranges, giving you an energy boost.
While the taste doesn’t offer that same sensation, it comes close.
The flavor here is ambiguous, but that hasn’t stopped people from diving into the blue.
The look:Very similar to Blue Cherry, just a smidgeon lighter.
The difference is hardly noticeable unless the two are sitting beside each other.
The taste:Like drinking from a life-giving pool of water.
It tastes even “bluer” than Glacier Freeze.
It leaves your mouth feeling fresh and cool, like when you drink water after chewing minty gum.
