If you love LaCroix*, then you've probably at one point wondered what's in it.
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*Pronounced la-CROY (rhymes with "boy"), if you didn't know already. *flips hair*
Sure, each can explicitly states "carbonated water" and "natural flavor" as its only two ingredients, but what does the latter actually mean?
Well, earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal got to the bottom of this millennial-age-old question.
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The secret to your liquid addiction?
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It's "essence," a clear, concentrated natural chemical derived by heating the skins or rinds of fruits.
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To expand, the chemical is described as vapors that are “captured, condensed and eventually sold by the 55-gallon barrel.” Which, TBH, just makes me think of a LaCroix potions master stirring a cauldron of burning fruits.
To be fair, the website already states a version of that fact, but the article reveals the production process behind this mysterious ingredient.
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And it greatly expands on the useless answer a LaCroix spokesperson gave the Wall Street Journal: "Essence is — FEELINGS and Sensory Effects!" *facepalm*
And while, according to the FDA, essence can refer to any "flavoring constituents derived from a fruit, bark, meat, poultry, or fermentation products thereof," LaCroix states on its site that all its "flavors are derived from the natural essence oils extracted from the named fruit in each LaCroix flavor."
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So, there probably isn't any random poultry or egg essence thrown in there.
Now go forth, and enjoy your vapor-infused beverage with this knowledge!
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