Photo: Newscast (Getty).
It’s weird to me that Kool-Aid was such a memorable part of childhood considering it’s just flavored sugar water. But then again, it also makes perfect sense why it would be the cornerstone to our childhoods. But which flavor stands out above the rest as the ultimate Kool-Aid drink? I revisited way too many to count in order to give you the definitive ranking of Kool-Aid flavors. There are technically more than 50, but then you’re getting into some really obscure types that you’re probably never going to come across anyway. Enjoy!
The Definitive Ranking Of Kool-Aid Flavors:
Except where specifically noted, all photos via Kraft.
You thought that list was impressive: The Definitive Ranking Of Everything On Taco Bell’s Menu
Definitive Ranking Of Kool-Aid Flavors
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50. Cola Kool-Aid
Everyone makes mistakes, so we’ll give Kool-Aid a pass on this one. I get why they’d try combining the two, but in the end, you either want cola or Kool-Aid. Never both.
Photo: YouTube
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49. Root Beer Kool-Aid
That’s a big nope. You’ve probably never had this one and, God willing, you never will.
Photo: Pinterest
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48. Lemonade Kool-Aid
If you’re going to have a lemon-flavored beverage, you’re going to have lemonade. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this one, it’s just a little out of the Kool-Aid wheelhouse.
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47. Lemon Ice Kool-Aid
I’m not even sure how this is a different flavor than just regular lemon, to be honest. It’s not like they actually added ice to it. You’re just powder, Kool-Aid. Be yourself.
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46. Lemon Kool-Aid
OK guys, we get it. You can add all the words in there you want, but it’s all basically lemon. At this point, you’re just coming off needy.
Photo: Pinterest
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45. Candy Apple Kool-Aid
I know Kool-Aid is incredibly sweet as it is, but candy apple somehow finds a way to make Kool-Aid way too sweet. You don’t even have to add sugar and it’ll cause you to do inadvertent cartwheels.
Photo: Pinterest
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44. Grape Tang Kool-Aid
Not even making it grape can salvage the fact that Tang is, at the core, terrible. I’m fairly confident in saying that no one has ever purchased Tang on purpose.
Photo: Cliggro.com
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43. Man-o Mangoberry Kool-Aid
If you take one sip of this one, you’ll love it. The problem is that sips two through 20 start to get a little too intense on the mangoberry, whatever that means. Also, I think the first part is confusing. If it’s referring to a mango, then it’s “Mango Mangoberry Kool-Aid.” If that’s not the case, then…there’s man in it?
Photo: Pinterest
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42. Roarin' Raspberry-Cranberry Kool-Aid
I can get down on raspberry anytime and anywhere. Then you add the word roarin’ in front of it and I’m downright excited. Unfortunately, just like the Rush Hour franchise, the third one is completely unnecessary. Unless you have a urinary tract infection, you’re not going to be seeking out a cranberry addition to your drink.
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41. Kickin’ Kiwi-Lime Kool-Aid
Kiwi is fine on its own, as is lime, but the combination of the two just doesn’t have the same impact. It’s like that Robert DeNiro/Eddie Murphy buddy cop movie Showtime. Oh, you didn’t see it? Exactly.
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40. Lime Kool-Aid
Lime is fine, but it can be a bit overwhelming. If only there were another flavor to combine it with…
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39. Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid
Look, I didn’t say it was going to make a huge difference, but if you’re dead set on having some lime-based Kool-Aid, you might as well toss some lemon in there with it and live your life to the fullest.
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38. Mandarina-Tangerine Kool-Aid
I looked up “mandarina” and guess what -- it’s not even a word. I’m honestly not even sure what it’s supposed to mean. It’s not a bad flavor, but how am I supposed to respect something that I can’t even trust?
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37. Rainbow Punch Kool-Aid
I have a feeling “Rainbow Punch” means they made a flavor that no one could identify, so instead of trying to choose a direction for it, they just went with all the directions and called it a rainbow.
Photo: Pinterest
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36. Pina-Pineapple Kool-Aid
I’m going to be honest; I don’t know if I love this one or hate it. I feel like I could drink it every day for a week and have a completely different reaction to it every time. You could argue it into the top 20, or rank it dead last and I’d probably agree. What kind of dark magic are you playing with my heart, Pina-Pineapple??
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35. Shaking Starfruit Kool-Aid
This is part of the Kool-Aid Twists lineup of drinks and, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why the word “shaking” is in the name. It’s not a martini. Were they afraid someone was just going to pour the flavoring into a glass of water and drink it without mixing it? I guess it works better than “Stirring Starfruit.” That sounds like it’s going to start a political argument at your family Christmas dinner.
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34. Incrediberry Kool-Aid
I’m no Kool-Aid farmer, but I’m fairly certain the earth does not produce a fruit called an “Incrediberry.” But then again, it’s not like any flavored drink or candy actually tastes like the fruit it’s named after. It would be ranked higher, but the name sets way higher of an expectation than what you’re actually going to experience.
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33. Arctic Green Apple Kool-Aid
What’s interesting is that there is absolutely a different flavor between regular green apple and arctic green apple. Even more shocking is that I’m pretty sure you can’t even grow green apples in the arctic. Again, what sort of dark magic are you working with, Kool-Aid?
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32. Jamaica Kool-Aid
I don’t know why this one was so funny to me. I guess because every other flavor was named after an actual flavor and, for this one, they were like, “Nah, let’s just go with a country.” Can I get a little Canada Kool-Aid? Maybe a glass of Russia Kool-Aid?
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31. Green Apple Kool-Aid
You don’t always have to go wild on the name to give us a Kool-Aid flavor. I mean, we’re drinking a beverage that’s being poured out of a giant pitcher man’s head. Just name it apple and call it a day. We’re cool with that.
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30. Pink Swimmingo Kool-Aid
OR you could call it PINK SWIMMINGO! Don’t get me wrong, it’s good, but now you’re playing god and creating a species of animal that doesn’t even exist. I guess most people don’t want to drink what could possibly be interpreted as a flamingo’s bath water.
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29. Grape Blackberry Kool-Aid
I’m not mad at grape blackberry; I’m just disappointed. On paper, this should have been the greatest combination since Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa collaborated, but it’s just not quite there. It’s good, but you just know it could’ve been better.
Photo: John_Kasawa (Getty).
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28. Surfin’ Berry Punch Kool-Aid
I’m tired of berries that just sit around on a tree all day. I want a berry that’s living life to the fullest. Give me a berry that could perform in the X Games. Thank you for embracing every day as your last, Surfin’ Berry.
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27. Eerie Orange Kool-Aid
It’s the first spooky flavor on the list! What’s scary about it, you ask? The flavors are a bit more intense than usual. It can be a nice change of pace with the right flavor, but it’s certainly not going to be your day-to-day Kool-Aid preference.
Photo: plaidman76 (Flickr).
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26. Soarin’ Strawberry Lemonade Kool-Aid
The strawberry part is great, but there’s just something about the lemonade aspect of Kool-Aid that’s inherently flawed. If a soarin’ strawberry can’t save it, nothing can.
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25. Strawberry Splash Kool-Aid
Strawberry Kool-Aid is great. Strawberry Splash Kool-Aid is like getting open mouth kissed by a strawberry the first time you meet. Even if it’s good, it’s still a little too intense.
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24. Oh Yeah Orange-Pineapple Kool-Aid
Honestly, there are flavors below this one that I liked better, but I just love so much that they put the words OH YEAH in the title. It’s like the Kool-Aid Man got so excited he couldn’t contain it any longer. Oh yeah!
Photo: Pinterest
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23. Bunch Berry Kool-Aid
Anyone know how many berries are in this flavor? Anyone? What’s that? Oh, A BUNCH? Nice.
Photo: stphillips (Getty).
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22. Triple Awesome Grape Kool-Aid
Again, sometimes less is more. We’re very content with just the regular amount of grape. You don’t have to hold us down and waterboard us with grapes.
Photo: Photobucket
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21. Scary Blackberry Arctic Green Apple Kool-Aid
There’s quite a bit going on here. Combining blackberry and green apple is a daunting task on its own, but now you have to factor in that it also has the “arctic” element added in. It must have been a wild day at the Kool-Aid office because, after that, they let the adjectives run wild and crammed “scary” in there as well. I need to go lie down just from thinking about it.
Photo: Pinterest
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20. Strawberry Falls Punch Kool-Aid
Strawberry works so much better on its own without bringing the punch element into the mix. The title also sounds like the strawberries are both clumsy and prone to violence. “If I lose my balance again, I swear I’ll hit you.”
Photo: Paxton Holley (Flickr).
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19. Watermelon Cherry Kool-Aid
Now this is the combination of two flavors I can get behind. The only reason this one isn’t higher on the list is simply because there are some really good flavors left. From this point forward, everything is top tier fantastic.
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18. Blue Berry Blast Kool-Aid
If there’s one thing I never mind being blasted with, it’s blue berry. Blast away, berries. Blast away.
Photo: Pinterest
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17. Berry Blue Kool-Aid
Wait a minute. You just changed the words around a little. I still love you, but I’m not falling for this trick again.
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16. Great Bluedini Kool-Aid
NOW THE BLUEBERRIES ARE MAGICAL! IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN’T DO, BLUE KOOL-AID?
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15. Watermelon Kool-Aid
You’ll always buy watermelon, but it’s never your first choice. What’ll happen is when there’s a sale on 10 packs of Kool-Aid, you’ll grab your favorites, realize you’ve got 9, then you’ll toss in a watermelon to finish it off.
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14. Slammin’ Strawberry Kiwi Kool-Aid
I’m going to be honest and say that strawberry did most of the heavy lifting in this collaboration. Kiwi showed up three hours late on the night before the project was due and was texting the whole time, then took credit for half the work. I see you, strawberry. I see you and appreciate you.
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13. Strawberry-Raspberry Kool-Aid
Out of the hybrid flavors, this is the best. They just makes sense together and combine two worlds perfectly. It’s better than the Jay-Z and Linkin Park mash-up album. Why are all my references in this from 2007?
Photo: Kemter (Getty).
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12. Tropical Punch Kool-Aid
Tropical Punch is a staple of the Kool-Aid universe and, even if it’s not your favorite flavor, you’ll always respect it. It’s like the Kevin Garnett of sugary drinks. -
11. Sharkleberry Fin Kool-Aid
This is from my favorite line of Kool-Aid drinks because it allowed them to give us the same delicious flavors, but with absolutely ridiculous animal-adjacent names. If Sharkleberry isn’t in the dictionary, then we’ve failed our future generations.
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10. Blastin’ Berry Cherry Kool-Aid
Remember when I said that Strawberry-Raspberry was the best flavor combination? I lied! What’s great about this one is that it didn’t even lock itself into one particular berry. It just embraced berry culture and took them all. I like that.
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9. Mountain Berry Punch Kool-Aid
I honestly have no idea what a mountainberry is even supposed to be, but now I want to find that mountain and climb it. Forward all my mail to the top of this majestic hill, my friend.
Photo: Wikia
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8. Rock-a-Dile Red Kool-Aid
IT’S CALLED ROCK-A-DILE RED! It could be a glass of bleach and I’d still put it in the top ten just for that. Thankfully, it’s also delicious and doesn’t pretend to be any flavor other than “red.”
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7. Peach Kool-Aid
Here’s some controversy for ya! Peach is criminally underrated for reasons that I can’t even fathom. If you don’t feel anything for peach, then maybe you need to search your heart and see what’s caused you to be incapable of love. Who hurt you? Doesn’t matter. Peach is here to heal you.
Photo: 5PH (Getty).
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6. Purplesaurus Rex Kool-Aid
Yes, I know that it’s basically just grape, but they turned it into a dinosaur! This is how marketing is done, folks. Whenever a product needs a fresh coat of paint, just add “-saurus” onto the end and stick a prehistoric skateboarder onto the packaging. I’ll throw my money at you.
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5. Peach Mango Kool-Aid
This one might be a bit controversial, but not for those that are willing to open their hearts and let love in. Peach and mango are the two most underrated flavors in the Kool-Aid universe and I will straight up fight you on this one.
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4. Raspberry Kool-Aid
You know raspberry is top notch because they add it to all the lesser flavors to make them more appealing. Seriously, add the word raspberry to any flavor and it automatically sounds better. If your middle name was raspberry, you’d have more friends and get a better job.
Photo: TheFoodJunk (Flickr).
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3. Grape Kool-Aid
No one has ever regretted getting Grape Kool-Aid or been disappointed by it. There are flavors you like as much, but not really anything that you’d prefer vastly above it. Grape Kool-Aid is the warm hug of beverages.
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2. Orange Kool-Aid
Lemon doesn’t work as well because it feels like it’s trying to be lemonade. Orange works because it seems like it’s never even heard of orange juice and just decided to do its own thing completely. Granted, it doesn’t taste like an orange, but then again, you’ve probably never eaten a powdered orange.
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1. Cherry Kool-Aid
Honestly, you could make an argument for any of the top three to hold the number one spot, but you really can’t go wrong with cherry. It’s the Raymond of Kool-Aid flavors…everyone loves it. I’m so sorry for that. Seriously, please don’t judge me.
