How to Drink More Water When You Don't Like the Taste

"Just drink more water" is easy advice to give and genuinely difficult for some people to follow — not because they lack discipline, but because they find the taste, sensation, or experience of plain water unappealing. If this is you, the good news is that the goal is hydration, not specifically plain water, and there are several legitimate ways to get there.

It does not have to be plain water

Tea, coffee, sparkling water, and water with natural flavour additions all contribute meaningfully to hydration. If plain still water is the specific thing you do not enjoy, the solution may simply be drinking your fluids in a form you do enjoy more, rather than forcing down something you find unpleasant.

• Sparkling or carbonated water hydrates just as effectively as still water for most people. If you find the texture of still water unappealing, this alone can make a significant difference.
• Herbal teas are almost entirely water and contain no caffeine, making them a good option throughout the day, including in the evening.
• Water with fruit, herbs, or a splash of juice — cucumber, mint, lemon, berries — can make plain water significantly more palatable without adding meaningful sugar or calories.
• Diluted squash or low-sugar flavoured drinks are a reasonable option if they are what gets you to drink consistently — perfect is the enemy of good here.

Temperature matters more than people realise

Some people who say they "don't like water" actually have a stronger preference about temperature than they realise. If you have only been drinking room-temperature or warm water, trying it well-chilled (or vice versa) can change the experience significantly. This is a simple thing to test.

Food is a legitimate source too

Around 20% of typical water intake comes from food, particularly water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelon, oranges, soups, and yoghurt. If you are someone who eats a lot of these foods, you are already getting meaningful hydration from your diet — it is not a complete substitute for drinking fluids, but it is a real contribution that is easy to overlook.

Build the habit around what works for you

The structural habits that make hydration automatic — a morning routine, anchoring drinks to existing habits, keeping something accessible — work regardless of what you are drinking. If sparkling water in a glass you enjoy using is what gets you to actually drink consistently, that is a better outcome than forcing plain water from a bottle you avoid.

Tracking helps regardless of what you drink

perpHect tracks all fluid types against your personalised daily target — tea, coffee, sparkling water, flavoured drinks, everything. The goal is hitting your target in a way that is sustainable for you, not adherence to a specific drink type that does not work for your preferences.