Flavoured water without sugar interests many people in Switzerland. Two examples are air-up with its scent pod system and TEABALLS, the small pressed pieces available in Switzerland. Neither contains added sugar – according to the manufacturer, air-up provides no calories, and TEABALLS are almost calorie-free at around 3 kcal per glass. But how do they differ?
What is air-up?
air-up is a drinking system made up of a straw or bottle and scent pods. According to the manufacturer, air flows through the pod as you drink, aroma molecules reach the nose via the back of the throat, and the brain interprets this as taste. The water itself stays unchanged according to the manufacturer: no flavouring, no sugar, no additives in the water.
How it works: insert the pod, fill with at least 200 ml of still water, drink. According to the manufacturer, the flavours arise exclusively through the sense of smell and come from fruits, spices and herbs.
What are TEABALLS?
TEABALLS are small pressed pieces made from extracts of tea, herbs and fruit, with no added sugar. You put 3 to 5 TEABALLS per 3 dl glass directly into the water, they dissolve and release flavour. The 16 TEABALLS varieties work in cold or hot water, while the 8 organic varieties are only for drinking hot. The result: infused water, iced tea or flavoured water, available in Switzerland.
Available varieties: there are 24 varieties in total, 8 of them organic (16 TEABALLS varieties and 8 organic varieties), for example Strawberry Iced Tea, Cherry, Wildberry, Mint, Hibiscus, Peach Iced Tea and Green Tea – all in the overview Flavoured water without sugar. All 16 TEABALLS varieties contain acidity regulators; the sweetener sucralose is found in only four varieties (Energy, Mango, Blueberry & Coconut, Watermelon).
air-up vs. TEABALLS: the direct comparison
| Criterion | air-up | TEABALLS |
|---|---|---|
| Principle and taste | Scent perceived through the sense of smell (according to the manufacturer, the water stays unchanged) | Dissolved pressed pieces, flavour in the drink itself |
| Flavourings and ingredients | According to the manufacturer, natural flavourings from fruits, spices and herbs in the pods | Extracts of tea, herbs and fruit, natural flavourings; the 16 TEABALLS varieties with acidity regulators, 4 of them with sucralose |
| Sugar | No sugar (manufacturer’s statement) | No added sugar |
| Calories | 0 kcal (manufacturer’s statement) | About 1 kcal per 100 ml, about 3 kcal per glass (3 dl) according to the nutritional information on the product pages |
| Hot drinks | Designed for water (manufacturer’s statement: still water) | 16 TEABALLS varieties hot or cold, 8 organic varieties only hot |
| Own bottle required? | No, not necessarily: straw set for many drinking vessels CHF 16.95, starter sets with bottle CHF 39.95–44.95 (as of 1 October 2026) | No – any bottle, any glass |
| Cost per litre (as of 1 October 2026) | Approx. CHF 0.46–0.66 for the pods (pack of 3: CHF 6.95–9.95, at least 5 l per pod according to the manufacturer), plus straw or bottle | Approx. CHF 0.59–0.99 at CHF 8.90 per bottle (150 pressed pieces, 3–5 pressed pieces per 3 dl) |
| Packaging and waste | Pods and packaging generate waste (test.de); according to the manufacturer made from recyclable materials | No tea bag, no tea bag waste; packaging: glass bottle |
On the calculation: for the fruit varieties a bottle costs CHF 8.90, for the organic varieties, Energy and Blueberry & Coconut CHF 9.90 (approx. CHF 0.66–1.10 per litre there). With 3 to 5 pressed pieces per 3 dl, one bottle makes 30 to 50 drinks, i.e. 9 to 15 litres. In price per litre the two solutions are in a similar range; with air-up, a straw or bottle comes on top.
Which is better suited – air-up or TEABALLS?
air-up suits you if you...
- want to drink water with a scent-based aroma
- do not want any flavour in the water itself
- are willing to buy a straw or a bottle (straw set CHF 16.95, starter sets CHF 39.95–44.95, as of 1 October 2026)
TEABALLS suit you if you...
- want flavour in the drink itself – not just through smell
- would also like to enjoy hot tea
- do not want to buy a special bottle
- prefer drinks made from extracts of tea, herbs and fruit
- are looking for an organic option (8 organic varieties, only for drinking hot)
- want to do without tea bags and avoid tea bag waste
Flavoured water – a sugar-free alternative to soft drinks
Both air-up and TEABALLS are an alternative to sweetened drinks. The Swiss Society for Nutrition (SGE) recommends around 1 to 2 litres of fluid per day; flavoured water without sugar brings variety to the glass.
The difference: TEABALLS release flavour into the drink, whereas air-up works only through the sense of smell. If you prefer flavour in the drink itself, TEABALLS are the more direct solution.
How TEABALLS compare with the effervescent cubes from Waterdrop and Dropz is shown in our big Swiss comparison.
Frequently asked questions: air-up vs. TEABALLS
What is the difference between air-up and TEABALLS?
Neither contains added sugar. air-up flavours through the sense of smell, and the water stays unchanged according to the manufacturer. TEABALLS dissolve in the water and release flavour into the drink. The two solutions differ in principle, ingredients and price.
Can TEABALLS be used with any bottle?
Yes. TEABALLS can be dissolved in any bottle, glass or cup. The 16 TEABALLS varieties work hot and cold, the 8 organic varieties only hot. For air-up, the manufacturer offers a straw that fits most drinking vessels (Straw-Set CHF 16.95) as well as starter sets with a bottle (as of 1 October 2026).
How many TEABALLS do I need for one bottle?
3 to 5 TEABALLS are enough for 300 ml of water, 5 to 8 for 500 ml – depending on the intensity you prefer.
How many calories do TEABALLS have and do they contain sweeteners?
According to the nutritional information on the product pages (e.g. Lemon Vitamin C), there is about 1 kcal per 100 ml, or about 3 kcal per glass (3 dl). The sweetener sucralose is found in only four varieties: Energy, Mango, Blueberry & Coconut and Watermelon. The other 12 TEABALLS varieties and all 8 organic varieties contain no sweetener.
Are TEABALLS an alternative to air-up?
That depends on what you are looking for: TEABALLS suit you if you want flavour in the drink itself, do not want to buy a special bottle and would also like to drink hot tea. If you prefer water with a scent-based aroma, air-up will suit you better. Both solutions have no added sugar.
Where can I buy air-up and TEABALLS in Switzerland?
TEABALLS are available directly in the online shop at teaballs.ch – with free shipping from CHF 75. air-up is available in Switzerland through the manufacturer’s online shop.
👉 Discover flavoured water without sugar now – your water with flavour, no added sugar and about 3 kcal per glass.
