Diet pop vs Zero pop

[clifffaith]

My delicious Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi has just become Zero Sugar Wild Cherry Pepsi. It is drinkable, nothing really wrong with it, I’ll get used to it — but the cherry taste is close to non-detectable. No depth of cherry flavor at all. Next time I’m in a grocery store I’ll buy a bottle of Diet/Zero Cherry Coke to see what it’s like. I wonder if other types of pop that have now gone to calling themselves Zero rather than Diet have the same flavor difference? (Born in Ashtabula, Ohio as were my parents. 62 years in California and I have no idea what Californians call pop).

 

[ScoopKona]

My delicious Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi has just become Zero Sugar Wild Cherry Pepsi. It is drinkable, nothing really wrong with it, I’ll get used to it — but the cherry taste is close to non-detectable. No depth of cherry flavor at all. Next time I’m in a grocery store I’ll buy a bottle of Diet/Zero Cherry Coke to see what it’s like. I wonder if other types of pop that have now gone to calling themselves Zero rather than Diet have the same flavor difference? (Born in Ashtabula, Ohio as were my parents. 62 years in California and I have no idea what Californians call pop).

All of it is poison. Real soda made with actual sugar is the least unhealthy of the bunch. I haven't had a soda of any kind in several years. And the last time was to try a Mexican coca-cola, in Mexico. I didn't like it.

I put it right behind smoking on the "things which are ridiculously bad for humans that we consume anyway for no apparent reason."

Water isn't going to kill us.

 

[joestein]

Men apparently don't like to drink things labeled as "diet" that is how the 'zero' came about. They were trying to appeal to men. Kinda like Bud Light and their recent headlines - though their target was young/trans people.

A funny story is that Mike's Hard Lemonade came about because men are supposed to drink beer. Beer is manly or so it is said. Meanwhile, they did a study and found that some men don't like beer, but didn't want to drink wine coolers because they thought they are a girls drink. So, they developed Mike's HARD lemonade. They targeted it towards men with the slogan ' A hard day calls for a hard lemonade'.

 

[easyrider]

My delicious Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi has just become Zero Sugar Wild Cherry Pepsi. It is drinkable, nothing really wrong with it, I’ll get used to it — but the cherry taste is close to non-detectable. No depth of cherry flavor at all. Next time I’m in a grocery store I’ll buy a bottle of Diet/Zero Cherry Coke to see what it’s like. I wonder if other types of pop that have now gone to calling themselves Zero rather than Diet have the same flavor difference? (Born in Ashtabula, Ohio as were my parents. 62 years in California and I have no idea what Californians call pop).

I occasionally use diet soda for mixer. I like diet Pepsi with whiskey or rum. Diet squirt with whiskey or vodka is pretty good. Diet cola and red wine is pretty good. Diet cola and beer is ok. I haven't noticed any taste difference with zero or diet but I rarely drink pop straight up, lol. Also, as I have aged, I'm drinking smaller portions so whiskey on the rocks is my go to. Whiskey water is #2 on my list.

Bill

 

[linsj]

Diet Coke and Coke Zero don't taste the same. I still prefer Diet Coke, probably because that's what I'm used to drinking, although I'm drinking pop a lot less these days.

 

[dioxide45]

I prefer the Zero vs the Diet. I beleive they are still both made with Aspartame, but for some reason the Zero tastes better to me. I much prefer Cherry Coke Zero vs Zero Sugar WIld Cherry Pepsi. For some reason the Pepsi has a strong chemical taste, at least when compared to the Cherry Coke Zero.

 

[WinniWoman]

My delicious Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi has just become Zero Sugar Wild Cherry Pepsi. It is drinkable, nothing really wrong with it, I’ll get used to it — but the cherry taste is close to non-detectable. No depth of cherry flavor at all. Next time I’m in a grocery store I’ll buy a bottle of Diet/Zero Cherry Coke to see what it’s like. I wonder if other types of pop that have now gone to calling themselves Zero rather than Diet have the same flavor difference? (Born in Ashtabula, Ohio as were my parents. 62 years in California and I have no idea what Californians call pop).

I love diet Cherry Pepsi - my favorite- but the supermarket I shop in doesn’t carry it. Plus it’s gotten so expensive where I do find it. I haven’t heard of the zero one yet.

I’ve resorted to Hannaford brand Diet cola. I have to have a Diet cola every afternoon to perk me up. Kind of like how people drink coffee. I don’t drink coffee. I do drink a ton of water also.

Been drinking diet soda once everyday most of my life.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

I like Coke Zero, because it tastes like Coke. Diet Coke tastes nothing at all like Coke, and instead has the most chemical taste of any non-sugar soda out there, and could never understand why so many people like it. DW only likes Diet Pepsi, which I also like. Until Coke Zero came along, I always thought Pepsi did 'diet' sodas way better than Coke did.

 

[clifffaith]

I love diet Cherry Pepsi - my favorite- but the supermarket I shop in doesn’t carry it. Plus it’s gotten so expensive where I do find it. I haven’t heard of the zero one yet.

I’ve resorted to Hannaford brand Diet cola. I have to have a Diet cola every afternoon to perk me up. Kind of like how people drink coffee. I don’t drink coffee. I do drink a ton of water also.

Been drinking diet soda once everyday most of my life.

It has sometimes been hard to find DCP (known as DCPIAGWI if Cliff asks me what I want to drink — diet Cherry Pepsi in a glass with ice) even before the pandemic. I occasionally have to try three stores before finding it. We made a special trip to Stater Bros on Saturday because I was down to my last unopened bottle of DCP. Vons and Albertsons hadn’t had any for three weeks, although it is possible the ZCP was there and I just didn’t recognize it. After I finish this bottle of ZCP I’ll open my last bottle of DCP to make sure I’m not just imagining the taste difference, and I’ve put diet/zero Coke on the shopping list to try it again and compare it to ZCP.

Did you ever see the All in the Family episode where Archie tells Meathead there is no way he can taste the difference, and during a blind taste test Meathead quickly and correctly identifies “Coke, Pepsi, RC”. I can do that.

 

[Patri]

Pop it shall ever be!
Some people apparently think you need their permission to live your life as you wish….I hope you find a solution to your beverage delight.

 

[SusanRN]

I like Coke Zero, because it tastes like Coke. Diet Coke tastes nothing at all like Coke, and instead has the most chemical taste of any non-sugar soda out there, and could never understand why so many people like it. DW only likes Diet Pepsi, which I also like. Until Coke Zero came along, I always thought Pepsi did 'diet' sodas way better than Coke did.

I agree that Coke Zero tastes the most like Coke.
I am a lifelong one-a-day soda drinker. I don't drink/like coffee or tea, so it is my wake-up beverage in the AM.
I have always found Diet Coke to have a nasty aftertaste. I stuck with the real thing until Coca Cola came out with Diet Coke with Lime 20+ years ago. It was pretty good. Then Coke Zero came along and was heaven -- a very good imitation of the real thing but no calories, no sugar (yes, aspartame).
I am not a cherry-flavor fan, but it is commonly sold around here.
CVS stores in the Baltimore metropolitan area ALWAYS have Coke products for Buy 2 Get 1 Free -- or at least every week for the last 3 years. Still not cheap. Currently $9.49 for a 12-can case, so $19 for 36 12oz cans.
Walking into a concert 30 years ago I was invited to do a blind taste test of four Pepsi and Coke products. I quickly and correctly pegged Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Pepsi, and Diet Pepsi. They are quite distinctive products.

 

[PigsDad]

Some people apparently think you need their permission to live your life as you wish….

Yes, and his response was completely predictable.

Kurt

 

[VacationForever]

I don't like Cherry flavored anything because of having too much cherry flavored cough syrup and children's cherry flavored antibiotics when I was young. However, I drink Diet Coke and Pepsi One, Zero Coke, Caffeine-free and diet Pepsi, diet Root beer, diet Ginger Ale, diet 7 up and diet Mountain Dew. I love them all.

 

[rboesl]

I, personally, don't have a preference for a certain brand of cola. Coke, Pepsi, Walmart brand, all taste the same to me. But, whatever I drink, it must be caffeine free for health reasons. Which tends to limit my choices.

I even have to check the label on the squirtable drink mixes like Mio. Thankfully Crystal Light clearly labels their's as "with caffeine". I am finding that most of those taste almost identical regardless what the flavor label says. Blackberry Lemonade, Berry Sangria, etc. All basically the same taste.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

I grew up in Mn. and we called it "pop" back then. In the San Diego area people tend to call it a "soda".

Now? It has probably been a year since I drank one. Also, I've pretty much "de-toxed" from sugar. So, the sugared pops or sodas seem too sweet and the zero calorie ones don't appeal to me. So, I either drink water, black coffee ... or an occasional beer. (Plus sometimes OJ or milk).

 

[chellej]

I started drinking the flavored sparkling waters ( no sweetener of any kind) and now can't stand any kind of soda or pop...regular or diet. I do miss sweet tea with lemon but now drink it unsweetened.

Taste buds adjust

 

[callwill]

"Water isn't going to kill us".
Thats what they thought in Flint Mi!

 

[joestein]

I love diet Cherry Pepsi - my favorite- but the supermarket I shop in doesn’t carry it. Plus it’s gotten so expensive where I do find it. I haven’t heard of the zero one yet.

I’ve resorted to Hannaford brand Diet cola. I have to have a Diet cola every afternoon to perk me up. Kind of like how people drink coffee. I don’t drink coffee. I do drink a ton of water also.

Been drinking diet soda once everyday most of my life.

Soda has gotten very expensive. As has bottled water. I was buying "genuine faygo" soda from Aldi for a while at $2.99/12 pack. I always get a laugh out of a generic soda that calls itself "Genuine Faygo".

 

[easyrider]

"Water isn't going to kill us".
Thats what they thought in Flint Mi!

This actually made me laugh..........I'm still grinning. Made my morning !!!

Bill

 

[ScoopKona]

"Water isn't going to kill us".
Thats what they thought in Flint Mi!

It wasn't the water which killed people. It was the poison in the water. Soda is mostly water as well. Mostly.

 

[Passepartout]

It's all a marketing thing' Today, people just don't buy, 'Diet' anything. Less is more. So they engineer their product to taste similar to the sugared (or corn syruped -is that a word?) product and call it 'Zero'. Everybody wins. Nobody feels pressured to buy into diet- and if their weight continues to go up, THEY aren't to blame, they may as well be drinking water. The soda companies aren't to blame- they're just making what people want. And the shareholders are happy as clams.

Jim

 

[VacationForever]

I haven't drunk any sugared sodas for the past 30 years, and have diet sodas a couple of times a week. I don't drink apple or orange juice, too much sugar. I have genetic pre-disposition to become diabetic, but I am not. I just did a coronary artery calcium scan last week and the score came in as 0. Cholesterol is also low. My BMI is 22. If I have been drinking sugared soda for the past 30 years, I would have been diabetic and likely have a cardiac event by now. Data.

Sugar alcohol additives is a different story - that is pure poison. Stay away from food with sugar alcohol - erythritol malitol, sorbitol, xylitol, they all end in -tol. They kill dogs and human. If you are diabetic, it causes hypoglycemia. Dogs can suffer from hypoglycemia and death when they consume sugar alcohol. If you have IBS, they cause severe diarrhea. In everyone, it causes heart disease as they clog up the arteries. When food label says "No added sugar", be weary and read the label. It is commonly added to "No sugar" ice-cream, granola bars and wait for it... Godiva! Many "dirty" Keto products use sugar alcohol, so read the labels.

 

[geist1223]

Remember there are a couple non-sugar sugar substitutes that appear to cause "stickiness" with Red Blood Cells. I simply do not drink "soda," "pop," etc.

 

[ScoopKona]

Sugar alcohol additives is a different story - that is pure poison.

You're so mean! Stop being so mean! Stop telling people how to live their lives! Waaaaaaah!

/sarcasm

 

[VacationForever]

You're so mean! Stop being so mean! Stop telling people how to live their lives! Waaaaaaah!

/sarcasm

This is data:

Common artificial sweetener, erythritol, associated with higher rates of heart attack, stroke

Artificial sweetener erythritol is clinically associated with both heart problems and increased clotting risk.

www.lerner.ccf.org

...also how do we knew about sugar alcohol, before any findings like the above, we found out the hard way. My husband who is diabetic almost went into a diabetic coma, i.e. hypoglycemia after consuming a granola bar without reading the label. He had been consuming Atkins bars for years and that was before they added sugar alcohol. After the event, we looked at the granola bar and it listed sugar alcohol. Dogs owners have longed been warned not to feed peanut butter with sugar alcohol as an ingredient to their dogs because it caused deaths. IBS - personal experience and I was in the bathroom for 4 hours after consuming "no sugar added" ice-cream which contained sugar alcohol. The heart disease one, we didn't know about it, until a couple of months ago when it was in the headlines of major news media like CNN.