Leena Watts
Stevia is a plant native to Paraguay in South America that has been used as a sweetener for over 200 years. It is much sweeter than sugar, containing zero calories, carbs, or artificial ingredients. It has only been approved for use in commercial products in the United States since 2008. Since then, major manufacturers like Pepsi and Coca-Cola have launched drinks containing stevia, such as Vitamin Water Zero, Fuze Meyer Lemon Black Tea, and Blue Sky Zero Sugar Cola. However, stevia has a bitter aftertaste, so these drinks often contain other sweeteners like sucrose or sugar alcohols. Are you interested in learning more about specific products that use stevia?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | Stevia is 250 to 300 times sweeter than sugar |
| Calories | Contains no calories |
| Carbohydrates | Contains no carbs |
| Artificial ingredients | Contains no artificial ingredients |
| Safety | Deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration in the US |
| Taste | Has a bitter aftertaste |
| Commercial use | Approved for commercial use in the US since 2008 |
| Coca-Cola products containing stevia | Coca-Cola Life, Vitamin Water Zero, Fuze Meyer Lemon Black Tea, Blue Sky Zero Sugar Cola |
| Pepsi products containing stevia | Pepsi True |
| Other products containing stevia | Starbucks Refreshers, Bai, Zevia |
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What You'll Learn
Coca-Cola products with stevia
The Coca-Cola Company has launched several stevia-based products over the years, including Coca-Cola Life, Vitamin Water Zero, Fuze Meyer Lemon Black Tea, and Blue Sky Zero Sugar Cola.
Coca-Cola Life, which was introduced in Argentina and Chile, was a reduced-calorie version of the classic Coke that contained stevia and sugar. However, due to poor sales, it was discontinued in some markets and rebranded as Coca-Cola with Stevia, eliminating the sugar. This new version was launched in New Zealand in 2018 and distributed worldwide, but it also faced declining sales and was eventually discontinued.
Vitamin Water Zero, another Coca-Cola product, contains stevia extract and erythritol as sweeteners, providing a no-calorie beverage option. Fuze Meyer Lemon Black Tea and Blue Sky Zero Sugar Cola are two additional Coca-Cola brand drinks that utilize stevia as a sweetener.
The company's decision to explore stevia-based products is likely due to the increasing consumer demand for natural, low-calorie alternatives to sugar. Stevia, a plant native to South America, has been used as a sweetener for over 200 years and is significantly sweeter than sugar.
While stevia provides a natural sweetening option, some people may find its aftertaste bitter or unappealing. This has been a challenge for beverage manufacturers like Coca-Cola, who need to balance consumer preferences with the desire for healthier options.
Despite the discontinuation of Coca-Cola with Stevia, the company continues to innovate and adapt its product offerings to meet evolving consumer needs and preferences.
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Pepsi's stevia options
PepsiCo has experimented with stevia-based sweeteners in its drinks, including Pepsi True and Pepsi Next. Pepsi True is a stevia/sugar-sweetened product that contains 30% less sugar than original Pepsi and no artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup. It is sweetened with stevia and cane sugar, and it was launched on Amazon in 2014. However, Pepsi True has very limited availability.
Pepsi Next is also a mid-calorie drink, but unlike Pepsi True, it does contain artificial sweeteners in the US market.
While stevia is a popular natural sweetener, it has a bitter aftertaste that some people don't enjoy. PepsiCo has invested time and resources into developing the ideal blend of sugar and stevia for its drinks, and it continues to innovate with other natural sweeteners such as monk fruit and Sweetmyx, a substance that enhances the taste of sugar, stevia, and other sweeteners.
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Starbucks Refreshers
The drinks are sweetened with rebaudioside-a, which is derived from the stevia plant leaf. This means that the drinks do not have the typical stevia extract aftertaste, which some people dislike. However, one reviewer noted that if the drink is not cold, the stevia aftertaste becomes more noticeable.
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Zevia's stevia drinks
Stevia is a sweetener that is 200–300 times sweeter than sugar, and it contains zero calories. It is derived from a shrub that is native to Paraguay and is part of the sunflower family. It has been used as a sweetener for over 200 years and has been an approved ingredient for use in commercial products in the United States since 2008.
Zevia is a company that produces a range of soft drinks, energy drinks, and teas that are sweetened with stevia. The drinks are naturally flavoured and contain zero sugar, zero calories, and zero artificial colours. They are also Non-GMO Project Verified, certified Kosher, vegan, gluten-free, and come in a variety of flavours.
Zevia's drinks are packaged in 7.5-ounce cans that feature classic Disney characters. The company sells its products in the United States and Canada, but it is looking to expand into other markets. Zevia's products can be purchased directly from their website or Amazon, and they are also available in over 22,000 retail stores.
Some of Zevia's drink flavours include vanilla cola, orange soda, creamy root beer, black cherry, and grape. The company has also introduced product lines beyond its primary line of soft drinks, such as sparkling water, mixers, and organic tea.
Zevia claims that its drinks are affordable and accessible to all, and that they are committed to creating cleaner beverages with transparent labelling. They also highlight their use of plant-based, natural sweeteners and the fact that their drinks are free of artificial colours.
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Making stevia drinks at home
Stevia is a plant native to Paraguay in South America and has been used as a sweetener for over 200 years. It is much sweeter than sugar, with a little going a long way. It can be used to make healthy and delicious hot and cold beverages.
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This drink is citrusy, tangy, and sweet, and can be made with a SodaStream or plain seltzer or club soda. To make the syrup, add water and hibiscus flowers to a heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid. You can add sugar to taste in place of stevia. Store the syrup in the refrigerator and pour it over ice with seltzer.
Sparkling Water with Flavored Stevia
Add approximately eight drops of flavored stevia to one cup of unflavored carbonated water. Flavors can include strawberry, vanilla, or toffee.
Lemonade
On a hot summer day, you can make a refreshing glass of lemonade with stevia instead of sugar.
Hot Chocolate
On a cold winter night, you can sweeten your hot chocolate with stevia for a healthier option.
Juice and Punch
For a healthier option for kids, you can sweeten juice and punch with stevia instead of sugar.
Cocktails
You can make your own sugar-free cocktails with stevia instead of syrup.
You can also try making your own stevia-sweetened tea, soda, or energy drink, similar to commercially available drinks from Zevia, Bai, and Starbucks Refreshers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are many drinks made with stevia.
Some popular drinks manufacturers that have launched drinks containing stevia include Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Some examples of drinks made with stevia include Vitamin Water Zero, Fuze Meyer Lemon Black Tea, and Starbucks Refreshers.
Stevia is a plant native to Paraguay in South America that has been used as a sweetener for over 200 years. It is much sweeter than sugar and contains no calories, carbs, or artificial ingredients.
Stevia has a bitter aftertaste that some people do not enjoy. To mitigate this bitterness, other sweeteners such as sugar or sugar alcohols are often added.
You can use flavored stevia drops to make your own sodas and sparkling waters at home. You can also add stevia to hot or cold beverages such as coffee or tea.
