Dante Carrillo
Stevia is a sweetener extracted from a plant native to Paraguay in South America. It has been used as a sweetener for over 200 years and is now a popular sugar substitute in the soft drinks industry. Major manufacturers such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi have launched drinks containing stevia, including Coca-Cola Life and Pepsi True. Other popular stevia-sweetened drinks include Green Cola, Starbucks Refreshers, and Zevia. With the increasing demand for low-calorie and sugar-free options, the use of stevia in diet soft drinks is likely to continue growing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Companies using stevia in their drinks | Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Starbucks, Green Cola, Zevia, Bai |
| Coca-Cola drinks containing stevia | Coca-Cola Life, Coca-Cola Stevia No Sugar, Sprite (in the UK) |
| Pepsi drinks containing stevia | Pepsi True |
| Starbucks drinks containing stevia | Starbucks Refreshers |
| Green Cola drinks containing stevia | Cola, Orange |
| Zevia drinks containing stevia | Soda, Energy drinks, Tea |
| Bai drinks containing stevia | Super Teas, Antioxidant infusions, Bai Bubbles, Coconut water antioxidant infusions (CocoFusion) |
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Coca-Cola's stevia drinks
Coca-Cola has launched several stevia drinks over the years, including Coca-Cola Life, a reduced-calorie version of the classic Coca-Cola that uses a blend of stevia and sugar as sweeteners. Coca-Cola Life was first introduced in Argentina and Chile in 2013 and was later rolled out to other markets, including the US, UK, Australia, and the UAE. The drink contains 35% fewer calories than Coca-Cola Classic.
In 2017, Coca-Cola announced its plans to launch a 100% stevia-sweetened soda, "Coca-Cola Stevia No Sugar." This drink would be sweetened solely with stevia, offering a flavour profile closer to sugar without the bitter aftertaste associated with stevia. The company planned to test this product in an unannounced market outside the United States in 2018.
Coca-Cola Stevia No Sugar replaced Coca-Cola Life in several markets, including New Zealand in 2018, Canada in 2020, and Switzerland in 2018. The drink is a zero-calorie option, sweetened only with stevia. While it no longer carries the "Life" branding, the original Coca-Cola Life logo is still featured on the back of the packaging for continuity.
In addition to these drinks, Coca-Cola offers other beverages that use stevia as a sweetener. Over 45 products distributed by the company contain stevia extract, including Vitamin Water and Seagram's Ginger Ale.
Coca-Cola with Stevia has been described as tasting strongly of stevia, with a flavour profile that is distinct from Coke Zero and other zero-calorie cola options. However, some prefer it to other stevia-sweetened colas, such as Green Cola and Vegan Cola.
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Pepsi's stevia options
PepsiCo has responded to consumers' concerns about artificial sweeteners by developing Pepsi True, a stevia-sweetened cola. Pepsi True contains 30% less sugar than regular Pepsi and is free from artificial sweeteners and high-fructose corn syrup. It is sweetened with a blend of stevia and cane sugar, which the company says captures the "true taste of cola".
The drink was initially launched on Amazon in 2014, and it is unclear whether it is still available for purchase. Pepsi True had very limited availability, and it is not known whether this is still the case.
Developing Pepsi True was a challenge due to stevia's bitter aftertaste. It took three years for PepsiCo to develop the ideal blend of sugar and stevia. The company is also experimenting with a substance called Sweetmyx, which enhances the taste of sugar, stevia, and other sweeteners.
While stevia is a popular natural sweetener, it is tricky to work with, and it remains to be seen whether consumers will find the taste of Pepsi True appealing.
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Starbucks Refreshers
While stevia is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, the use of stevia leaf and crude stevia extracts has not been approved for use in food and beverages. This is because stevia can have a bitter aftertaste that some people may not enjoy. However, when combined with other sweeteners like sucrose or sugar alcohols, the bitterness can be mitigated.
Overall, Starbucks Refreshers offer a natural and energizing drink option for those looking for a sweet taste without the calories of sugar or the use of artificial sweeteners.
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Green Cola
Stevia is a natural sweetener that is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. It is extracted from the Stevia Rebaudiana plant and has been used as a sweetener for over 200 years. Stevia has been approved for use in commercial products in the United States since 2008 and is now found in many different drinks, including those from major manufacturers such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. For example, Coca-Cola Life is a drink that is sweetened with a combination of stevia and cane sugar, resulting in 35% fewer calories than Coca-Cola Classic. Pepsi True is another stevia/sugar-sweetened product that contains 30% less sugar than original Pepsi and no artificial sweeteners.
In addition to Green Cola, there are several other diet soft drinks that use stevia as a sweetener. These include Bai products such as Super Teas, antioxidant infusions, Bai Bubbles, and coconut water antioxidant infusions (CocoFusion). Soda, energy drinks, and tea produced by the company Zevia are also sweetened with stevia and are available in various flavours, including traditional cola, root beer, and fruit options. Starbucks Refreshers are another example of a stevia-sweetened drink that contains ingredients such as B vitamins, natural caffeine, and vitamin C.
While stevia is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, it is important to note that the amounts of stevia in products are not always listed on labels. However, it is highly unlikely for anyone to exceed the ADI by consuming drinks with stevia, even with concurrent consumption of foods containing the sweetener. Stevia has been praised as a naturally-sourced, zero-calorie sweetener that is suitable for use in carbonated soft drinks.
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Zevia
With a focus on natural ingredients, transparency, and affordability, Zevia offers a wide range of stevia-sweetened beverages that cater to health-conscious consumers seeking delicious and refreshing drink options.
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Frequently asked questions
Some soft drinks that use stevia include Green Cola, Coca-Cola Life, Pepsi True, and Starbucks Refreshers.
Stevia is a sweetener derived from the stevia plant native to Paraguay in South America. It is a low-calorie alternative to sugar and is about 250 to 300 times sweeter than sugar.
Soft drink companies are facing increasing pressure to reduce sugar in their products due to concerns about obesity and health. Stevia provides a naturally-sourced, zero-calorie alternative to sugar that is generally recognized as safe by the FDA.
No, other nonnutritive sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose are more commonly used in diet soft drinks. Stevia has a bitter aftertaste that some people do not enjoy, so it is often blended with other sweeteners like sugar or sugar alcohols.
