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Diet Coke VS Store Brand Challenge-Do They Taste Difference?

By Chris O'Kelley

I will admit that I am a Diet Coke snob. It is my favorite soda and I love it, and I probably drink too much of it.  I decided to take the Diet Coke taste test challenge. Can I tell the difference between Diet Coke and the store-brand version of Diet Soda? We all are on Team Coke or Team Pepsi. So many people say you can’t tell the difference, so I thought I’d take the challenge and see if I could.

What Store Brands Did I Challenge?

  • Publix
  • Food Lion
  • Kroger
  • Aldi
  • Sam’s/Wal-Mart

I am a big fan of the store brand products. There are two things I will not use store-brand products for. Soda and toilet paper. I was told by a co-worker that I couldn’t tell the difference, so this is why I’m doing this challenge. I’ll be 100% honest when it comes to anything other than Diet Coke, I don’t know that I could tell the difference. That’s why I buy a lot of store brands.

The Diet Coke Taste Test Challenge is on. Did I get them all right? Here we go with the challenge.

Challenge #1-Diet Coke VS Adli Brand

First up, I took the Diet Coke challenge against the Aldi store brand. It’s branded as Summit Diet Cola. Just so that it can’t be said it was rigged, I brought Cody in to help. The first thing about this brand was the price. You can get a 12-pack for just around $3.50. Summit also carries regular cola, lemon-lime, root beer, a Dr. Pepper-style soda, and orange. They also have 2 liter bottles that can run around less than one dollar. Time for my first taste test. Did this one stump me, or did I know my Diet Coke?

Challenge #2-Diet Coke VS Big K-The Kroger Brand

Cody joins me this time to see if I can taste the difference.  This time around it’s “Big K”, The Kroger version of diet soda.  Kroger has a bigger variety of store-brand sodas. They even carry a crisp apple flavor, fruit punch, and a mango soda!  Kroger also offers all of their sodas in 12-pack cans and 2-liter bottles.  12-pack cans are just under $5.00 and the bottles are around $1.50 for two liters.  Now let’s see if Big K was able to put Diet Coke’s senses to the test.  How did I do with the Big K and the Kroger version of diet soda?

  • Challenge #3-Diet Coke VS Food Lions Brand Of Diet Soda

    Cody is back to keep things honest as I try out the Food Lion store brand of their diet soda. Now when it comes to over all Food Lion store brands, they are very good and you will save money. Most of the products are made by the major companies with the store brands name on it. Food Lion comes with their soda line being very affordable also. Most 12-packs are under $5.00 and A 2 liter will run around $1.50. The carry a wide variety also with me now try the Food Lion Zero Soda. So could that hint lead you to think I didn’t know the difference between the two. Only one way to find out.

  • Challenge 4-Diet Coke VS Publix

    This one had me nervous going into the challenge because the Publix brands are good. Publix is where I do 90% of my grocery shopping and I will be the first to tell you, their store brands are on point and save me lots of money. It’s hard to find a Publix brand that doesn’t come close to the original. I will say, I’ve tried any of the store brand sodas until this challenge. The one thing I noticed while looking at the sodas, they carry the biggest variety of store brand sodas, even a Ginger Ale Publix brand. I said it at the start, this one made me nervous. Could I tell the difference? Here’s Cody and I to see!

  • Challenge 5-Diet Coke VS Sam's Diet Soda

    The one was me against Sam’s Diet Soda.  Cody wasn’t available this day so I Tee came into help pull this one off.  Let’s be honest, the Great Value brand at Wal-Mart is top shelf when it comes to store brands.  What about the soda?  I was worried about this one also because I’ve tried and still use many of Sam’s/Wal-Mart store brands.  The price is good, the variety of sodas you can get is good.  They unlike the other stores will also package their sodas in 24-pack cases.  So, how did O’l Mr Diet Coke snob do against the Sam’s/Wal-Mart?  Let’s Go

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