Healthy sodas have taken the world by storm recently, with soda lovers searching for alternatives to their favorite flavors that have less sugar and additives. Brands such as Poppi and Olipop have garnered cult followings through its sodas, which are low in calories and prebiotic. Offering both tried and true as well as new innovative flavors, these brands are a great replacement for traditional sugary sodas — but they can be pricey.
Last year, juice company Evolution Fresh released its Real Fruit Soda line, another take on the healthy soda trend. With five fruity flavors, these sodas are probiotic and prebiotic: they contain live microorganisms that promote gut health and ingredients that assist these bacterias (other healthy sodas are only prebiotic). Evolution Fresh Real Fruit Soda also contains no added sugar.
Made using fruit juice, this soda is a great option for those who prefer an even healthier route than Poppi and Olipop, which both contain added sugars. Real Fruit Soda also doesn’t have that weird stevia aftertaste, and its cheaper price makes it the perfect Poppi dupe. To me, it tastes better, too. Here is a ranking of the Evolution Fresh Real Fruit Soda flavors from least best to best (although they are all delicious).
5. Lemon Lime
This flavor is very reminiscent of Sprite with hints of lemon and lime but significantly less sweet. It’s tricky to create a delicious version of a drink that contains such acidic ingredients using reduced amounts of sugar. This soda gets that job done, but leaves you wishing it tasted a bit sweeter.
4. Berry Burst
With both strawberries and blueberries in it, Berry Burst is wonderfully sweet and fruity. It’s your traditional berry-flavored soda, with a bit more body and depth. So refreshing!
3. Orange Squeeze
The perfect way to start off a morning. Orange Squeeze was one of the most natural tasting orange sodas I’ve ever tasted, next to European Fanta. It quite literally tasted like fizzy orange juice — not out of the carton, but as if you were taking a bite of orange fruit.
2. Tropical Mango
Tropical Mango certainly lives up to its name. With one sip, it felt like I was on vacation. This soda has quite a strong mango taste, but it pairs well with its bubbliness. When drinking this soda, there’s only one word that comes to mind: juicy. Tropical Mango simply bursts with flavor.
1. Strawberry Vanilla
Without a doubt, Strawberry Vanilla is Evolution Fresh Real Fruit Soda’s best and most unique flavor. A delicious strawberry soda with a hint of fragrant vanilla, this flavor is a great mix of fruity and sweet. It’s both refreshing and candied, but never overpowering. I could drink this with every meal.
Evolution Fresh Real Fruit Soda excels in creating tasty, fruity sodas that taste just sweet enough without seeming artificial. I highly recommend you give this Poppi dupe a try.