I've yet to find a fake sugar that doesn't taste like bile and sadness. Stevia is the best of them, but it's still basically like choosing to eat the most appealing-look turd when there's a literal banquet available at the very next table (real sugar)
Pretty much all monk fruit sweeteners you can by in stores are a straight up scam, the main ingredient is always an artificial sweetener with monk fruit as a second ingredient.
Have you tried monkfruit yet? It's the closest thing I have found to real sweetness that doesn't taste like total aids. You just have to use very little of it as it's super strong
I have. It's definitely one of the least egregious and doesn't have that painful disgust bile taste of the others, but I found it have a... I dunno, "musty" flavor to it? So I also don't like it, but in a different kind of way than the rest.
Have you found a brand that is just monk fruit? I've only ever seen monk fruit sweeteners that are cut with another artificial sweetener like Erythritol or Allulose, you probably haven't had pure monk fruit
Stevia is the worst, IMO. It's got a strange mouth feel.
You know how eating tortilla chips will cut up your mouth a little? They irritate the tongue and throat, making them feel a little gritty? Anything with stevia gives me that "tortilla chip mouth" sensation, even when I haven't been eating tortilla chips.
Every other artificial sweetener tastes like cancer. Stevia tastes like sand.
Agreed. Sometimes I'll accidentally take a sip of Coke Zero and it takes me a second longer to tell it's not my drink. So it's way better than most, but still terrible.
I have to admit, a lot of R&D goes into designing a good sugarfree alternative to sugary drinks.
Case in point, especially for my fellow Germans: Spezi Zero (obviously Paulaner) tastes really good, but Almdudler Zero tastes pretty bad compared to normal Almdudler.
Never heard of Spezi, Paulaner, or Almdudler. But so I can have a happy fantasy I'm just going to assume that they're all excellent and have managed to nail fake sugar in a way America hasn't yet
If you like ginger beer, and pineapple, home fermented ginger beer and tepache de piña are both really easy to make - they do have sugar but less than coke, and have probiotics, and about as much alcohol as kombucha.
I do like diet Coke but mostly try to be very moderate and when I want something sweet & fizzy, these homemade sodas are so good.
It's not common, but yeah. Some people get migraines triggered by artificial sweeteners. Apartame, sucralose, and two others will do it for me. Xylitol and monk fruit are ok.
This part was recently reverse-engineered, and there are "pirate-coke" recipes are now available. The level of reverse-engineering is so good, you can barely see the difference in a NMI.
The difference in taste is from what their formulas are based on. Diet Coke basically came from Tab, where Coke Zero was a modern attempt at making Coca-Cola with zero calories.
I thought the same, but the internet says that not only does it contain aspartame, but it always has. I feel like I've discovered a new Mandela Effect.
I’ve been paying more attention to my health lately and honestly going from occasional sugar free soft drinks to even more occasional full sugar drinks has been a great “perk”. The sugary version tastes better, and 300-400 extra calories per month isn’t a big deal when I’m paying attention to my actual day to day consumption.
Besides, yeah yeah natural fallacy etc, but those non-sweetener ingredients probably aren’t stellar for your health either, and less overall volume of this stuff is probably better.
Do you remember C2? I don't typically choose soda as a beverage but I got one for free from a promotion at work. I always hated artificial sweetner flavor but it tasted okay. I took one sip and went to the stock room where my heart suddenly raced and I got nautious and dizzy. It was scary since I was alone in the back. I recovered after a few minutes and never again touched anything diet.
i feel stupid because I can't really tell a difference. i don't or can't pay attention to the specific taste of the sweetness. i don't mind sweetener anyhow.
Here in the UK they've reformulated almost all soda to include Aspartame or Acuflame K.
The vast majority don't give a fuck, as they taste the same as before.
It's only people like me who, through a hilarious quirk of genetics, actually taste some sweetners as bitter and unpleasant, that are effected.
For a small (but significant when you scale it up) percentage of the population, these drinks have been entirely ruined and rendered basically undrinkable.
Even my 'national drink' Irn-Bru has been wrecked.
It's kinda funny as most people I meet don't taste it at all and probably think I'm being weird about it or that I'm making some sort of moral stance against sweetners. But it's genuinely not that. It's just that all the soda I liked has been replaced with weird tasting garbage.
i see. I'm sorry. good luck with your search for good sodas. i mostly just drink water and occasionally a glass of diluted juice. i really like juice due to it not being carbonated, but i still run into the issue of it being too strong and overwhelming, hence the dilution.
No worries - it's not the end of the world and I only drink soda as a treat anyway. Coca-Cola is still the same, and there's carbonated apple drinks that are ok. I usually just stick to fruit juice with soda myself.
69 Comments
Vespair@lemmy.zip · 29 pts · 100d
I've yet to find a fake sugar that doesn't taste like bile and sadness. Stevia is the best of them, but it's still basically like choosing to eat the most appealing-look turd when there's a literal banquet available at the very next table (real sugar)
RBWells@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 100d
Huh. Stevia is one I cannot stand. And Monk fruit. Wish I couldn't taste those, they wreck anything they touch.
Zetta@mander.xyz · 4 pts · 100d
Pretty much all monk fruit sweeteners you can by in stores are a straight up scam, the main ingredient is always an artificial sweetener with monk fruit as a second ingredient.
empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 100d
Have you tried monkfruit yet? It's the closest thing I have found to real sweetness that doesn't taste like total aids. You just have to use very little of it as it's super strong
Vespair@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 100d
I have. It's definitely one of the least egregious and doesn't have that painful disgust bile taste of the others, but I found it have a... I dunno, "musty" flavor to it? So I also don't like it, but in a different kind of way than the rest.
Zetta@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 100d
Have you found a brand that is just monk fruit? I've only ever seen monk fruit sweeteners that are cut with another artificial sweetener like Erythritol or Allulose, you probably haven't had pure monk fruit
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today · 5 pts · 100d
Stevia is the worst, IMO. It's got a strange mouth feel.
You know how eating tortilla chips will cut up your mouth a little? They irritate the tongue and throat, making them feel a little gritty? Anything with stevia gives me that "tortilla chip mouth" sensation, even when I haven't been eating tortilla chips.
Every other artificial sweetener tastes like cancer. Stevia tastes like sand.
TimeNaan@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 100d
Erythritol tastes just like sugar, slightly less sweet
Vespair@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 100d
I do not agree with this, I'm sorry. I think while yes sweet similar to sugar, it has a slightly menthol and aggressively metallic taste.
That being said, I am a supertaster unfortunately, so that may be contributing to my difficulty with fake sugars.
blujan@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 99d
Yeah this is my experience, luckily I love the menthol and metallic taste in erythritol while I hate all other sweeteners (except sugar)
TimeNaan@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d
Fair enough, I'm definitely not a supertaster, so maybe that's why I can't taste it.
theTarrasque@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d
Erythritol has a cold minty aftertaste for me, but a 50:50 mix with stevia eliminates that taste.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · -1 pts · 100d
JFC erythritol is dangerous. Blood clots, wipes the gut microbiome.
Better off with sugar.
andros_rex@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 100d
Do you have sources for these claims?
moakley@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 100d
Agreed. Sometimes I'll accidentally take a sip of Coke Zero and it takes me a second longer to tell it's not my drink. So it's way better than most, but still terrible.
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 100d
I have to admit, a lot of R&D goes into designing a good sugarfree alternative to sugary drinks. Case in point, especially for my fellow Germans: Spezi Zero (obviously Paulaner) tastes really good, but Almdudler Zero tastes pretty bad compared to normal Almdudler.
Vespair@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 100d
Never heard of Spezi, Paulaner, or Almdudler. But so I can have a happy fantasy I'm just going to assume that they're all excellent and have managed to nail fake sugar in a way America hasn't yet
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 100d
In the US, Paulaner Spezi is called Paulaner Sunset.
Vespair@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 100d
Never seen that in my 41 years in the states.
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 96d
It's fairly new, they've just started trying to establish it. If you do see it, I strongly recommend you to give it a try!
jerkface@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 100d
sugar is pretty fucking bad anyway. sweeteners are a trap.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 100d
Stevia is terrible for your gut microbiome, it should not be legal.
bdonvr@thelemmy.club · 1 pts · 100d
I think it's a taste that I just forced myself to acquire lol
I almost never have sugary drinks now
Vespair@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 100d
I wish I were able, but I just find the taste truly repugnant and can't imagine forcing myself through that.
But sugary drinks, cola specifically, are by far my biggest vice and dietary concern. Deeply, deeply addicted, tbh.
RBWells@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d
If you like ginger beer, and pineapple, home fermented ginger beer and tepache de piña are both really easy to make - they do have sugar but less than coke, and have probiotics, and about as much alcohol as kombucha.
I do like diet Coke but mostly try to be very moderate and when I want something sweet & fizzy, these homemade sodas are so good.
Vespair@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 100d
Not pineapple, but yes ginger. Maybe I'll look into this one, thanks for the rec and good looking out!
GoldAxolotl@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 100d
How it feels existing
vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 99d
I now have a new reaction image to drop along my unsuspecting group chat. Thanks.
RVGamer06@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 95d
Holy shit, a David Dees (nuts) parody that looks just like the original
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today · 18 pts · 100d
Does anyone else pronounce it "Ass Part o' Me"?
Vengefu1Tuna@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 100d
I do now!
GimmeUrBelt@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 100d
How else should it be pronounced?
Larry@piefed.social · 1 pts · 100d
Yeah and I sing it out like "love reign o'er me" by the who
bhamlin@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 100d
You're lucky. For me it just tastes like migraine.
empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 13 pts · 100d
bhamlin@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 100d
youCanCallMeDragon@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 100d
Oh my god. How did I not know this? I’m pretty sure this is what ruined my December.
bhamlin@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 100d
It's not common, but yeah. Some people get migraines triggered by artificial sweeteners. Apartame, sucralose, and two others will do it for me. Xylitol and monk fruit are ok.
ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 100d
I really thought Coke Zero used sucralose!?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 100d
In the US the current ingredients list for Coke Zero is:
whereas for Diet Coke it's:
grranibal@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 100d
Yes I do love some unidentified NATURAL FLAVORS
ThunderQueen@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 100d
JATtho@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 99d
This part was recently reverse-engineered, and there are "pirate-coke" recipes are now available. The level of reverse-engineering is so good, you can barely see the difference in a NMI.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 99d
about damn time
Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 100d
Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is the case. I think diet coke is aspartame sweetened.
Source: diet coke tastes like shit, coke zero is actually kind of okay.
FlexibleToast@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 100d
The difference in taste is from what their formulas are based on. Diet Coke basically came from Tab, where Coke Zero was a modern attempt at making Coca-Cola with zero calories.
ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 100d
I thought the same, but the internet says that not only does it contain aspartame, but it always has. I feel like I've discovered a new Mandela Effect.
ggtdbz@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 100d
I’ve been paying more attention to my health lately and honestly going from occasional sugar free soft drinks to even more occasional full sugar drinks has been a great “perk”. The sugary version tastes better, and 300-400 extra calories per month isn’t a big deal when I’m paying attention to my actual day to day consumption.
Besides, yeah yeah natural fallacy etc, but those non-sweetener ingredients probably aren’t stellar for your health either, and less overall volume of this stuff is probably better.
Holytimes@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 100d
The only drinks using sucralose is energy drinks basically. Sodas almost exclusively use aspertane.
My understanding is that it's cheaper and because of diet coke people expect the after taste of aspertane in a diet or low calorie soda.
shneancy@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 100d
whatever they use in diet coke tastes like stomach acid to me
empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 100d
thats probably because they put literal acid in it (phosphoric acid)
shneancy@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 100d
nope, normal coke and pepsi don't taste bad for me. it's just the no sugar versions
GimmeUrBelt@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 100d
I mean... Almost all sodas are quite acidic.
turtlesareneat@piefed.ca · 5 pts · 100d
Not my favorite, Caustic Cola Classic
Holytimes@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 100d
That's a pretty based choice of favorite soda!
inari@piefed.zip · 2 pts · 100d
Yum yum
albbi@piefed.ca · 1 pts · 100d
Gotta put some acid in, or you'd throw up from all the sugar.
multifariace@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 100d
Do you remember C2? I don't typically choose soda as a beverage but I got one for free from a promotion at work. I always hated artificial sweetner flavor but it tasted okay. I took one sip and went to the stock room where my heart suddenly raced and I got nautious and dizzy. It was scary since I was alone in the back. I recovered after a few minutes and never again touched anything diet.
nooch@lemmy.vg · 3 pts · 100d
I can taste it, but I like it more than the sugar. Truly blessed.
blujan@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 99d
I got the bad end of that stick, I much prefer sugar (my parents and siblings are obese and I have to fight it)
Etterra@discuss.online · 3 pts · 100d
It gives me headaches!
Generica@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 100d
My Tylenol is kickin in
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 100d
i feel stupid because I can't really tell a difference. i don't or can't pay attention to the specific taste of the sweetness. i don't mind sweetener anyhow.
YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 100d
Don't feel stupid - you're in the majority.
Here in the UK they've reformulated almost all soda to include Aspartame or Acuflame K.
The vast majority don't give a fuck, as they taste the same as before.
It's only people like me who, through a hilarious quirk of genetics, actually taste some sweetners as bitter and unpleasant, that are effected.
For a small (but significant when you scale it up) percentage of the population, these drinks have been entirely ruined and rendered basically undrinkable.
Even my 'national drink' Irn-Bru has been wrecked.
It's kinda funny as most people I meet don't taste it at all and probably think I'm being weird about it or that I'm making some sort of moral stance against sweetners. But it's genuinely not that. It's just that all the soda I liked has been replaced with weird tasting garbage.
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 100d
i see. I'm sorry. good luck with your search for good sodas. i mostly just drink water and occasionally a glass of diluted juice. i really like juice due to it not being carbonated, but i still run into the issue of it being too strong and overwhelming, hence the dilution.
YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d
No worries - it's not the end of the world and I only drink soda as a treat anyway. Coca-Cola is still the same, and there's carbonated apple drinks that are ok. I usually just stick to fruit juice with soda myself.
WolfLink@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 100d
For me diet sodas taste fine for like 2 seconds and then they turn disgusting
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 100d
to me everything with carbonation tastes of overwhelmed senses that can barely taste anything
MeowerMisfit817@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d
The same feeling of tasting the artificial products in Fanta.
kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 99d
huh? It just tastes like licking metal lol. what are you drinking