The Good: Outstanding packaging! Variety pack was perfect to find what I like best. Crisp bite (carbonation) with sweet taste.
The Bad: A few (only a few) cans had obvious dirt on rims with a few cans sticky; which is sad compared to the outstanding packaging.
Overall: I found what flavors I like and changed my subscription to reflect. If you are unsure of what you may or may not like; try the variety pack.
My Review by flavor:
Cola: It's cola with a splash of lemon; unfortunately I hate lemon in cola.
Caffeine Free Cola: Disappointed by above said lemon...
Cream Soda: A Swing and a Miss; I love cream soda but this is carbonated water with a vanilla aftertaste.
Grapefruit: Not Fresca; think more ruby red grapefruit. I'm more of a white grapefruit guy, but this is still good.
Ginger Root Beer: A juxtaposition gone wrong. Taste like Ginger Ale mixed with A&W Root Beer. I'll pass on this one.
Ginger Ale: Strong ginger flavor with a great bite. My 2nd favorite!
Mountain: No... just no.
Orange: Good flavor; more tangerine but good.
Dr: Taste like something the doctor makes you take. OK not that bad, but it really doesn't have must taste to it - perhaps a whiff of flavor?
Black Cherry: My favorite! Outstanding bold flavor! Awesome - Awesome - Awesome!
Lemon Lime Twist: Carbonated water with a twist of lemon - if that is your kind of thing.
All reviews are based upon my personal taste buds and flavor may vary.
Since you are on this page, you probably know all about how bad artificial sweeteners are. That's what got me to try out Zevia. I was intrigued by promise of "no-downsides" 0 calorie soft drink. The biggest question I had before trying was of course - taste.
Please don't be misguided by advertisements and other reviews. Taste of Zevia Cola is comparable to Coca Cola. But it's nowhere near the same. Especially if you are buying this to use in cocktails - you will be sorely disappointed.
So, whether you buy Zevia Cola, Ginger Ale or any other flavor - I would recommend that you approach it as a completely new drink. Be prepared to drink several cans over a week-long period before making judgment.
Myself, after a year of drinking mostly Zevia Ginger Ale - I now actually prefer this taste. If you put Canada Dry: Ginger Ale and Zevia Ginger Ale in front of me now, I would go for Zevia. I'm used to the flavor and I know it has 0 calories and 0 sugar. And also - I would not drink Diet Ginger Ale because of mentioned artificial sweeteners.
If you want to try Zevia I think this Amazon offer is great for two reasons - delivery and price. On delivery you have two options:
For AmazonFresh: https://www.amazon.com/Zevia-Natural-Sugar-Ginger-Count/dp/B002VH6K72/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1483682741&sr=1-1&ppw=fresh&linkCode=ll1&tag=pers0nal-20&linkId=39393b7e26d456f6cd6490d3329c4a90
For AmazonPrime: https://www.amazon.com/Zevia-Calorie-Rainbow-Naturally-Sweetened/dp/B00ZK6KUUY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1483682898&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=pers0nal-20&linkId=29f58bcd3b73864ba2fa1cf10281a1f9
Amazon Fresh price of $4.5 for 6 pack is cheaper than most grocery stores. I've been paying 6 pack as high as $8. And also currently Zevia is offering 30% off coupon for variety 24-pack delivered through AmazonPrime. That brings price down to $17 for the whole package ($15 if you subscribe!). That's $3.75-$4.25 for 6-pack; incredibly good deal compared to grocery store price.
To conclude - if you are in the market for 0 calorie soft drink with natural sweetener - definitely give Zevia a try. If you don't have favorite taste, I would recommend you start with 24-variety-pack. There is 2 of each flavor in it; and snagging 30% off coupon will get you lots of drinks to try for $17.
[...]And if you have any questions - leave comment and ask, I'll be more than glad to answer and help if I can!
I'm a former diet soda drinker. I drank these, along with diet soda, for a couple years, until I suffered from 2 strokes at the age of 35. At that point, I started paying attention to sugar from more than calorie perspective, but also from the stand point of its toxicity to the brain. I gave up on all the "diet" sodas. I started drinking less overall and now this is the only type of soda I drink. This flavor and Dr. Zevia are my favorites. The are both smooth and refreshing!
Update: I've now had every flavor except Dr. Zevia and I stand by my review. Yes, they are more subtle, but I still like the flavors. They just don't set your teeth on edge like super sweet sodas. It was so nice getting to enjoy the delicious flavor of cream soda again without the guilt and calories.
I'd given up sodas entirely out of respect for my internal organs, and stuck to water or juice. I'd opted for izze as an alternative. But, I got bored and wanted to try something else. All the other alt-soda products were scary with lab sugar and what not. Then I stumbled upon Zevia. I absolutely love these! I've only had four of the 12 flavors so far, but I really like them. I was scared how they would taste based on the bad reviews, but i have no idea what they're talking about. These are so yummy. No aftertaste. Just clean, flavorful, and refreshing. I've only had a mountain dew maybe twice in life, so not an expert, but i could tell that their version was a little more subtle than "real" mountain dew, but not bad by any means. Other than that I've been pleasantly surprised.
Observations, not complaints: They seem a little more fizzy than typical sodas so you have to wait for it to calm down or pour slowly. They also taste sweeter than i expected, but that might be because I'm not used to super sweet sodas anymore.
I'll update as I go through other flavors.
Review of each flavor below!
I was looking for something to help me break my Dr. Pepper/Mr Pibb habit as I don't want the calories anymore, but I also don't want the artificial sugars (especially aspertame) that is found in all of the diet sodas. Found Zevia and although it has its own taste and is not a great substitute for the cola flavors, I still enjoy it enough to use it as a replacement.
I have now had all of the flavors of Zevia except Cola, Mountain Zevia, and the Grapefruit flavors. It's a nice alternative to soda, but does not taste like the regular Pepsi, Coke, or Dr Pepper products I was used to. This is more like a blend of soda and carbonated flavored water with more sweetness. Here's my breakdown of each flavor in order of my favorites:
1) Strawberry - not nearly as sweet as Strawberry Crush, which I like as that is much too sweet for me. The flavor is refreshing and not overly bold and tastes more like a soda than the flavored water, so is more of a middle ground between water and soda.
2) Black Cherry - tied with Strawberry for my favorite as this is one I don't think I will get sick of. It's also more of a carbonated water, but with much more of the black cherry flavor. Sweeter than the waters, not as sweet as sodas or juiced though.
3) Cream Soda - this is the best cream soda I've had. The regular versions are much too sweet for me and I can't finish them, but this had the perfect flavor. Close 3rd.
4) Orange - not as sweet or flavorful as Orange Crush, but still very tasty. Reminds me of Hi-C, but carbonated.
5) Lemon Lime Twist - very refreshing. Tastes a lot like 7-up. Much better than expected and was very crisp tasting.
6) Grape - ok. Not the best, but not bad, although it reminds me a little of the grape Dimetap from my childhood. I think I would have really liked as a kid. The sweetest tasting of all the Zevia flavors in my opinion. Tastes a lot like other grape sodas.
7) Dr Zevia - tastes NOTHING like Dr Pepper. Hard to describe, but a much stranger carbonated water taste than soda. I'm not a huge fan, but not so bad as to dump them out (too expensive for that, lol). But more of a last resort.
8) Cherry Cola - more cola taste that the Dr. Zevia, but not enjoyable for me. Strange tasting and definitely NOT like any cherry sodas I've had before. Same opinion as Dr Zevia.
9) Root Beer - I am not a big fan of this one. Not like A&W at all. Strange tasting and very strong. Leaves a bitter aftertaste too.
10) Ginger Ale - this was the worst in my opinion and is undrinkable. I am used to Canada Dry and this tastes like a watered down, horrible imitation of generic ginger ales. They missed the mark with this one for me.
I've been able to stay away from regular sodas for over 2 months thanks to the flavors of Zevia I do like, which is an accomplishment since I was at about 3 Dr Peppers or Mr Pibbs a day for years. Disappointed that their Dr Zevia isn't even a close substitute, but at least I found a few flavors that are worth it and satisfy my needs for flavored drinks. Hoping they tweak the other flavors to make them more like the sodas we are used to, but until then, I'll keep buying the Black Cherry, Strawberry, Cream Soda, Orange, and Lemon Lime.
Feature Product
- MORE THAN A BEVERAGE: Zevia is a movement; whether you are craving a pop of flavor, need an extra pep in your step before a workout, or fancy something sparkling, we've got you covered; Zevia is always zero calories, zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners
- A RAINBOW PACK OF AWESOME: each Zevia Rainbow Variety Pack contains two cans of each flavor: Cola, Ginger Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Cream Soda, Grape, Black Cherry, Lemon Lime Twist, Orange, Mountain Zevia, Dr. Zevia, Caffeine Free Cola, and Grapefruit Citrus
- SMARTER CHOICES: Whether you're craving a burst of sweetness, a bubbly treat or a guilt-free drink for movie night, we've got you covered; enjoy the anytime convenience of a calorie-free, naturally flavored, effervescent soda delivered right to your door
- PREMIUM PRODUCT: Zevia Soda Rainbow Variety Pack is zero calorie, sugar free, clear in color, gluten free, Non GMO Project Verified, kosher and vegan; try it as an alternative to traditional diet sodas for a sweet treat with zero artificial ingredients
- CLEAN INGREDIENTS: Carbonated Water, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Stevia Leaf extract, caffeine and tartaric acid; Zevia uses only real ingredients in our beverages, nothing artificial; ships in Amazon Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
Description
The Zevia Rainbow Pack is a truly magical delivery of soda deliciousness. 24 cans of 12 unique flavors. It's a perfect combination of whether you are interested in finding your flavor or you are just interested in mixing it up. The Rainbow Pack specifically contains 2 cans of each flavor - Cola, Ginger Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Cream Soda, Grape, Black Cherry, Lemon Lime Twist, Orange, Mountain Zevia, Dr. Zevia, Caffeine Free Cola and Grapefruit Citrus.
You'll either love Zevia or hate Zevia. Many of the critical reviews complain that the sodas aren't sweet enough, that they are too sweet (??), or that they have a bad aftertaste. I experienced some of the aftertaste issues myself until the latest formulation was launched (in late 2016), which uses an improved blend of stevia extracts and removes the erythritol. (I'm glad they dropped the erythritol--it gives me headaches in large amounts!). I think that the Zevia company has identified a blend that eliminates most (if not all) of the weird / bitter aftertaste that is associated with stevia. If you think it's not sweet enough, I recommend giving it some time. After a month or so, you'll adjust to this and may even prefer it. For it to work, I recommend dropping the coke/pepsi/sprite/whatever, at least while you adjust. (I did this, and now find conventional sodas to be ridiculously syrupy and gross.) Let's be real here, though: Most people are drinking Zevia for the health benefits achieved by eliminating sugar, chemicals, and other artificial junk from the diet. If you really care about your health, open your mind to this--you'll be doing your body a huge favor. If you don't really care that much for your health, you'll probably go back to the syrupy junk after a while, so in that case...maybe don't waste your time with this.
I’m trying to cut out sugar (really corn syrup) from my diet and soda was the easiest thing to get rid of. I have been drinking lots of carbonated and flavored water, but i still like to have some caffeine, so these stevia sodas are the best thing due to not having chemically derived sweeteners.
The first thing you have to know is you must lower expectations. This doesn’t taste like regular sodas. Not because these are “knock off” flavored like Shasta Cola or Private Select (I don’t know if that’s still around), but rather, the stevia plant derived sweetener is at least for Now, limited to a formulation that’s still got a bitter after taste just like aspartame and artificially sweetened sodas. In other words, this tastes like DIET sodas.
But, this is still the health conscious choice, albeit expensive choice, coating more per ounce than Mexican sugar cane Coca Cola available in Costco and Walmarts.
All in all, if you want to make a healthy choice when consuming carbonated sugary (tasting) drinks, this is a decent albeit pricey choice.
** Updated 4/9/2017 **
So it's a year later. I don't know whether they changed the formula again in-between, but I suspect they did. In addition, I probably have gotten used to the taste by this point. Although I still believe the caramel-colored one was superior, the ones available now are good. I can drink these like I normally used to. I typically have about three per day, and I find them refreshing and tasty. Personally I have to have them as cold as possible, otherwise I don't like the aftertaste. But I use one of the stainless steel insulated can holders to hold the can and drink them relatively quickly so it works for me.
** Updated 3/7/2016 **
It appears that the formulation has changed. The taste is far, far improved. While I don't believe it's quite the same as it was when the caramel coloring was present, it's pretty good overall and I'm happy enough again. I've started ordering in my usual quantities again. I just couldn't drink the Blue Sky cola as a substitute. I think it tastes terrible. I'm glad the Zevia Cola is basically back!
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The original Zevia Cola was by far my favorite Zevia flavor. It was heaven-sent because I had not had a real cola drink in years after being diagnosed with diabetes and prior to Zevia finally getting to my area. I have been drinking it for many years prior to it being available on Amazon.
The new formulation is not good--at all. I thought all the negative reviews here were because people were subconsciously biased against the flavor of the drink since it is now clear. But after comparing the two flavors, the clear cola has a distinct aftertaste of Zevia lemon lime soda. It also doesn't taste quite as sweet and I think it has slightly bitter undertones. I've never liked the lemon-lime Zevia flavor (although we buy the orange and grape and enjoy it very much), so this has bothered me quite a bit.
I used to drink minimally 60-65 cans per month of the old Zevia cola. Once this 24 pack is done, I'm done with the cola.
A pretty darn good substitute for soda-holics like me who are trying to reduce or eliminate their consumption of sugar/aspartame/sucralose-based soft drinks. Zevia offers a good variety of flavors. The colas and Dr. Pepper substitutes are "ok" but the fruit-based flavors are very good. The one thing about Zevia you have to get used to is that EVERY flavor they make is crystal clear. Even the cola and other flavors that are typically dark brown or orange or purple with other brands are all clear with Zevia. Just goes to show the unnecessary stuff the big manufacturers put in their products just to placate the human eye. I would like to see Zevia made available in 20 oz and 2 liter bottles, but that's just a preference.
My husband is a cancer survivor and after his diagnosis he immediately cut his Diet Coke addiction, and so this was the next best thing for him. It tastes nothing like Diet Coke, but it's tolerable. My daughter prefers it to regular soda. Personally, I wouldn't touch this stuff with a ten foot pole (I don't drink much soda, but Coca Cola is bottom-line my favorite beverage in the world, so it's a treat and any sort of substitute for that is completely a no-go for me.)
Anyway, my husband drinks a LOT of this, and it's very hard to find locally, so ordering it seemed worth trying. But soda, in the mail? Doesn't it get really banged up and shook up and kind of ruined by the heat?
Surprisingly, this soda ships fine. All the cans have arrived in perfect condition and did not explode upon opening.
If you like this soda, and are wondering how it travels, it's fine. No worries. If you're looking for a substitute to Diet Coke or regular Coke... it's worth a shot. I think everyone has a different opinion on soda, and this one is definitely a healthier option to a lot of the ones out there.
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