WHEN it comes to coke, is anything better than “the real thing”?
Not according to the sales figures. Coca-Cola is still the UK’s leading brand with 2021 sales hitting £229.4 billion.
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For rival Pepsi, sales for the year totalled £38.1 million in the UK.
One survey found 84% of us admit we are buying more soft drinks since the pandemic begun.
But as costs rise, can we afford to keep paying out for branded fizzy drinks, and are there any alternatives which measure up when it comes to that refreshing taste?
We tested cheaper supermarket brands to see how they compared. Here’s what happened:
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Winner: Lidl Freeway Cola, 47p
12g sugar per 250ml
Lidl has done a great job here. This, I think, was the closest to “the real thing”. It was almost identical in colour and fizz to Coca-Cola and was my favourite.
You could easily serve this to guests and no-one would know difference.
It’s the cheapest two litre bottle you can buy (all prices quoted in this article are for 2 litre bottles except Coca-Cola, which is sold in a 1.5 litre bottle).
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It’s hardly healthy, with 12g sugar per glass, but that is still less than half the amount in Pepsi or Coca-Cola, so it’s better for your bank balance and your waistline. Win win.
Taste: 9/10 Value for money: 10/10 Overall: 10/10
Total score: 29/30
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Asda Cola, 60p
12g sugar per 250ml
A worthy runner-up, I was impressed by Asda’s cola.
If you gave yourself a bit of time to get used to the taste, you’d soon think you were drinking the real thing (which tastes quite sweet in comparison).
Like all the own-brands, this one contains less sugar so it’s a little better for you too.
Taste: 9/10 Value for money: 8/10 Overall: 9/10
Total score: 26/30
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Cola by Sainsbury’s, 47p
12.1g sugar per 250ml
Sainsbury’s own-brand packs a powerful, fruity cola punch.
It is not a million miles away from the real thing, but perhaps tastes a little closer to the more upmarket brands such as Fentiman’s.
I liked it and would buy again.
Taste: 8/10 Value for money: 10/10 Overall: 8/10
Total score: 26/30
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Coca-Cola, £1.70 (1.5L)
27g sugar per 250mlL
If you want the real thing, you have to pay through the nose for it.
It’s £1.70 for a smaller bottle – you get a quarter less than you do in all the others.
However, I do think Coca-Cola’s taste is hard to beat. It holds its fizz and is very refreshing to drink both on its own and as a mixer.
It’s bad news for both your health and wallet though, so perhaps best kept as an occasional treat.
Taste: 10/10 Value for money: 6/10 Overall: 9/10
Total score: 25/30
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Aldi Vive Cola Original, 47p
12g sugar per 250ml
This had a very strong syrupy flavour and a nasty aftertaste. I didn’t like it.
It tasted more like Pepsi Max than original Coca-Cola so if that’s your thing, perhaps this could save you some money?
You can’t argue about the price though, at just 47p for a two-litre bottle.
Taste: 2/10 Value for money: 7/10 Overall: 4/10
Total score: 13/30
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Tesco Classic Cola, 60p
11.7g sugar per 250ml
Tesco’s cola was much lighter than all the others and it tasted thin, watery and weak.
Worth noting, it’s the healthiest of the bunch with 11.7g of sugar in each glass – compared to 28g in Pepsi or 27g in Coca-Cola.
But you could taste the sweeteners that have been added. I wouldn’t buy this one again.
Taste: 2/10 Value for money: 5/10 Overall: 4/10
Total score: 11/30
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Pepsi, £2.20
28g sugar per 250ml
I’ve never been a big fan of Pepsi. It tastes even sweeter than Coca-Cola and it’s nearly as pricey.
I found it quite heavy and not very refreshing to drink.
In blind tests for the makers though, many people picked it as their favourite over Coca-Cola, so it may be down to personal taste. Pepsi definitely isn’t for me though.
Taste: 4/10 Value for money: 2/10 Overall: 3/10
Total score: 9/30
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Morrisons Cola, 60p
12g sugar per 250ml
Morrisons cola gave a great big fizz as I opened the bottle and initially this looked promising.
But moments after I poured my glass it both looked and tasted flat.
It was very light in colour compared to Coca-Cola, almost treacle like, and it tasted thin and weak. It was recognisable as cola, but only just.
Taste: 1/10 Value for money: 3/10 Overall: 2/10
Total score: 6/30
The verdict
Coca-Cola remain’s the nation’s favourite for a reason – it just tastes better. There is something lighter, fizzier, and more refreshing about it.
It didn’t win here as times are tough, money is tight and it’s an expensive luxury.
If you’re looking to save money on grocery bills definitely try Lidl’s cola. It’s around £1.80 cheaper for two litres of pop and if you buy a bottle a week, that’s a big saving of over £93 a year.
I was impressed by Sainsbury’s too. It tasted like the more trendy, upmarket versions but is currently price-matching Aldi.
Give it a go and if you like it, stock up while it’s cheap. Big brands are not always best.
Elsewhere, we tested supermarket fish fingers against big brand rivals to find out which tasted best.
Plus, here are five ways to cut the cost of your supermarket shop.
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