Have you ever wanted to drink a nice, cold soda but thought to yourself, “Is this really good for me?” Well if you have, you’re in luck! Poppi, a newly developed soda, has come to the shelves of The Village School’s store. This rising soda brand is fresh, juicy, healthy, and local! The beverage line was created by Allison Ellsworth, an innovator from Austin, Texas, and her brand has quickly begun to sell in stores across the country.
Growing up, I was a total soda addict. Root Beer, Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, no matter what flavor or brand; I was thirsting for it. Looking back, it definitely was not the healthiest way to go about getting my sugar intake. The more I thought about how soda tastes and its effect on my health, the more I wondered if there were other, better options out there. After years of searching for a healthier alternative, I finally stumbled across Poppi while browsing the shelves of The Village School’s school store.
As of right now, the school store fridges are stocked with various bottles of soda; Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and pretty much every major soda brand in the U.S. Many of which contain large amounts of sugar, artificial flavoring, and coloring. Compared to the minimum 5 grams of sugar in one 12-ounce Poppi can, a single 16-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola contains about 55 grams of sugar. Similarly, just one bottle of Mountain Dew contains 58 grams of sugar. These sodas are delicious but malicious. In this day and age, many treats, snacks, and other food products contain various artificial colors and flavors as well as many unnecessary added sugars.
If you are a soda lover but are alarmed by this information, you might be pleased to hear that Poppi is made from real juices. Poppi uses less artificial flavoring and sugar alternatives than their unhealthy competitors, meaning the sugar in Poppi products is real and natural. It’s a great soda option if you dislike the artificial, diet, or zero-sugar taste that other brands have. This rising beverage company has redefined soda. It tastes just as sweet as every other soda without as many added sugars.
Poppi also has a wide range of flavors. As of right now, they hold 14 different flavors that are available for purchase. The currently available flavors are Cherry Cola, Orange Creme, Wild Berry, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemon, Orange, Doc Pop, Ginger Lime, Raspberry Rose, Grape, Cherry Limeade, Root Beer, Classic Cola and Watermelon. Each flavor is unique, light, and delicious. Some flavors, such as Watermelon, Strawberry Lemon, and Doc Pop, are light and sweet, while others such as Cherry Limeade, Ginger Lime, and Raspberry Rose are unique and strong. The wide flavor range allows consumers to choose their favorite among a variety. Not only do they taste great, but they satiate the craving for a sweet beverage without the large sugar content.
Watermelon: Honestly, this flavor is probably my least favorite. It reminds me of sparkling water and it tastes like a Ring Pop, but in soda form. I love sweets but I’m not the biggest fan of candy. This flavor in particular tasted way too much like candy and was too artificial for my liking. With that in mind, I’d probably have to give it a 4/10.
Orange: This one is a classic. It’s sweet and refreshing. It tastes like clementine and it leaves a sweet taste in your mouth. This one is definitely one of my favorites so I’m giving it an 8/10.
Ginger Lime: This flavor is definitely my all-time favorite. I like how it’s complex and delicious. It’s one of the more unique flavors Poppi offers. It is a nice balance between sweet and strong which is great if you like a mixture of flavor profiles. This one is a 9/10.
Grape: I’m not the biggest fan of grape soda, however, this flavor definitely made me question that. It is a classic grape soda with a very identifiable flavor, but it doesn’t veer super far on the sweet side. If you love other brands of grape soda I think you will definitely love this one. This flavor is a solid 8/10.
Cherry Limeade: This is another one of Poppi’s more unique flavors. The flavor is strong and sweet at the same time. Like Ginger Lime, Cherry Limeade has a mixture of flavors that blend together nicely and leave a nice taste in your mouth. Therefore, this one is a definite 8/10.
Raspberry Rose: Raspberry Rose is by far the most unique since it doesn’t contain any flavors the others have. It is completely different from other flavors and that makes it another one of my favorites. It is a deep floral flavor and it isn’t necessarily sweet but it still is a pleasant flavor. It leaves a delightful taste in your mouth. Raspberry Rose is a 9/10.
Orange Cream: This one tastes like a Creamsicle. It’s got a summery feeling to it and it has a pleasant flavor. It is sweet but not too sweet and it is a delightful light drink. This classic taste is worthy of a 7/10.
Lemon Lime: This is another classic flavor and is another one of my favorites. It’s a great mixture between the lemon taste and the lime taste. It isn’t sour or overpowering and is really refreshing. It is definitely the kind of flavor I’d imagine having beside a pool during the summer. 9/10
Doc Pop: This one is a miss for me. Judging from the writing on the can it is really sweet and doesn’t really match the described flavor. It tasted pretty artificial. If given the option I don’t think I’d drink this one again. This one’s a 4/10
Root Beer: This one is a classic flavor and Poppi’s version is reasonably good. The Root Beer flavor leans on the sweeter side but it’s done well. It’s refreshing and a solid option to have. Poppi’s Root Beer flavor is a solid 6/10
Classic Cola: For this one, I feel like they did a good job at creating a delicious drink but it doesn’t really have that “Cola” taste I was expecting. It left a lot to be desired so it’s a 4/10.
Strawberry Lemon: This flavor has a very light taste. It is not as strong as some of the other flavors yet it still has its unique taste. It is a good mixture between lemon and strawberry but it also has a distinct taste. This one is a 7/10.
As a whole, I’d give the brand a rating of 8/10. It is delicious yet it does lack some flavor complexity. Most flavors lean on the sweet side so it would be nice to see some flavors that lean in other directions. That being said, I think everyone should try it. This low-sugar, gut-healthy soda is a great option to have. It is delicious and I am pleased to see it on the shelves of The Village School’s store.
References
Vaske, M. (Host). (2016, May, 7). How Sugar Creates Stress [Audio podcast episode]. In Dishing Up Nutrition. Nutritional Weight & Wellness. https://www.weightandwellness.com/resources/podcasts/how-sugar-creates-stress
