New flavored sodas confuse the palate
Two new soda flavors fell flat with The Spokesman-Review reader food panel in a recent taste test.
Coke has given its longtime favorite a twist of lime and Dr. Pepper is dressing up its diet drink with cherry and vanilla, but food panel tasters were either unimpressed or the new flavors confused their tongues.
The lime in the Coca-Cola was subtle enough that some of the tasters missed it entirely. A few ventured a guess that the drink was actually a generic soda. Overall it earned two-and-a-half-stars.
“You could drink a whole glass and not taste the lime,” said Andy Hoye.
Larry Inman and Skip Hubbard were not impressed with the effort. “Pretty dull tasting,” Inman said. “Needs some zip. In a very competitive market I don’t believe it has a chance.”
Hubbard said he’ll stick with regular Coke.
“There is no reason to mess with a good thing. Up until now, I’d not tasted lime cola, and I’m glad I saved my money.”
Matt Quesnell, a new panel member and Gonzaga student, said he didn’t mind the new drink.
“Not too much bite but not too sweet either. Kind of a less-intense Coke taste,” he said.
A few people liked the new flavors mixed into the Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. Others thought the soda tasted too much like artificial sweetener and the cherry infusion was too intense. The panel gave it three stars for taste.
“Extra-sweet cola with cherry flavor,” said Peggy Kazanis. “It’s a refreshing change to your average cola.”
Laura Hollman said the drink isn’t bad it you like diet soda. “It tastes very strongly of artificial sweetener, but if you don’t mind that, it’s quite drinkable.”
Nancy Robinson said she’d pass this drink with her grocery cart.
“Cherry flavor is too strong, and it is kind of flat-tasting. I don’t even think kids would like this.”
Coca-Cola with Lime
Price: $1.39 per 2-liter bottle
Nutrition per 8-ounce serving: 100 calories, no fat, no protein, 27 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 25 milligrams sodium.
Taste: “ “ 1/2
Value: “ “ “
Comments:
“Pretty dull-tasting. Needs some zip.” – Larry Inman
“Generic cola? Better stick to Pepsi products. (There are) much better products out there.” – Nancy Robinson
“Bland cola with a lemony aftertaste.” – Tina Johnson
Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper
Price: $1.39
Nutrition per 8-ounce serving: no calories, no fat, no protein, no carbohydrate, no cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 45 milligrams sodium.
Taste: “ “ “
Value: “ “ “
Comments:
“A new Dr. Pepper that tastes like the old. You acquire a taste for this.”– Marilyn Moore
“All the different flavors don’t seem to combine well, to my taste.” – Matt Quesnell
“I am so used to diet sodas. It tasted sweet, so I figured it must be real sugar. (I was wrong).” – Marcia Oranen