Everybody knows that if you purchase regular Coke from Europe or Mexico, it will taste different because they use regular sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup.
Whether or not that actually affects the taste is primarily up to you, the taster.
However, there are blogs and videos and a podcast devoted to the reasons why the original Coca Cola which comes in little glass bottles and is reportedly made with real sugar, is so much better than the high fructose corn syrup stuff made in the United States.
But that is classic Coca-Cola.
Does Diet Coke Taste Different In Europe?
Yes, it does taste different.
But first, you need to realize that they also have 2 types of brands in Europe, 1 being Diet Coke and the other being Coke Light.
When comparing the USA version with Europe’s, the primary difference is noted in the ingredient list; wherein there is a lack of potassium benzoate in the European version Versus the US diet coke.
I’m going to delve into this a little further and explain the reasons why.
What effect does this have on the taste?
Stick with me as I explain;
Well, potassium benzoate adds a little bitterness to whatever it’s in.
In fact, it is sometimes used as a natural flavoring agent because of this.
We also know that Coca-Cola company will change the formulation of its soft drinks depending on the region.
They have said this in numerous interviews. So based on these, we can definitively say that yes, a Diet Coke you get in Europe will taste different than a Diet Coke you get in the United States.
But why is this?
But Diet Coke is something you see nearly everywhere you go.
How does it taste different when you go to different countries?
And what about when you get a Diet Coke at Mcdonald’s?
Why does a Diet Coke from Mcdonald’s taste so much better from their fountain than when you pop open a can?
Let’s take a look at those questions.
Why Does Diet Coke Taste Different in Other Countries?
Diet Coke was launched in 1982 and was the first-ever Coca-Cola classic that was available without sugar as Popular Soda.
It quickly became the biggest-selling low-calorie soft drink in the United States.
Once Coca-Cola realized that it had a winner on its hands, it quickly introduced it into other markets, beginning with Great Britain in 1983. Today, Diet Coke is available in over 200 countries.
According to the Coca-Cola company website, people will import Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, and Coke diet drink into countries where it isn’t manufactured.
As with Diet Coke that is made in Europe, the formula for Diet Coke in different countries will vary.
One blatant example of this is in Canada, where the diet coke ingredients list includes some things you don’t find in the United States.
You can see that, like diet coke in Europe, Canada adds a benzoate (in this case, it’s sodium benzoate instead of potassium benzoate), and it also adds acesulfame-potassium, Phosphoric Acid, and Citric Acid. Acesulfame-potassium (also known as Ace K) is a calorie-free sweetener that is about 200 times as sweet as normal sugar. However, it has a slightly bitter aftertaste, which is commonly used in combination with other artificial sweeteners to mask the taste. It has the same sweetness level as aspartame, which makes it easy to mix the two. The individual particles of Ace K and aspartame are also the same size. By blending the two aspartame masks, the bitter aftertaste of Ace K and Ace K masks the aftertaste of aspartame.
United States
Canada
Carbonated Water
Carbonated Water
Caramel Color
Caramel Colour
Aspartame
Phosphoric and Citric Acid
Phosphoric Acid
Aspartame
Potassium Citrate
Flavor
Natural Flavors
Sodium Benzoate
Citric Acid
Caffeine
Caffeine
Acesulfame-Potassium
How Does That Change the Taste?
And this flavor difference isn’t just for the neighbors to the North.
What About Coke Light?
Cyclamates are another type of artificial sweetener that used to be popular in the United States but fell out of favor.
Cyclamates were discovered in the 1950s and were quickly approved as a sweetener that was generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.
They were used in a lot of products.
In 1969, however, a research group conducted a study involving rats and found that the sweetener called Sucaryl (nine parts cyclamate and one part saccharin) led to the rats developing bladder cancer.
Of course, the rats were fed the equivalent amount of Sucaryl as that found in 800 cans of soda, but the damage was done.
Sucaryl and cyclamates were pulled from the market, and despite the finding in 1984 that cyclamates are not a carcinogen, they are no longer used in the United States.
So Why Coke Light vs Diet Coke?
However, Coca-Cola company still manufactures a diet cola that uses the traditional blend of sweeteners that includes aspartame in those countries, so a different brand name was needed.
So, Coke Light was created as a way to manufacture and bottle that type of diet soda so as not to create confusion over imported sodas that use traditional aspartame sweetening.
People who drink Coke Light say that they love how it tastes and have a much different aftertaste and flavor profile from Diet Coke.
They also mention that Coke Light has a different level of carbonation.
There are users on Reddit and other forums who proclaim their love of Coke Light, so if you ever find yourself somewhere it is sold, you may want to give this different formulation a try. Just like Coke Light vs Diet Coke, there exists coke zero vs diet coke because they are not the same in ingredients.
Fountain Diet Coke vs. Bottles and Cans
There’s a reason for this, and the biggest reason is because of the primary ingredient: water.
Diet Coke is made by combining concentrated syrup with carbonated water.
The water itself is carbonated on demand in the restaurant.
It’s not like Mcdonald’s, or your local gas station has a giant bottle of seltzer water under the counter.
Instead, as they dispense Diet Coke (or any other soda), a giant canister of carbon dioxide pushes gas into the water, creating carbonated water as needed.
What Makes McDonald’s Coke Taste Better Than Other Coke?
For example, if the water that is used is filtered, it can affect the taste.
Mcdonald’s and other restaurants often use a multistage filtration device to remove impurities from the water and create a uniform taste for their soda across their franchises.
But if you go to a smaller store, they may not filter their water.
That can create a different taste.
Another factor is the amount of carbonation that is used.
Depending on how much carbon dioxide is pushed into the water, combined with the temperature of the water itself, the fizziness can change from super fizz to just so-so.
Lastly, one of the biggest contributors to why Mcdonald’s and other fountain dispensers serve Diet Coke that tastes different is the amount of syrup that is used.
The traditional amount is 5 parts water to 1 part syrup. However, many places, including Mcdonald’s, count the amount of water created by melting ice into that ratio.
So if you get your Diet Coke without ice like many people, you may get your Diet Coke with a little more syrup, which translates to a more intense taste.
Lastly, if you wonder why we singled out Mcdonald’s, it’s because they have a special contract with Coca-Cola.
Did you know that the syrup for Coke products for Mcdonald’s is delivered in special stainless steel tanks?
So, the age of the syrup must play a significant part in the taste of a Diet Coke, or why would they bother?
European coke vs American coke
For example, high fructose corn syrup in the United States is extremely cheap because we grow a lot of corn.
While in Europe, high fructose corn syrup is extremely expensive. Therefore, it’s found in almost nothing.
So the next time you’re wondering, yes, there is a difference, and yes, you will definitely notice it.
I’m the owner and blogger here at SodaPopCraft.Com. I’m a soft drinks enthusiast, bringing you all I know and research from the world of Beverages, Soda Pop, Soft Drinks, and many more.
I hope it inspires you to make Healthier, and Creative Drinks at Home.
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