The best and worst colas in New Zealand

Coke vs Pepsi

We must address the elephant in the room. The cola landscape is dominated by two players – Coca-Cola and Pepsi – who have been locked in a battle for supremacy called “the cola wars” since the 1970s.

Before our taste test, we asked our panel what their favourite cola drink was. Nine out of 11 said they preferred Coca-Cola or a variation such as Diet or Cherry Coke. Just two said that Pepsi was their favourite.

So, which of the two colas tastes best according to our blind taste test?

Best tasting cola

The best tasting cola, according to our panel of taste testers, was Pepsi. Participants enjoyed Pepsi’s sweet, familiar flavour. Four participants incorrectly identified it as Coca-Cola.

Best value cola

The best value cola was Countdown’s Cola. Countdown Cola was the fourth best performing cola in our test, but it cost three times less than the next cheapest colas, Pepsi and Foxton Fizz..

Colas ranked

1. Pepsi

Overall score: 75

Price per 100ml: $0.27

Percentage of panel who would buy: 73%

Sugar content: 10.9 grams per 100ml

Pepsi topped the charts among our taste testers with a score of 75. Participants felt like Pepsi was the real deal, praising its familiarity and malty nature. Pepsi had the third highest sugar content of the colas we surveyed, which participants picked up on, describing the taste as sweet – maybe too sweet. Four panellists thought that they were drinking Coca-Cola when they drank Pepsi.

Comments:

“How cola should taste.”

“Malty, Coca-Cola-esque. Can’t beat a classic.”

“Good. Maybe a little too sweet.”

---

2. Royal Crown Draft

Overall score: 71

Price per 100ml: $0.59

Percentage of panel who would buy: 73%

Sugar content: 12.5 grams per 100ml

Royal Crown Draft was the second-best cola in the test, according to our panel, with a score of 71. While other colas were criticised for failing to live up to their expectations of cola, Royal Crown Draft was praised for its distinctness. Participants felt that Royal Crown Draft was luxurious, with hints of coffee and chocolate and a syrupy texture. If you’re looking for a more sophisticated cola treat at a mid-range price, Royal Crown Draft could be for you.

Comments:

“This isn’t like any cola I’ve had before. I’m very intrigued to see which one this is.”

“Luxurious. Hints of coffee and a lovely sweetness.”

“It tastes like espresso martini … a bit rich.”

---

3. Coca-Cola

Overall score: 68

Price per 100ml: $0.30

Percentage of panel who would buy: 73%

Sugar content: 10.6 grams per 100ml

Coca-Cola’s 1990 advertising slogan said, “You can’t beat the real thing” but our panel begs to differ, with Coca-Cola coming in third place with a score of 68. Third out of nine isn’t too bad, however, with 73% of participants saying they would buy Coca-Cola for their home, the same percentage as Pepsi and Royal Crown Draft. Participants praised Coca-Cola’s sweet, pleasant flavour.

Comments:

“Sugary flavour – which is a good thing.”

“Can taste the cola … not too salty.”

“Feels fresh.”

---

4. Countdown Cola

Overall score: 63

Price per 100ml: $0.09

Percentage of panel who would buy: 64%

Sugar content: 10.7 grams per 100ml

Countdown Cola was the cheapest cola in our test by a distance, but it performed strongly among our panel with a score of 63. With a strong performance at such a low price point, this is a tempting option for the nation’s fridges; 64% of our panellists said they would buy this cola for their home, with two participants mistakenly identifying Countdown Cola as Coca-Cola. But be careful trying to sneak it past cola connoisseurs … two participants correctly identified this as a home brand.

Comments:

“Nothing particularly different between sample B (Coca-Cola) and C (Countdown Cola).”

“Great all-round taste and sweetness, could be coke or home brand.”

“Bright, fruity.”

---

5. Jarritos Mexican Cola

Overall score: 62

Price per 100ml: $1.11

Percentage of panel who would buy: 55%

Sugar content: 10 grams per 100ml

Jarritos Mexican Cola ranked fifth among our panellists with a score of 62. Jarritos had one of the more distinct flavours in our test, but this polarised our panel more than any other cola. Participants felt that Jarritos had a light, clean and, in some cases, floral flavour; it was easy to drink, but its mildness was a real drawback for others. Some participants felt this was one of the less sweet colas, but don’t be fooled, with Jarritos containing almost as much sugar as Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

Comments:

“Very light. You could probably drink a lot of this.”

“Taste likes an ice block, not too sweet but a bit insipid.”

“Feels light, low sugar, great taste, like SodaStream cola.”

---

6. Charlie’s Honest Cola

Overall score: 61

Price per 100ml: $0.47

Percentage of panel who would buy: 36%

Sugar content: 8.5 grams per 100ml

Charlie’s Honest Cola scored sixth in our test with a score of 61. Charlie’s Honest Cola had among the lowest levels of sugar in our sample, but our panellists could taste the difference. Some participants interpreted Charlie’s Honest Cola as simple or more natural than the other colas on test, but others felt it was weak, mild and watery. Just 36% of panellists would buy Charlie’s Honest Cola for their home.

Comments:

“Gentle. Tastes like what I imagine cola actually tastes like in the wild.”

“Watery but a little bit sweet and nutty.”

“Weak and watery.”

---

7. Karma Cola

Overall score: 57

Price per 100ml: $0.70

Percentage of panel who would buy: 36%

Sugar content: 9.6 grams per 100ml

Karma cola came in seventh place in our taste test with a score of 57. The primary issue encountered by our taste testing panel with Karma Cola was its aftertaste, with several taste testers complaining of a bitter, sour aftertaste from the drink. Just 36% of taste testers would buy Karma Cola for their home. On a more festive note, some of our more positive reviewers highlighted a “cinnamony”, and “christmassy” flavour profile. If you’re looking for some festive-themed fizz, Karma Cola could be the choice for you.

Comments:

“Fine at first, if a bit bland, but then there's a bitter aftertaste.”

“Mild, not very sweet, bitter aftertaste.”

“Cinnamony, like a Christmas pie.”

---

8. Foxton Fizz Kola

Overall score: 52

Price per 100ml: $0.27

Percentage of panel who would buy: 36%

Sugar content: 11.9 grams per 100ml

Foxton Fizz Kola scored eighth in our blind tasting with a score of 52. Foxton Fizz is similar in price to Coca-Cola and Pepsi, but its sugar content is higher, and our panel could tell. Most tasters referred to the sweetness or sugariness of the drink when describing its flavour. Foxton Fizz costs the same as the mainstream brands, tastes worse, and has more sugar. It’s probably best avoided.

Comments:

“Like coke with extra sugar.”

“Very sweet, caramel, not enough cola.”

“Just tastes like sweet.”

---

9. Fentimans Curiosity Cola

Overall score: 29

Price per 100ml: $1.45

Percentage of panel who would buy: 0%

Sugar content: 3.9 grams per 100ml

Fentimans Curiosity Cola scored a 29 from our taste testers, with no one saying they would buy the cola for their home. Perhaps an unfair inclusion, Fentimans Curiosity Cola is strongly associated with use as a mixer for alcoholic drinks. Still, we wanted to see if a more grown-up flavour better suited our panel of adult taste testers. It did not, but it did show what cola tastes like with vastly reduced sugar content. Fentimans Curiosity Cola has just 3.9 grams of sugar per 100ml, compared to an average of 10.6 grams per 100ml in the rest of our sample. With the sugar content dialled down, cola’s other flavours shone through … and not in a good way.

Comments:

“Watery, bitter, fake flavour, chemical after taste.”

“Medicinal, heavily spiced.”

“Very bitter, weird taste.”

How we taste tested

Our panel of 11 Consumer NZ staff blind taste-tested nine colas across various brands and price points. Participants filled out a survey as they tasted the colas.

Participants scored each cola’s overall taste out of 10 and commented on flavour, fizziness and mouthfeel of each drink, with space provided for additional comments. The points awarded to each cola by our panel have been divided by the total points available to produce a score out of 100 for each cola.

Prices for each cola are based on the recommended retail price of colas purchased in Wellington on 18th December 2023.

The health disclaimer

These drinks are not healthy. Belinda Castles is a research writer at Consumer with expertise in nutrition and marketing. She says, “When it comes to sugary drinks like cola, I'm a Christmas grinch all year round. Sugary drinks are the main source of sugar consumed by Kiwi children and young people. They're also a significant risk factor for tooth decay, obesity, and type-2 diabetes. Cola drinks are also acidic, so it's a double negative when it comes to tooth decay. Sugary drinks also provide zero nutritional value.”

Belinda says fizzy drinks are an occasional treat for her kids, and considering the serving size is important. Some of the larger cans or bottles provide a significant sugar hit. Cola also contains caffeine, so it might be best to choose another flavoured fizz for a treat for children.

On average, the colas in our tasting contain 9.9 grams of sugar per 100ml, and a 250ml serving of Coca-Cola contains 27 grams. Don’t be swayed by marketing slogans like “honest”, or “organic”, as often these drinks have a very high sugar content. Charlie’s Honest Cola contains 8.5 grams of sugar per 100ml, while Karma Cola contains 9.6 grams per 100ml.