Sprite vs. 7UP vs. Sierra Mist vs. Mountain Dew Overview

What Is Sprite？

Country:United States; Founded:1961

Basic Information

Sprite is an American-owned brand of clear, lemon and lime-flavored soft drink created by The Coca-Cola Company. Sprite comes in multiple flavors, including cranberry, cherry, grape, orange, tropical, ginger, and vanilla, and newer versions of the drinks are artificially sweetened. Sprite was created to compete primarily against Keurig Dr Pepper's 7 Up.

History and Origin

he Sprite brand name was created by T. C. "Bud" Evans, a Houston-based bottler who also distributed Coca-Cola products, circa 1955 for a line of drinks with flavors such as strawberry and orange; therightsto the name were acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 1960.

The lemon-lime drink known today as Sprite was developed in West Germany in 1959 as Fanta Klare Zitrone ("Fanta Clear Lemon" in English) and was introduced in the United States under the Sprite name in 1961 as a competitor to 7 Up.

Pros and Cons of Sprite 

Where to Buy Sprite Cheapest?

• Sam's Club:Up To 15% Cash Back

• Walmart:Up to 4% Cashback 

Best Seller:

Sprite Lemon Lime Soda (16.9 fl. oz., 24 pk.) - $17.12@Sam's Club

Highlights

• Crisp, clean, lemon-lime soda taste to share with family and friends

• Refreshing bottled soda – full of individuality

• Bottled Sprite perfect for tailgating gear or party drinks

• Buy soda online from Sam’s Club for easy in-store pickup

• Buy soft drinks in bulk so your fridge is always stocked

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What Is 7UP?

Country:United States; Founded:1929

Basic Information

7UP is a lemon-lime soda brand owned by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. With origins tracing back to the 1920s, it’s the oldest remaining lemon-lime soda brand. Though 7UP is still a visible brand today, it now faces stiff competition.

7UP has implemented many different brand messages throughout the years, but was in its prime during the 70s. Then, it marketed itself as the “Uncola” – the antithesis of Coca-Cola in every way. It was known for being fresh, clean, and clear, with no aftertaste or caffeine to speak of. 

History and Origin

7 Up was created by Charles Leiper Grigg, who launched his St. Louis–based company The Howdy Corporation in 1920. Grigg came up with the formula for a lemon-lime soft drink in 1929. The product, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", was launched two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. It contained lithium citrate, a mood-stabilizing drug, until 1948. It was one of a number of patent medicine products popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Its name was later shortened to "7 Up Lithiated Lemon Soda" before being further shortened to just "7 Up" by 1936.

The origin of the revised name is unclear. Britvic claims that the name comes from the seven main ingredients in the drink, while others have claimed that the number was a coded reference to the lithium contained in the original recipe, which has an atomic mass of 7. Britvic also claims that the name alluded to 7 Up 7-ounce bottles when Coca-Cola and most other soft drinks were bottled in 6-ounce bottles.

Pros and Cons of 7 Up

Where to Buy 7 Up Cheapest?

• Sam's Club:Up To 15% Cash Back

• Walgreens: Up To 4% Cash Back

Best Seller:

7UP Lemon Lime Soda, 12 fl oz cans, 12 pack - $6.48 @ Walmart

Highlights:

• LEMON LIME SODA: The crisp, clean taste of 7UP delivers more of the natural lemon-lime flavor

• DO MORE WITH 7UP: 7UP is the perfect ingredient, from cocktails to mocktails to cooking and baking

• 100% NATURAL FLAVORS: 7UP is made with natural lemon and lime flavors

• CAFFEINE FREE: Crisp and refreshing caffeine-free soda

• LOW SODIUM: 7UP is a low sodium carbonated soda option

What Is Sierra Mist?

Country:United States; Founded:1999

Basic Information

Sierra Mist is the new kid on the block, created by PepsiCo in 1999 in direct competition with 7UP and Sprite.This carbonated citrus drink rapidly rose in popularity.For a brief period, it was rebranded as “Mist Twist,” but it reverted to Sierra Mist in 2018.

This tasty beverage is described by the manufacturers as “a light and refreshing lemon-lime soda that is made with real sugar and has a caffeine-free formula.” As with the other citrus-flavored, carbonated soda drinks that we are comparing today, Sierra Mist is intended to be served chilled, ideally over ice.

History and Origin

Sierra Mist is a lemon-lime flavored soft drink line. Originally introduced by PepsiCo in 1999, it was eventually made available in all United States markets by 2003.

The drink was rebranded as "Mist Twist" in 2016, although it reverted to Sierra Mist in 2018. The brand is aimed at competing with The Coca-Cola Company's Sprite brand and Keurig Dr Pepper's 7 Up.

Pros and Cons of Sierra Mist

Where to Buy Sierra Mist Cheapest?

• Walmart: Up To 4% Cash Back

• Instacart: Up To $4 Cash Back

Best Seller:

Sierra Mist Natural Lemon Lime Soda-  $7.39 @ Instacart

Highlights:

• Perfect for celebrations big and small

• This caffeine free drink combines the great taste and bubbles of soda with the quenching refreshment of water plus delicious fruit flavor from a splash of real juice.

• Crisp Lemon-Lime taste

What Is Mountain Dew?

Country:United States; Founded:1940

Basic Information

One of the primary competitors of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo introduced Mountain Dew long ago in the 1940s.It was a citrus-flavored, less carbonated drink with more sugar and high caffeine levels.

Over the years the company diversified its product with Diet Mountain Dew & also added new flavors like raspberry, blueberry, orange, watermelon, so on.

History and Origin

Mountain Dew is owned by PepsiCo. It was invented in 1940 by Barney and Ally Harman as a mixer for whiskey. According to the Thrillist, Mountain Dew is actually a slang word for moonshine used back in the day. When the Harman brothers attempted to bring Moutain Dew to the market, it did not initially catch on with consumers. 

The Tip Corporation (a beverage company) eventually purchased the brand and reformulated the Mountain Dew recipe in 1961. This revised flavoring seemed to work since PepsiCo purchased the brands in 1964.

Pros and Cons of Mountain Dew 

Where to Buy Mountain Dew Cheapest?

• Sam's Club: Up To 15% Cash Back

• Walmart: Up to 4% Cashback 

Best Seller:

Mountain Dew Zero Sugar Citrus Soda Pop - $6.98 @ Walmart

Highlights:

• One-of-a-kind, unique, bold taste

• Ideal for convenience stores, vending machines, and resale

• Chuggable intense refreshment

Sprite vs. 7UP vs. Sierra Mist vs. Mountain Dew: Comparison Side by Side

1.Products Variations

Here are the various sodas that each brand makes:

2.Ingredients

Sprite 

According to the manufacturer’s website, Sprite Original contains the following ingredients:

• Carbonated Water

• High Fructose Corn Syrup

• Citric Acid

• Natural Flavors

• Sodium Citrate

• Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)

7UP 

According to the manufacturer’s website, the Original 7UP contains the following ingredients:

• Filtered Carbonated Water

• High Fructose Corn Syrup

• Citric Acid

• Potassium Citrate

• Natural Flavors

• Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor)

Sierra Mist 

According to the manufacturer’s website, Sierra Mist lists the following ingredients:

• Carbonated Water

• Sugar

• Natural Flavor

• Citric Acid

• Potassium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness)

• Potassium Citrate

• Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor)

Mountain Dew

According to the manufacturer’s website,Mountain Dew lists the following ingredients:

• Carbonated water

• high fructose corn syrup

• concentrated orange juice

•  citric acid, natural flavor

• sodium benzoate (preserves freshness)

• caffeine, sodium citrate

• gum arabic

• erythorbic acid (preserves freshness)

• calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)

• yellow 5

3.Nutrition

It is common knowledge that sodas are not healthy beverages to drink on a regular basis. However, not all sodas are created equally as is shown below.

So, which one wins the nutritional comparison? Let’s look at some stats to compare the four drinks:

4.Caffeine

There is a big difference in caffeine between Sprite vs. 7UP vs. Sierra Mist vs. Mountain Dew. Sprite, 7UP and Sierra Mist are caffeine-free whereas Mountain Dew has quite a bit of caffeine for a soda. The table below shows the caffeine in Mountain Dew for various serving sizes.

Sprite 

Caffeine-free.

Sprite — like most other non-cola sodas — is caffeine-free. The main ingredients in Sprite are water, high-fructose corn syrup, and natural lemon and lime flavors. It also contains citric acid, sodium citrate, and sodium benzoate, which act as preservatives

7UP 

Caffeine-free.

The original 7UP is caffeine-free, low in sodium and made with 100% natural flavors. 7UP is a fantastic drink on its own and is also a perfect addition to meals and recipes for any occasion.

Sierra Mist 

Caffeine-free.

Sierra Mist is a light and refreshing lemon-lime soda that is made with real sugar and has a caffeine-free formula.

Mountain Dew

The table below shows the caffeine in Mountain Dew for various serving sizes.

5.Taste & Flavor 

Sprite 

Sprite is a clear soda with a refreshing lemon-lime flavor. This might sound like flavored sparkling water, however, the sugar and carbonation are certainly noticeable to where it is hard to mistake this beverage for anything but a soda.

7UP 

7 Up (stylized as 7up outside North America) is a lemon-lime-flavored non-caffeinated soft drink, which is similar to Bubble Up, Sprite, and Sierra Mist. And many people report that 7UP has a slightly salty, zingy flavor, which can be off-putting for some, while others seem to love it!

Sierra Mist 

Sierra Mist is also a lemon-lime flavored soft drink line. Reviewers frequently claim that the flavor of Sierra Mist is more natural than its counterparts, with the other two often described as having a chemical tang.

Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew is considered a citrus-flavored soda with a greenish-yellow coloring. The flavor is often described as a mix of orange, lemon, and lime. However, most people cannot pinpoint the exact flavor of Moutain Dew. Sugar is certainly dominant in this beverage. It almost like drinking candy instead of a refreshing beverage.

6.Fizziness

There is little to choose between these four soda drinks in terms of fizziness.

All three are carbonated, meaning that they have carbon dioxide dissolved in them under high pressure. When the bottle or can is opened, this carbon dioxide is released in the form of many, many tiny bubbles.

But is any one citrus soda drink fizzier than the next?

Reviewers report that both Sprite and 7UP are fizzier than Sierra Mist, with larger bubbles that last for longer. However, Sierra Mist is still pleasantly fizzy, and many people prefer a carbonated drink that isn’t quite so gassy.

7.Sweetness

If you check out the nutrition facts for the four citrus soda drinks, you will see that the amount of sugar in each is pretty much identical.

However, some people claim that 7UP is not as sweet as the other three - why is this?

The reason could be that the saltiness of 7UP counterbalances the sweetness, or that it is flavored with high fructose corn syrup rather than real sugar. Sprite contains sweeteners in addition to sugar, which may explain the difference.

Sierra Mist sits in the middle of the other two beverages in terms of sweetness. It has a smoother, milder flavor and tends to be more refreshing.

Hard Mountain Dew has a somewhat milder citrus flavor than the regular soda version. 

Conclusion: which brand drink is the best?

Most citrus soda lovers will have a firm favorite, and this is a debate that could go on forever! But if you’re new to the world of these popular carbonated drinks, which of the four  products should you go for?

Sprite 

Sprite is the world's leading lemon-lime flavored sparkling beverage and the #2 Global brand for TCCC worldwide. With a strong appeal among young adults, millions enjoy its crisp, clean taste. Sprite® has a crisp, clean taste for those who live intensely.

7UP 

7UP was known for being fresh, clean, and clear, with no aftertaste or caffeine to speak of. Caffeine is an essential ingredient in 7UP carbonated soft drinks; it is a stimulant that activates the central nervous system, lowers headache symptoms, improves mood, relieves exhaustion, and decomposes fatty acids in the liver when used in adequate levels.

Sierra Mist 

Sierra Mist is often considered one of the healthiest sodas you can drink because a 12-ounce can contains 140 calories, 35 milligrams of sodium, and 37 grams of carbohydrates.

Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew does not have any health effects, and consumed in small amounts is neutral for your health. Mountain Dew contains a high amount of sugar, and 1 can of it has enough sugar to reach your recommended daily sugar intake. Therefore, it's best not to drink more than 1 can per day.

Which Drink Is Healthiest?

All four drinks contain high levels of added sugars, and these are the type of sugar it is best to avoid.

To follow the guidance of nutritional specialists, you should never drink more than one can of most types of carbonated drink per day - unless you switch to a sugar-free version!

But of the four drinks, the sugar content of Sierra Mist just edges ahead. Not only does it contain slightly less sugar than the other two, but it is also free from high fructose corn syrup and aspartame.

Which Drink Is The Winner?

Well, it’s a tricky choice, but we think that Sierra Mist has got the edge here!

• The flavor is purer with less of a chemical tang than its counterparts, and it is sweetened with real sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.

• However, if you prefer a drink that is less sweet and with a punchier flavor, then give 7UP or Mountain Dew a try. The sweetness is perfectly balanced with a zingy, salty aftertaste and that distinctive lemon-lime flavor.

• And in the middle of these extremes, we have Sprite, which is not one of the world’s bestselling brands without good reason! Sprite ticks all the boxes for many fans of citrus soda drinks, so don’t rule it out if you’re looking for a new drink to try.
  

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