Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar vs. Regular: Differences and Reviews 2023

Since its creation, Canada Dry Ginger Ale has been the go-to drink for those seeking something refreshing and soothing for several decades.

Canada Dry, a brand of Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), is a leader in great-tasting carbonated beverages. Founded in 1904 in Toronto, Ontario, by John McLaughlin, Canada Dry Ginger Ale is enjoyed by fans for its real ginger flavor. 

The Canada Dry portfolio also includes club soda, tonic water, sparkling water, and other flavored beverages. For more information, visit CanadaDry.com or keurigdrpepper.com. 

Quick View: Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale vs. Regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale Comparison List

Editor's review: Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale vs. Regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale: Which is the Best Choice?

The first choice is Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale.

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Details

What is Canada Dry Ginger Ale? The Origin of Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Canada Dry is a brand of soft drinks best known for its ginger ale. 

Canada Dry originated in Toronto, Canada, when John J. McLaughlin, a Canadian pharmacist and chemist from a Northern Irish immigrant family, opened a small carbonated water factory in 1890.

At that point, carbonated soft drinks were seen as both medicinal elixirs and tasty treats. They were usually provided in the form of bubble mineral water and seasoning syrup containing sugar and caffeine.

McLaughlin promotes his products safer than other products, and sells his soda water with flavors such as lemon, cream soda, cola, and the most noticeable McLaughlin's Belfast Style Ginger Ale.

Most of McLaughlin's inspiration came from ginger beer, which was a very popular alcoholic beverages in the Victorian era invented by Yorkshire, England.

Around 1851, the first batch of ginger soda was born in Ireland and quickly became popular. This was a a booze-free, sweetened, dark brown-colored, ginger-flavored soda water that clearly inspired McLaughlin himself.

In 1904, McLaughlin created "Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale". At that time, McLeiklin believed that the ginger soda market had been overwhelmed by syrup and super sweet ginger soda. Considering that consumers might want a lighter drink, he gave up McLaughlin's Belfast Style Ginger Ale and launched a relatively light and crisp Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale. 

Canada Dry became popular in Canada, so that it expanded south in 1919. For the first time, the bottle of ginger soda was transported to the United States.

Of course, Canada Dry had quickly become popular in the United States. This was because the "Prohibition" began to be implemented at the time. For Americans who wanted to abide by the law, Canada Dry were a decent alternative to alcohol.

A large part of Canada Dry's sales in the 1920s came from people using its flagship drink as a mixer. 

The not-too-spicy, not-too-sweet flavor of Canada Dry Ginger Ale obviously eliminated the terrible and almost unbearable bitter taste of all illegal small batch wineries, and created a relatively delicious, layered alcohol mixture.

As a result, the mixture of gin and ginger ale became one of the most popular cocktails in the Prohibition era of alcohol.

What is Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale? The Origin of Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale

In 1954, Canada Dry became the first main soft beverage manufacturer to launch a diet soda series.

Canada Dry Glamor boasted zero calories and no sugar. Its print ads were directed at women, urging ladies to "stay slim" with "non-fattening sugar free" Glamor, which came in massive quart-size bottles in flavors like "Ginger Drink," lemon, root beer, orange, and black cherry. 

Glamor was also available in cola, meaning Canada Dry arguably beat Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to the market; their Tab and Diet Pepsi offshoots didn't hit store shelves until 1963 and 1964 respectively.

Although Diet Canada Dry Ginger Ale has become a popular product over the past few decades, in the 2010s, zero sugar drinks became more and more popular, so that Diet Canada Dry was renamed Canada Dry Zero Sugar in November 2020.

This time, the company avoided using the word "diet," which has been associated with women's drink for decades, making it awkward for men to drink Diet Canada Dry.

Zero’s “marketing is geared to a demographic, such as young people and the most macho of men, who see a stigma attached to the word diet.

The “zero sugar” tag is replacing “diet” for many familiar soft drink brands like Canada Dry, Schweppes ginger ale, 7Up, A&W and Sunkist, to name a few. There are a few holdovers, for now—Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke—based on their large and loyal customer bases.

Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale vs. Regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale: What are the main differences?

>> Sweeteners

The biggest difference between Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale and Regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale is the sweetener used.

Regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale is sweetened with sugar, while Canada Dry Zero Sugar Ginger Ale is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers all both sweeteners safe.

Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener that delivers the sweet taste you love without increasing your calorie intake.

Acesulfame potassium is a non-caloric sweetener used in foods and beverages to provide sweetness. Acesulfame potassium can also be added to other sweeteners, such as aspartame, to prolong sweetness and help reduce bitterness and aftertaste.

A 12-ounce can of Canada Dry Ginger Ale contains 32 grams of sugar. 

Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar This drink is a sugar-free alternative to regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

Unlike regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale, which contains added sugar, the sugar-free version of Canada Dry Ginger Ale uses artificial sweeteners to sweeten it, as drinking too much added sugar can cause people to consume too many calories, which can lead to Weight gain.

Additionally, a high-sugar diet may lead to health problems such as obesity, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, acne, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Try Canada Dry Ginger Ale with zero sugar today!

>> Calorie Content

Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar contains zero calories, zero grams of carbohydrates and zero grams of sugar.

On the other hand, regular Canada Dry Ginger Ale contains 130 calories, 32 grams of carbohydrates, and 32 grams of sugar, making it the perfect choice for those who strictly monitor their calorie intake or follow a calorie-restricted diet.

>> Ingredients

Aside from the obvious difference in sweetener, Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar and Canada Dry Ginger Ale do have slightly different ingredient lists.

Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar contains malic acid, while Canada Dry Ginger Ale does not contain malic acid.

Malic acid is used to blend and intensify flavors while providing a tart and refreshing flavor that offsets the strong sweetness and slight aftertaste of aspartame.

>> Taste

The taste of Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar is pleasant and familiar, very similar to the taste of the original Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar is designed to replicate the classic Canada Dry flavor while completely eliminating the sugar content. Thanks to the combination of aspartame and acesulfame potassium, it manages to retain the flavor essence of this much-loved drink. They have a refreshing flavor with a hint of real sweetness.

But the tastes of Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar and Canada Dry Ginger Ale are not exactly the same.

Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar is an excellent zero-sugar approximation of the original Canada Dry ginger ale. It comes off sweeter than the regular with a little bit more of an apple-y flavor. 

Like most diet or zero sugar sodas, it does end up with a fake sugar flavor. But this is actually negligible.

>>Nutrition Facts

Canada Dry is a caffeine-free beverage, but it does contain sodium.

We noticed a big difference in sodium content between Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar and Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar contains 120 mg of sodium, while the regular version contains 50 mg of sodium.

When you exercise or sweat, you lose not only water but also electrolytes like sodium. By adding a small amount of salt to your drinking water, you can help replenish these lost electrolytes, promoting better water absorption and preventing dehydration. Compared to the regular version, Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar is more suitable for quick rehydration!

>>Audience

Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero Sugar is typically marketed to individuals who actively manage their calorie intake or follow a specific diet.

It appeals to those looking for a guilt-free, no-added-calorie Ginger Ale.

It generally focuses on the zero-calorie aspect, emphasizing that you can enjoy the great taste of Canada Dry Ginger Ale without compromising your dietary goals.

Canada Dry Ginger Ale, on the other hand, aims to provide everyone with the most gingery and driest flavor possible.

It targets a wider audience, including lovers of Ginger Ale's bold and tangy taste.

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