Diet soda has been around since the late 1940s, although it didn't find its footing in the market until the Royal Crown company introduced Diet Rite in 1963. In response, the Coca Cola company introduced Tab shortly after and it quickly became the most popular diet soda in the world, a distinction it maintained until 1982 when it was usurped by a new Coca Cola product, Diet Coke. In this post, the team at Rocky Mountain, makers of renowned full-flavor natural soda, take a close look at diet soft drinks and how they're different from regular cola.
The Fundamental Differences Between Regular Cola and Diet Cola
The following are some of the things that separate diet soda pop from regular soda.
How They're Sweetened
Over the years, soda sweeteners have changed many times as various health concerns emerged or market forces required a response. 50 years ago, for instance, mainstream soft drinks were sweetened almost entirely with sugar. Starting in the 1970s and 1980s, most switched to high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). It should be noted, however, that some countries in South America, Europe and Asia still use standard sugar to this day.
Diet sodas, by contrast, have gone through numerous sweeteners. The most popular one back in the 1940s and 1950s was cyclamate. In time, some manufacturers combined cyclamate with saccharin or replaced cyclamates with saccharin altogether. When studies indicated that both posed potential health hazards, manufacturers switched up again in the 1980s to aspartame. Saccharin was later cleared of being a danger, but never regained its market share due to past negative associations.
Worldwide, the most popular artificial sweeteners used today are aspartame, sucralose and stevia. While at Rocky Mountain Soda, we use erythritol to sweeten our own cola soda, Denver Diet Cola.
Calorie Content
A diet soda wouldn't be of much use if it delivered the same number of calories as a regular soda. So the second difference between diet and standard cola is their calorie content. Most diet sodas contain between 0 and 5 calories per can or bottle. Compare that to a can of regular Coke, which contains 140 calories and you can see why people watching their weight are drawn to diet soft drinks.
How They Taste
Because high fructose corn syrup is a type of sugar, the flavor experience of standard soft drinks is consistent with the use of standard sugar. That is, it is sweet, full-bodied and balanced. On the other hand, while some artificial sweeteners do a commendable job replicating the taste experience of sugar, even the best tend to produce a small but noticeable aftertaste not found in HFCS drinks.
high fructose corn syrup • a sweetener created by breaking down corn starch and converting the resulting glucose into a mixture of glucose and fructose. Its widespread use stems from being inexpensive and versatile for sweetening drinks and packaged foods.
Perceived Health Impacts
While some of the negative health claims about artificial sweeteners have either been debunked (as with saccharin) or simply never authoritatively established through testing, the stigma remains. Right or wrong, many people have a natural reluctance to consume diet drinks because they are afraid they will negatively impact their health.
Why High Fructose Corn Syrup is Hard to Replicate
In many instances, artificial sweeteners can produce a satisfying flavor experience of their own. But it has proven devilishly difficult to eliminate the diet aftertaste. Why?
Viscocity
Both sugar and high fructose corn syrup do more than sweeten the beverages they're added to: they also increase the viscosity (thickness) of the beverage and produce a unique feel in the mouth. In most cases, it only takes a tiny amount of artificial sweetener to sweeten a drink, so it does not add anything to the beverage in terms of viscosity and the drink feels "thinner". Attempts to address this issue with texturizing agents have met with only limited success.
"Diet soda actually has a slightly higher viscosity than sugary soda, which slightly diminishes its fizzing potential. However, a slightly higher viscosity means that when bubbles do form, they’re a bit more stable."
—McGill University
Interaction With Flavor Compounds
Sugar and sugar derivatives like HFCS interact and bind with other flavor compounds in the soda, making for a richer, fuller taste experience. Artificial sweeteners do not have this same ability to bind and so lack the overall flavor richness found in standard soda. In fact, the "diet soda" aftertaste people experience is not from the artificial sweetener, but exists because the sweetener is unable to bind with and thereby mitigate the unpleasant taste of other ingredients.
Consumer Pre-conceptions
Most people expect a diet soda to taste like something is lacking, even if the unique taste experience is satisfying in its own way. Also, there is a large segment of the male population that just won't consider drinking a diet soda because, you know, that's what girls drink, dude. Even if someone who has never drank a low-cal cola soda before eventually gives it a try, most will find a reason to react negatively. It's just human nature.
What About "Zero" Soda?
In a relatively short time, Coke Zero (also known as Coke Zero Sugar) has risen to become one of the most popular soft drinks in the world. Many people feel the taste of Coke Zero comes close to replicating the taste of original Coke. But if that's true, how does Coca Cola accomplish this feat? Coke Zero employs a mixture of aspartame and acesulfame potassium (also known as Ace-K) along with the latest flavor technologies that produces a sweetness that many people claim is very similar to that produced by HFCS or standard sugar.
But as is always the case, taste is subjective and one person's original flavor experience is another person's disappointing experience. But even some who say Coke Zero does not taste a lot like original Coke nonetheless seem to enjoy the unique flavor experience.
Diet Cola vs. Regular Soda: How They Compare
While diet sodas and regular sodas may look nearly identical in a glass, but they’re formulated in very different ways. Their sweeteners, calorie counts, taste profiles, and even the way people perceive them vary widely. We've summarized the primary differences between both beverages below.
How Diet Cola & Regular Cola Compare
| Aspect | Regular Soda | Diet Soda |
|---|---|---|
| Sweeteners | Traditionally sweetened with sugar; most mainstream sodas now use high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). These sweeteners also add viscosity and depth of flavor. | Uses artificial or alternative sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, stevia, or erythritol. They provide sweetness without the same binding and textural properties as sugar. |
| Calorie Content | Typically around 140 calories per 12 oz can, mostly from sugar or HFCS. | Generally 0–5 calories per serving, making them appealing to those watching weight or sugar intake. |
| Taste & Mouthfeel | Sweet, full-bodied, and balanced, with a smooth viscosity and no aftertaste. | Often described as slightly “thinner” in texture and can carry a mild aftertaste that differs from sugar-based sweetness. |
| Perceived Health Impacts | Linked to concerns over obesity, diabetes, and other health risks tied to excess sugar consumption. | Artificial sweeteners carry a lingering stigma, even though many health concerns (e.g., saccharin risks) have been debunked or not definitively proven. |
| Consumer Perception | Viewed as the “classic” choice with broad appeal across demographics. | Some perceive it as a “lighter” or “less authentic” version; others embrace it as a healthier alternative or enjoy unique flavors like Coke Zero. |
Both types of soda have carved out loyal audiences, with regular soda appealing to those who prioritize taste and tradition, while diet soda resonates with health-conscious consumers seeking fewer calories. The choice often comes down to personal preference, health goals, and how much sweetness and texture matter to the drinker.
Order All-Natural Diet Cola
Ready to try our all-natural diet cola blend? Visit the the page below to order your own – available to order in glass bottles or cans through our online soda shop.Order Diet Cola
Try Our Natural and GMO-Free Diet Cola
Diet sodas went through a sales slump after the saccharin scares years back, but have recovered to be some of the most popular soft drinks in the world. Perhaps one of the reasons is that the concerns around artificial sweeteners have come to pale in comparison to the very real dangers of consuming soft drinks sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
We prefer to think that people are enamored of our own diet Colorado soda because it tastes great and refreshes their thirst. You can order any of our groundbreaking craft sodas by visiting our website. If it's your first time, be sure to order a variety pack!
