Diet Cokes Around The World
i really like beverages. i drink at least two liters of water daily, somewhere between 2-6 teas, 1-2 coffees, and enough wine to make my french ancestors proud. but the liquid love of my life has been diet sodas since college, and despite a few futile attempts to quit, few things make me as happy as an ice cold Diet Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper.
Europe, as you probably know, doesn't really do the whole "ice" thing. of course Coca-Cola is huge worldwide, but soda tastes different in every country. i should know; it's now become a bit of a "thing" for me to try at least one everywhere i travel (and stock up if i find a delicious supply).
first things first: the word "diet" isn't used worldwide, nor is "coke." the branding and bottle shape/size tends to vary everywhere, as does the tagline. Diet Coke/Coke light is rarely available on any European airline (KLM ftw). personally, i don't enjoy Coke Zero / Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (and they are different products to Diet Coke--here's some reading on the topic), but much of europe very much does. Dr. Pepper is an american novelty, sometimes existing in fountain soda machines and big grocery stores. the only Diet Dr. Pepper i've seen came from Poland (imported to Finland) for 3,99 euros a can--it was flat and tasted like RC Cola. there is a Dr. Pepper Zero i've seen from time to time, and while the branding is delightful, the taste is not faux-sugary enough for my taste buds.
here are my tasting notes for Diet Cokes Around The World--that delicious aspartame fizzy drink that's probably gonna rot away my insides, but hey, it's better than smoking.
Finland's Coca-Cola Light is identical in taste to Coke Zero, they're just maintaining 2 product identities with 1. If you didn't know, I hate Coke Zero, so living in Finland for a year has been a grueling detox when i'm home between trips.
Germany's Coca-Cola "Light Taste - Ohne Kalorien" comes in a very cute 0,33L demi-size that made me feel like a giant. it tasted pretty good.
Ireland brands it as Diet Coke (only in the curly-typeface, not as it is in the US), in 8oz plastic bottles and it tastes absolutely perfect. i brought back as many as i could.
Italy has Coca-Cola Light Taste, but not everywhere (Coke Zero was way more common). it was good but not great (sort of a mix between Coke Zero and Diet Coke, less sweet). they come in tall skinny cans, regular-sized plastic bottles, and a 1.5L size that worked as a single-serving size for me on a day trip.
Indonesia had "Coca-Cola Light Taste" however it was so hot there that my tasting notes were skewed out of thirst-quenching sweaty necessity.
S. Korea's only had the Coca-Cola "Zero Sugar" variety, but i tried it anyway; it tasted somewhere between a Coke Zero and an RC Cola.
Japan was a trip. There was, firstly, no Coke Light. they do however have Coca-Cola Plus, which is Coke "With Fiber" (What the fresh hell is this????); it tasted just like a regular Coke, and kind of creeped me out that it was being branded as a health drink. Japan had some other unique non-diet flavors--i also tried a "Peach Coke" which came in a 0,25L tiny bottle and was utterly undrinkable/disgusting--Coke and Pepsi release seasonal sodas in japan only (which includes some specialty sodas like Salty Watermelon Pepsi, Cherry Blossom Coke, and around Halloween, Pepsi Ghost [mystery flavor]).
Canada sells "Diete Coke" and it tastes pretty much the same as the American version but everything looks prettier in french.
France sells Coca-Cola Light mostly in bottles but occasionally seen in skinny cans (pictured below). it tastes fine.
Same with The Netherlands.
Portugal has Coca-Cola Light in regular-sized cans, but the color isn't just shiny aluminum, it's a really yummy matte shade of medium-shade grey that i find very pleasing.
Hungary's Coca-Cola Light was perfect, or perhaps i reached my furthest touchpoint from the North American variety, which might explain how i became this desperation monster:
SODA NEWS
here's what my bf lil' sweet's been up to.
if you're wondering what i thought of the rebrand of Diet Coke in the US and/or the weird blends of fruit flavors to rival la croix, i think the new design is fine and the new flavors taste like something you'd drink on a dare.
jack in the box started advertising a strawberry dr. pepper and i can't wait to try it.
the new ssion LP (which is v. gooood!) has two or three lyrical Diet Coke mentions, which is the best thing since wilco.
<3,
rhienna