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Olipop Review: A Refreshing, Healthier Soda
Reviewed by Nathaniel Lang
Last Updated March 2022
If you’ve been looking for a new way to try soda and increase your gut microbiome health at the same time, then look no further than Olipop!
FEATURED IN THIS REVIEW
EDITOR'S PICK
Pros
- Many more health benefits than traditional soda
- Much lower in sugar than soda
- Free shipping
- Includes many health benefits beyond what normal soft drinks offer
Cons
- Fairly pricey per can
Ratings Breakdown
QUALITY
★★★★★
They are extremely transparent regarding their ingredients and providing scientific information backing up their claims.
VALUE
★★★
Olipop offers some great flavors and many health benefits that far exceed traditional soft drink options. However, the price is incomparable to soda and more similar to a kombucha.
CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE
★★★★
The Olipop soda flavors tend to be hit or miss. Many were very flavorful and I would order again. Also, I'm very glad to have the addition of these antioxidants and minerals from a soft drink.
BRAND
★★★★★
Olipop is dedicated to changing the way we think about sodas by creating a healthier, lower sugar version.
Who is Olipop?
Olipop was founded in 2017 by Ben Goodwin and David Lester. Ben had been working for most of his adult life to create the ideal digestive health beverage. And with his partner David, they came up with the idea for Olipop.
This digestive health beverage combines the benefits and mouthfeel of kombucha, kefir, and tonic. By packing their healthy gut microbiome producing beverage in the guise of a soda, they hope to reach more consumers.
According to a recent soft drink study, over 50% of American’s say they consume soft drinks multiple times a week, if not every day. So this is a huge potential audience for Olipop. While they are trying to help people live healthier lives, they are probably going to have their work cut out for them a bit with their introduction method.
Olipop Taste & Mouthfeel
Since Olipop was a new brand to us, we opted for the Olipop Sampler. This seemed like the best way to try a lot of different flavors all in one shot. All 6 flavors were definitively different from one another, which was a good thing. Except that none of the flavors were exactly what we were expecting as regular soda drinkers.
We figured the best way to objectively test all of the flavors was to perform a simultaneous taste test. Which was a lot of fun because we paired the sodas with pizza, for a more traditional feel.
Olipop Vintage Cola Review
The Vintage Cola wasn’t exactly what we expected. We both agreed that the flavor wasn’t horrible, but if you’re expecting something comparable to Coke or Pepsi, you’re going to be disappointed. The carbonation wasn’t quite on point with this one either, which made it taste a bit more bland than we’re used to. On the plus side, it does have exponentially less sugar than regular colas. But, ultimately, the flavor is more comparable to a diet cola instead of the full sugar version.
Olipop Classic Root Beer Review
The Classic Root Beer was one we were both pretty excited about. Much to our disappointment, it didn’t hold up to our expectations. The root beer aroma was good, but the flavor was not very strong. And the carbonation on this one was even less than the Vintage Cola was, so that didn’t help its case.
Olipop Orange Squeeze Review
The Orange Squeeze had the most prominent flavor profile of all the Olipop sodas. We both actually smelled and tasted orange, which was what we’d hoped for. However, compared to a regular orange soda, the flavor was still much milder.
Olipop Strawberry Vanilla Review
The Strawberry Vanilla continued with the mild soda flavor that seems to be indicative of this soda line. Once again, the carbonation was lower than either of us are used to. And while we could smell the strawberry, the mouthfeel just wasn’t that potent. However, this one could be a great mixer or be a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.
Olipop Cherry Vanilla Review
The Cherry Vanilla was another disappointment, unfortunately. We both really love cherry vanilla sodas, so we had high hopes. But, alas, this one didn’t smell or taste like the cherry vanilla sodas we know and love. It tasted more like cherry cough syrup to one of us, while the other thought it tasted more like a lightly flavored cherry soda but without any hints of vanilla in it.
Olipop Ginger Lemon Review
The Ginger Lemon was another soda that was similar in flavor to the Strawberry Vanilla soda. The flavor was extremely mild, as was the aroma. It could be a good summer sippable drink out by the pool or great as a mixer. But, that’s probably about it.
Are Olipop Sodas Good Quality?
Olipop is extremely different from all other sodas in that it’s created to help boost the health of your gut microbiome. As opposed to destroying it, which is what more traditional sodas do. They put the same 7 gut microbiome healing ingredients in all of their sodas. These are:
• Marshmallow Root – high in fiber and helps to relieve mild digestive discomfort
• Calendula – known for its healing properties and mild flavor
• Nopal Cactus – high in antioxidants, carotenoids, and fiber
• Slippery Elm Bark – widely used for its soothing effects on the gut
• Cassava Root – high in prebiotics and fiber
• Jerusalem Artichoke – high in fiber, potassium, iron, and antioxidants
• Kudzu Root – extremely high in prebiotics and fiber
All of these ingredients combined together give Olipop a whopping 9 grams of fiber per serving. They also help to reduce the overall carbs to only 3-8 grams and calories to 45 grams. Just this alone can be a game changer.
My only hesitation is that Olipop isn’t transparent about where they source their ingredients from, nor where everything is manufactured. That always gives me a bit of pause, even though I like the mission this company is trying to achieve.
Are Olipop Sodas Worth It?
If you are in the market for another way to increase the health of your gut microbiome, then Olipop may just be worth it. Their $3 per can price tag is a bit high for a soda. But, since they aren’t just regular sodas, this price tag computes.
For consumers that don’t regularly drink soda, or follow a lower sugar diet normally, these are a delicious addition to an already healthy diet. They aren’t really comparable to a traditional soda to begin with, so the flavor profiles are pretty good for those consumers.
They have a reasonable level of sweetness, especially in the flavors besides root beer and cola. While the carbonation isn’t as high as regular soda lovers might like, those who don’t normally drink carbonated beverages will probably enjoy them greatly.
So, if you fall into the aforementioned category, then Olipop sodas are certainly worth it. But, still probably not on an everyday basis because of the higher price tag. These would be great as a refreshing treat a few times a week possibly. Or if you have been looking for a way to cut down on your sugar intake or sodas in general, then this may be a great avenue to explore. After all, sodas were originally created as health tonics, so maybe it’s about time to get back to that.
FAQs
It can be difficult to justify spending a lot of money on a healthier version of soda. So before you dive into your first Olipop soda adventure, we wanted to help try and answer any remaining questions you may have about Olipop products.
Olipop Soda Summary
Ultimately, this is a great company to try if you’re wanting to increase your health in an alternative way. If you’re an avid soda drinker and want to cut back, Olipop may be able to help. Or if you already follow a lower sugar diet and are looking for a new, delicious way to add in other health benefits, then this may be a good addition.
However, if you love the flavor of your more traditional sodas, then you may not be a huge fan of Olipop. At least not right out of the gate. But, it takes approximately 10 days for taste buds to turn over and regenerate. So, if you can give it that amount of time, and an open mind, then you may end up loving Olipop.