# What is the worst variation of Coke/Pepsi? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 22, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512 "2023-03-22T20:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/1 "2023-03-22T20:22:16Z")
I have to pay off on a bet…but I want to have fun doing it. I owe someone a case of cola, and they said “I want cola in the worst way!” Always happy to oblige, I want to buy a case of the worst store brand cola out there. No diet-just regular cola, and if you can actually taste the can it comes in that would really make my day. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/2 "2023-03-22T20:24:36Z")
I’ve heard Pepsi Peeps\* is pretty gagging (but I haven’t been masochistic enough to try it for myself). I imagine it’s seasonal, so stock up while you can. \*“sickly sweet with overtones of marshmallow” eta: it’s the one with the yellow label and cap ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/3 "2023-03-22T20:30:32Z")
Starlight Coca-Cola got [quite a response from the Board.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starlight-coke/960620) I see it now sitting in the clearance aisle at Aldi. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/4 "2023-03-22T20:31:46Z")
Just regular cola flavored, please. ---
**Author:** ![Jaydubba77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Jaydubba77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaydubba77)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/5 "2023-03-22T20:35:18Z")
Don’t know if it can still be found but the worst cola I remember was called Mello Moon cola. Picked it up at a small store and couldn’t finish one can. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/6 "2023-03-22T20:54:42Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Starlight Coca-Cola got [quite a response from the Board.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starlight-coke/960620) I see it now sitting in the clearance aisle at Aldi. Really? Because I’ve been looking to find a can or bottle of it and haven’t seen any (and I’ve checked several Aldis). I have a friend who didn’t try it when it was around and wants to. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/7 "2023-03-22T20:58:53Z")
Getting back to the OP, keep an eye out for [Moxie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxie). I like it but it’s what’s generally called an acquired taste. Although it’s mellower than it used to be; Coca-Cola lightened up the flavor when they bought the company in 2018. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/8 "2023-03-22T21:00:06Z")
I tried coffee flavored Coke once, at an airport. It was vile. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/9 "2023-03-22T21:38:22Z")
Vanilla anything is an abomination. And it’ll be the worst fake vanilla corporate mega-bucks can buy. Try that. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/10 "2023-03-22T21:40:29Z")
Assuming cheap=worst… [https://www.dollartree.com/stars-stripes-cola-275-liter-bottles/219175](https://www.dollartree.com/stars-stripes-cola-275-liter-bottles/219175) ETA- A review from that site: “i had some psychopath thing and when i drank this i woke up in a dumster and im pretty sure it cured something i had” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/11 "2023-03-22T21:43:17Z")
Again, just straight cola flavored cola. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/12 "2023-03-22T21:58:06Z")
Moxie isn’t really a cola. It’s more towards a more bitter version of root beer (with gentian root being a key ingredient that contributes bitterness). I have no idea what it was like before, but I quite liked the stuff when I ordered it online in a fit of COVID boredom. I was actually disappointed it wasn’t more bitter, because I could barely taste the gentian in it. That said, I love extremely bitter things, so my taste buds may be warped. As for the OP, I’ve never had a store brand cola or off-brand cola that wasn’t drinkable. They’ve all been fine, as far as my tastes are concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/13 "2023-03-22T22:43:26Z")
Really, your best bet is to scrounge about “dollar” stores and find a case that’s been sitting on the shelf for too long. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/14 "2023-03-22T22:44:49Z")
Both pepsi peeps and starlight coke are absolutely delicious, the worst soda is diet coke. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/15 "2023-03-22T23:02:01Z")
No diet cola, as pointed out in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/16 "2023-03-22T23:17:27Z")
I try one of those grocery stores that stock foreign foods and buy a case of cola from some place like Ghana or Laos or Uzbekistan. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/17 "2023-03-22T23:27:44Z")
For values of disgusting, and sticking with straight colas, maybe Nitro Pepsi? I actually like the vanilla nitro Pepsi option, where the creaminess plays into the flavor, but the ‘normal’ option tastes like oversweet, under-carbonated Pepsi, with an unusual mouthfeel. Plus, if they don’t open the can properly, you can have them make a complete mess of themselves without having to shake the can or anything. Since it comes as a 4 pack though, and is substantially more expensive, I probably would avoid it for paying off a bet for a case. If I had to pick a ‘normal’ but (to me) unpleasant soda, I’d probably pick RC which always tasted off to me. But other people prefer it. And I’ve never been cheap enough to buy store brand colas to evaluate. At a guess, whatever Walmart sells, because they always seem to cut the most corners. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/18 "2023-03-22T23:39:15Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > For values of disgusting, and sticking with straight colas, maybe Nitro Pepsi? I feel like I am going crazy, nitro pepsi is SO good. If they had a zero sugar version I’d drink nothing else ever. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/19 "2023-03-22T23:40:51Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > At a guess, whatever Walmart sells, because they always seem to cut the most corners. Personal preferences differ obviously but I like Sam’s Club cola. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512/20 "2023-03-22T23:59:09Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > > [@ParallelLines](#): > > > > For values of disgusting, and sticking with straight colas, maybe Nitro Pepsi? > > I feel like I am going crazy, nitro pepsi is SO good. If they had a zero sugar version I’d drink nothing else ever. As I said, I like the Vanilla option, but for someone drinking it blind, it could be a shock. Like I said, for values of disgusting. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-worst-variation-of-coke-pepsi/981512.md?page=2)