Olipop is shaking up the beverage industry with its innovative approach to soda by combining unique flavors with the claimed health benefits of probiotics. You can do your own research to decide if the health benefits of these drinks are worth a potential tradeoff on taste, but I’m here to tell you whether the flavors are good enough to compete with classic sodas.
Doctor Goodwin: 2/10
Doctor Goodwin is hands-down the worst of the bunch. Instead of a healthy version of the classic and beloved Dr. Pepper, a scent of strong medicinal cough syrup rises in the air from the moment the can is opened. The taste of the drink is exactly as the smell warns: an overwhelming, thick, artificial cherry flavor with no balance. This is not a drink you’d want to relax with—it’s more like a challenge to get through or even a medicine your doctor would prescribe.
Banana Cream: 3/10
Banana Cream smells exactly like banana—or more accurately, the overwhelmingly sweet Laffy Taffy artificial banana taste. In this drink, the banana flavor dominates and feels exaggerated, with a sweetness that coats the inner lining of the mouth in a way that lingers too long after each sip. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of artificial bananas, this drink is not for you.
Root Beer: 4/10
Although this drink does contain the familiar roots of a root beer scent, there’s an odd smell that lingers along with it. The flat taste is disappointing, which makes the drink feel like it’s been left out for days. As a lover of root beer floats, I found this version surprisingly underwhelming and far removed from what a root beer should be. The strange aftertaste is also hard to enjoy, as it does not linger with the sweet caramel taste people usually taste after drinking root beer.
Watermelon Lime: 4/10
One might anticipate a refreshing flavor in Watermelon Lime, but it misses the mark. The watermelon flavor is present but has an odd, pulpy texture that feels like eating a soggy watermelon rind. The lime flavor is barely noticeable, and instead, there’s a bitter, metallic aftertaste. The drink is oddly neutral, leaving you with an empty impression rather than anything memorable.
Vintage Cola: 4/10
Vintage Cola ranks higher in this line-up, mainly because it has some semblance of the classic cola taste we all know. Upon opening, there’s a familiar, comforting Coke-like aroma that immediately sets it apart from the others. However, the flavor doesn’t quite deliver—it’s as if it’s missing the right type of sweetness, like the richness of real cane sugar. The drink is at least smooth and mildly enjoyable.Vintage Cola is very far from perfect but is still closer to a typical soda experience than most of the other Olipop offerings.
Cherry Vanilla: 6/10
Cherry Vanilla surprisingly comes out as the top pick. Despite its name, the drink doesn’t actually taste very much like cherry. Instead, it has a mild, slightly burnt vanilla aftertaste that leaves a more enjoyable aftertaste than the other options. The flavor is less aggressive, making it an easier drink to sip on than any of the others. While it’s not a standout drink in the broader world of sodas, it’s the best Olipop has to offer.
The Takeaway
While these sodas may offer probiotic benefits and are marketed as gut-friendly, their lackluster flavor and artificial taste fail to justify the hype. Unfortunately, the experience just isn’t satisfying enough to replace a classic soda. Until there’s a truly delicious probiotic option, I’ll stick with Sprite.
