While I was grocery shopping, I decided that I needed a little sweet treat when this crossed my eye.

Why I tried it

This was an impulse purchase. I was at Aldi doing my regular grocery shopping when I had a craving for something bubbly/carbonated. I’m trying to limit the amount of sugar I take in, so when I saw this I decided to try it out. 

Also, anything that is promoting gut health gets an automatic trial in my book! With rising rates of colon cancer in younger Americans, I’m trying to do everything I can to keep my gut happy and healthy (which includes getting more fiber daily). Plus, the can was pretty, I love strawberry, and I love lemon — picking this up felt like a no-brainer.

What I loved

As soon as I cracked open the can I got a strong whiff of strawberry. It wasn’t one of those synthetic strawberry smells either, it seemed like they stuffed a handful of strawberries into this one 12 oz can.

The flavor was light and crisp even though I enjoyed it at room temperature; I just didn’t have it in me to wait until I got home, but I think this would be even better over ice! The strawberry flavor was nice and strong without being overpowering. There was a nice, light lemon aftertaste, almost like it was there to provide a fresh finish.

Now looking at the ingredients because we need to investigate the prebiotic claim! There are a lot of organic ingredients including organic cane sugar and organic apple cider vinegar. 

The star ingredient that brings the prebiotic flair is the organic agave inulin. Inulin is a plant-derived soluble fiber that supports the good bacteria that live in our intestines. There are 2g of fiber per can, which is about 7% of the recommended daily value. That’s a decent amount of fiber in a can of soda. Much, much, much more than you’d find in a can of traditional sodas like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. However when comparing it to other soda alternatives like Poppi and Olipop, there’s more to be said. The amount of fiber is similar to Poppi, while a single 12oz can of Olipop has 6-9g of fiber. 

What I didn’t love

The strawberry flavor was one of the best I’ve had in a soda-alternative, with a bold and vibrant taste. And for the price ($1.65), it’s one of the cheaper soda-alternatives you can buy. 

But I didn’t love the stevia aftertaste it left in my mouth. I don’t think I’ve ever been a big stevia fan because of the strong aftertaste it leaves, but I keep trying it in hopes that “maybe this time I’ll like it.” I’m learning that has never and will likely never be the case. 

Because of that, I’m not sure if I would purchase this again. For me, it may just be better to buy a large bottle of sparkling water if I’m craving a low sugar fizz. The cherry limeade sparkling water from Aldi has recently become one of my favs!

Who I think it’s for

This is a great soda-alternative for anyone who wants to treat themselves while getting a little bit of fiber and prebiotic benefits.

The verdict

Rating: 3/5 ★★★☆☆

Bottom line: This is a solid soda-alternative with a great flavor. This is a treat and will not give you all the daily fiber you need, I do think this would be a nice supplement though. If you’re not a fan of the stevia aftertaste, I would definitely skip this. 

Have you tried Popz Prebiotic Soda or found a soda alternative that doesn’t have a lingering stevia taste? Share your favorite in the comments!

With love,

Ash ♡