No sugar, No fats, It's not Pepsi Max (Coca Cola Zero)

Member Name: iamasadlittleboy

Product:	Coca Cola Zero
Date:	30/07/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No Sygar, No fat, Low Calories

Disadvantages: Tastes poor, bubbles up in your mouth, added chemicals

Completing the Grandslam of Coca-Cola and their 4 main drinks is the Coca-Cola Zero drink that is quite similar to Diet Coke in the selling points of the product as it's there to be low in Sugar and Calories. Hopefully however this didn't follow in it's Diet brother footsteps too much, as that was an appalling drink that seemed to rip up the Coca-Cola name and try to destroy it in 1 fell swoop. This however seems to be seen as the direct rival to the Pepsi Max drink sold by Coca-Cola's long term rival. A sugar free version of the Coke drink that many have fallen in love with over the years. The high standard of Cherry Coke still holds the bench mark, just above the Original Coke, whilst Diet Coke effectively no showed with it's poor attempt to call it's self a Coke drink.

As with the Original and the Cherry variation Zero has a matching label and lid design, this time in black, whilst the bottle keeps the Coca-Cola design of a "mutated rocket" bottle with the Coca-Cola logo on the side. The label as in common in the industry mentions the nutritional information and the ingredients used in the product, whilst the black looks rather sleek and sexy, rather alluring to be honest. The deep dark caramel matching the packaging almost perfectly, a clever idea well done, sadly the trick was missed with Cherry Coke which would have been fantastic in a deep cherry red colour like the label on the bottle.

When opened a sharp fizz sound was let out along with the now familiar Coke smell of a recently opened bottle. Oddly this one bubbled up in the bottle much more than any of the others, almost half way between the top of the liquid and the top of the neck of the bottle.

The test we all care about though is the taste test, does it complete with the Original, or is it more of a Diet clone? Well thankfully it proves it self to have a more "Coke" like taste from the first mouthful than the dreadful Diet version. Though in saying that, it's not really a great long lasting taste either and again it comes across as being cheap and "bubblfies" on and around your tongue just like the diet one did. Again in theory this would allow you to enjoy the taste of the drink, but the fact is the taste vanishes as quickly as your interest in the drink as there seems to be no realy point to it.

Sadly this isn't a great option for a drink and seemingly it again falls into the bracket of putting health above taste much like Diet Coke did. All very good and well, but people drink fizzy drinks due to their taste not the health benefits, if we want health benefits we'll have those disgusting shakes with all sort of random looking green ingredients. However it must be admitted that it is a shame that the drink fails to provide what is expected, as a healthier Coca-Cola, with the true flavour would be a god send to fat folk like myself. This is however a much better product that Diet Coke, there is a bit of a Coke likeness in there despite it's relatively short life span and this would garner it a 2 star rating.

Nutritional Information (per 250ml serving):
Calories 1Kcal (<1% GDA)
Salt Trace (<1% GDA)
Sugar, Fat and Saturates 0 g (0% GDA)

Notes:
This and Diet are the only Cokes in the four I covered to contain any salt.
The sugar substitutes used are Aspartame and Acesulfame K
The drink also contains a source or Phenylalanine.

On the subject of Aspartame: Personally I feel it's safe in limited consumption in humans, and thankfully no ones going to drink enough Coke Zero to be bothered by it. Whilst Acesulfame K has been shown to trigger possible hypoglycemia in rats so those with a sugar regulated diet may be advised to refrain from the product.
Phenylalanine is a more well known substance and those suffering from PKU will know not to over do the substance.

Final league table from the "Grandslam of Coke":
First Place: Cherry Coke 4 Stars from a possible 5
Second Place: Coca-Cola 4 Stars
Third Place: Coke Zero 2 Stars
Dead Last: Diet Coke 1 Star

Summary:
No sugar, No fats, No Pepsi Max.

Summary: Give it a miss