Zevia

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Diet; Container: 12 oz can
BevNET Review: A lot has changed since we first took a look at this brand, including the market for stevia and the FDA regulations that regulate it. Gone is the supplement panel and the original can design, and in its place is a brand that feels much more mainstream and marketable. Flavor wise, it tastes better than we remember, with a more natural level of sweetness and less aftertaste (although there is still some from the stevia, despite being cut with erythritol). The cola flavor is better than what you’d find in a Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi, with a more natural and balanced taste. Zevia’s packaging cleanup makes a big difference as well, with a more appealing and hip look that seems a bit more marketable than the original format. That, paired with the fact that there’s more widespread demand for stevia, makes the opportunity for this product much bigger. Really, the only question we have for the brand is whether or not it should be in the same 12 oz. can as the big guys. A slim can or glass bottle might help take this brand to new levels.

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Diet; Container: 12 oz can
BevNET Review: Any good diet soda line needs a well executed orange soda – it’s definitely one of those classic staples that you’d expect in a CSD line. For Zevia, the execution of this drink is quite good, with just the right amount of orange flavor, sweetness, and carbonation. While it lacks its own unique touch the way that the Ginger Ale or Root Beer flavors do, it’s still a very good tasting drink. However, the use of the stevia/erythritol blend to achieve a zero calorie formulation that’s all natural should suffice for most diet CSD drinkers. Plus, there’s something about an orange colored 12 oz. can that’s naturally appealing (at least to us). Overall, a cleanly executed product both in package and flavor.

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Diet; Container: 12 oz can
BevNET Review: Of the lineup, this was one of our favorite Zevia flavors. Featuring lemon and lime oil to help bolster the citrus flavor, Twist has very accurate and refreshing lemon and lime flavors. They’ve given the drink a decent dose of sweetness (from stevia and erythritol) and carbonation, making the drink taste very clean and balanced. It’s definitely one of the better tasting stevia sweetened drinks that we’ve sampled to date. Packaging fits with the other Zevia flavors, featuring the cleverly designed Zevia logo (complete with a leaf in place of the dot on the “I”) and there are multiple callouts to the product’s natural formulation. However, we think that it’s a little hard to find the flavor of the drink, especially since the name “Twist” is somewhat ambiguous. Lastly, we’d love to see this product in a different package -- a standard 12 oz. can makes the product feel somewhat like a value brand. Overall, really enjoyable product inside the can, but we see some opportunity for this brand in changing their packaging format.

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Diet; Container: 12 oz can
BevNET Review: Zevia’s Black Cherry should be a hit with drinkers who try this lineup. The flavor should be a familiar one, tasting very similar to other diet cherry sodas that are on the market. Of course, the big difference is that this product is “all natural” and that the sweetener has lacks that chemical flavor that you’ll find in aspartame sweetened drinks. There’s a bit of aftertaste to it, but given the drink’s rather strong and enjoyable black cherry flavor, it’s easy to forget about. Packaging is definitely improved over the original version of the brand, with a cleaner looking logo and a simpler front panel format. Also improved is the back panel, which is, thanks to a GRAS ruling on Stevia, now a nutrition panel instead of a supplement facts panel. However, we’re still a bit concerned about this drink’s choice of a standard 12 oz. can. Overall, a very enjoyable product that’s in a league of its own as far as diet CSDs go.

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Diet; Container: 12 oz can
BevNET Review: Diet ginger ale is one of those products that has really never worked. Zevia is clearly looking to change that – and has made a great effort with their Diet Ginger Ale. Thanks to the use of stevia/erythritol and ginger extract, the product has a flavor that’s full in body (complete with a touch of spice) and doesn’t have too much in the way of aftertaste. Like the other flavors, this product is packaged in a rather traditional looking 12 oz. CSD can. While that might be what they’re going for (make it look like other CSDs), we think that the type of consumer who is likely to buy Zevia is looking for something a bit more. Overall, the best diet ginger ale we’ve ever sampled – but spiffier packaging would definitely make it better.

Product Type:Carbonated Soft Drink: Diet; Container: 12 oz can
BevNET Review: Root Beer is another Zevia flavor that really exceeded our expectations, especially since quality diet root beers are hard to come by. The difference maker in this product is the use of anise seed, which gives the product a very nice licorice note and aroma. This not only makes your palate think that its drinking a quality root beer, but it also helps to mask the sweeteners (stevia and erythritol). Plus, there’s a touch of ginger spice to the finish, which adds some depth of flavor to the product. Combine that with just the right level of sweetness and carbonation and this is a very well formulated product. On the outside, the product has clean presentation, but we’re again left thinking that this product should really be in a slightly fancier package. Regardless, this is a huge step forward from what we first sampled from Zevia – and it’s definitely our choice as far as diet root beers go.