Zero Sugar Drinks That Actually Taste Like the Original (My Ongoing List)

Some of the Zero Sugar drinks I have had

Last Updated: March 17, 2026

With so many zero sugar drinks on the market now, I’ve always wondered: which ones actually taste like the original? Some come surprisingly close, while others taste completely different. After trying quite a few over time, I decided to start keeping track of them here.

I was inspired by my Zero Sugar and Zero Caffeine Coke post, and I decided to document my Zero Sugar experiences in one place. The criteria are simple: the drink has to stay as close to the original sugar version as possible.

I’ll keep updating this list as I try more drinks, and I’ll note the date whenever I add something new.

My Zero Sugar Drink Log: The Good, The Okay, and The Bad

My favourites — the ones that stay true to the original:

• Canada Dry Ginger Ale
• Sprite
• Cherry Coke (Coca-Cola)
• Dr Pepper
• Nestea Iced Tea
• Fuze Iced Tea
• Fresca Grapefruit
• Tonic Water
• Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale
• Canada Dry Mango Peach Ginger Ale
• Coca-Cola Vanilla Cream Soda (holiday limited edition)

Ones that are okay — somewhat close, but there is a noticeable difference in taste: 

• Coca-Cola Coke Zero 
• A&W Root Beer

Ones I don't like — they taste nothing like the original sugar version: 

• Pepsi Zero 
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Zero Caffeine

I’ll continue updating this list as I try more zero-sugar drinks. If you have any favourites that taste surprisingly close to the original, feel free to let me know — I’m always curious to try new ones!

Afterthought:
One thing I’ve noticed with these zero-sugar drinks is that they make me go to the bathroom a lot more often than the regular versions. I’m not sure if it’s the type of sugar substitutes used, but it’s something I’ve consistently experienced.

Clarins My Sweety Lip Balm review

Clarin's My Sweety Lip Balm

I’ve always had faith in Clarins products. Many of them are made in France (which already signals quality to me), their ingredients are usually meticulously sourced, and — most importantly — they work really well on my skin. This lip balm is pricier than your average drugstore option, but not by that much. It currently retails for $15 CAD ($11 USD) on the Clarins website, which I think is reasonable for what you’re getting.

According to Clarins, this is a sheer lip balm enriched with nourishing organic cacao butter that reacts to the pH of your lips to reveal your personal shade of rose. It’s designed to plump, comfort, and add shine, while offering a subtle mood boost with a fruity scent. The product is also vegan, contains organic ingredients, comes in an eco-friendly box, and is made with a fair supply chain, which I really appreciate.

contains an adequate amount of product

The first thing I noticed was that the formula is firmer than most lip balms I’m used to. It sits comfortably on the lips and doesn’t slide around or migrate the way softer balms often do. It gives that “your lips but healthier” look — slightly shinier with a natural pink tint — which makes it perfect for no-makeup days when you still want to look a little more awake and polished.

It moisturizes instantly. You get a sheer shine right away, and your lips start feeling softer almost immediately (as a lip balm should). What really sets this apart from drugstore balms — or even slightly more expensive ones — is how well it stays in place. I don’t feel the urge to constantly “play” with it or reapply, which honestly says a lot.

Can you see the subtle sheer on the left side? It is much more obvious in real life

Overall, I’m very happy I found this one from Clarins. Compared to luxury lip balms from brands like Prada or Dior that can run $50+, this feels like an excellent middle ground — elevated, effective, and still approachable at $15.

See it now? :) it is much more obvious in real life

Pros

• Light fruity scent (they say peach, but it smells more like guava to me — either way, it fades after a  few minutes)
• Moisturizes lips really well (and within a few hours)
• Took two days to fully moisturize my lips! (and revive them... not just temporary relief!)
• Firm formula that doesn’t shift, bleed, or move
• Light and thin formula
• No risk of overapplying
• “Your lips but healthier” effect (shinier and slightly pink-tinted)
• Wipes off cleanly with no staining (this can be a pro or a con)

Cons

• I hate the container — it’s extremely difficult to open and close
• The packaging is made of cardboard
• Could be slightly more tinted
• Only available online (via the Clarins website)
• No stain left behind when wiped off (again, pro or con depending on preference)
• Although it "moisturizes", you need to reapply to prevent drying because once everything gets absorbed, you will need extra protection to protect your newly moisturized lips.

very subtle tint, it is more obvious in real life

Conclusion:
Clarins My Sweet Lip Balm is one of those quietly impressive products — simple, well-formulated, and thoughtfully designed for everyday wear. It’s comfortable, flattering, and reliable, especially if you want something low-maintenance that still makes your lips look healthy and put-together. The packaging could definitely be better, but the formula itself more than makes up for it. For me, this is an easy staple and a near-perfect daily lip balm.

Score: 9.5/10 💄✨
Website: https://www.clarins.ca/en/my-sweety-balm/80070833.html

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Zero Caffeine Coke Short Review

 

It sounds like a dream… Coca-Cola with zero sugar (empty calories!) and zero caffeine (bye-bye, sleepless nights).

EXCEPT… the taste is very off.

I’ve had Coke Zero (Sugar), and I could live with that. The sugar substitute didn’t make me miss the classic Coca-Cola taste too much. But without caffeine? YIKES. It tastes very different — bland, watered down, and honestly kind of sad. OMG. And on top of all that… the fizz isn’t even as fizzy as your usual Coca-Cola. It’s not even comparable to Coke Zero’s fizz!

Who knew caffeine played such a huge role in Coca-Cola’s signature taste?

I’m sure there’s a niche crowd out there who enjoys less fizz, zero sugar, and zero caffeine — especially for people with insomnia, caffeine sensitivities, allergies, or who avoid caffeine for religious or health reasons. If that’s you, this might actually be perfect.

But for me? Definitely not. It loses what makes Coca-Cola… Coke.

I’m glad I tried it — now I know I don’t like it 😛
That said, if you’ve ever complained that regular Coke or Coke Zero is too fizzy, prefer zero sugar, and hate caffeine… this is absolutely the Coke for you! 🙂

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Score: 6.5/10 (for me)
Website: https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/brands/coca-cola/products/zero#accordion-224c4dac45-item-f6ef055335

McDonald's Frank's RedHot Hot Honey Sauce short review

McDonald's Frank's RedHot Hot Honey Sauce

McDonald's has been hard-selling this new sauce — Frank’s RedHot Hot Honey Sauce. It’s everywhere: breakfast sandwiches, burgers, and even offered as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets.

It’s exactly what it sounds like — a hot honey sauce. It adds sweetness to hot sauce or adds spiciness to honey (both work 😛). I actually ordered it without realizing it was a hot sauce at all. I just saw it splashed all over the promotional banners and the McDonald’s app… so of course I had to try it.

It was good — but not as good as I thought it would be. I still prefer my usual favourite, the Spicy Habanero Sauce, especially for chicken nuggets.

That said, since I’m reviewing McDonald’s new Frank’s RedHot Hot Honey Sauce, here are my thoughts:

• I really like the balance between the RedHot heat and the honey sweetness

• It has a cayenne pepper base, which gives it that distinctively spicy, slightly sweet flavour with earthy undertones — spicy, but not aggressive

• It works well as a sweet-and-spicy sauce without overwhelming your taste buds or burning your mouth

• The sweetness makes it addictive, while the spice adds a gentle kick

• McDonald’s was right to put it on everything — it works well with nuggets and even surprisingly well with fries

One of the biggest strengths of this sauce is how versatile it is. Its flavour profile isn’t tied to any specific cuisine or regional taste, which means it can be added to pretty much anything without clashing. Sweet, spicy, familiar, and easy to like.

Conclusion:
While it didn’t dethrone my personal favourite nugget sauce, I can absolutely see why McDonald’s is pushing this so hard. Frank’s RedHot Hot Honey Sauce is balanced, approachable, and crowd-pleasing — sweet enough to draw you in, spicy enough to keep things interesting. It may not be my go-to, but it’s a solid, well-thought-out addition that works across the menu. Definitely worth trying at least once.

Score: 8.5/10
Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/newsroom/article/We-Put-It-On-Everything--McDonald-s-Canada-Turns-Up-the-Heat-with-Frank-s-RedHot--.html

Comparison: Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup — Condensed vs Ready-to-Serve

 

One of my favourite soups is Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup… yes, the canned soup. But recently, I discovered that they came out with a version that doesn’t require adding water — the ready-to-serve version.

When I first saw it, my immediate reaction was: “Why is the ready-to-serve version three times the price of the condensed (add-water) version?” Naturally, my analytical brain was curious and itching to find out.

Price comparison:

Ready-to-Serve: $3.38 (≈ 66¢ per 100 ml)
Condensed: $1.47 (≈ 52¢ per 100 ml)

So, I bought both. And I discovered (spoiler alert): the larger, don’t-add-water version is so much better.

Just when I thought Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup couldn’t get any better… it can.

huge slices of mushrooms instead of the usual small chunks

The ready-to-serve version is creamier, contains larger slices of mushrooms, and tastes much richer overall. I didn’t think I’d find something that could top the condensed version (which is great in its own way), but it exists — and I’m genuinely glad I tried it.

Why the ready-to-serve version is better:

• Tastes richer
• Creamier texture
• No need to add water
• Bigger slices of mushroom

The only downside is that it’s slightly more expensive than the condensed version.

Conclusion:
If you’re someone who loves Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup and doesn’t mind paying a little extra for convenience and upgraded texture, the ready-to-serve version is absolutely worth it. It feels more indulgent, more satisfying, and closer to something you’d get freshly made rather than from a can. I’ll still keep the condensed version around, but when I want something comforting and effortless, the ready-to-serve has officially won me over.

Score: 9.5/10

Website: https://www.campbellsoup.ca/product/campbells-cream-of-mushroom/

Merry Christmas, or Joyeux Noël

“Noël” is derived from the Latin word natalis, which means “birth,” and is associated with the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Noël is linked to "The First Noel," the classic carol that recounts the Nativity story and emphasizes the joy of Christ’s arrival.

It also embodies the spirit of giving, family gatherings, and the happiness that comes from remembering the birth of Christ, our Saviour.

So, Joyeux Noël, or Merry Christmas! Let’s share in the joy and sense of community as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday, Jesus ❤️

McDonald’s Who-Hash Bites – Short Review

McDonald’s Who-Hash Bites 

These Who-Hash Bites are a limited-time offering for McDonald’s Christmas Grinch meal, and naturally, I had to order them — and I’m so glad I did!

They taste exactly like McDonald’s breakfast hash browns, but in bite-sized form, making them super crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

McDonald’s Who-Hash Bites 

Impressions:

• super crispy on the outside
• super creamy on the inside
• tastes exactly like their breakfast hash browns
• The only downside is that they’re only available for a limited time

McDonald’s Who-Hash Bites 

I was surprised by the portion size — they were a lot bigger than I expected. I didn’t count, but I think there were at least 12 inside!

The Grinchiest Meal box

They’re available for an extra $0.70 with a combo, or you can get them à la carte for $4.99.

The Grinchiest Meal box

Final thoughts:
If you love McDonald’s hash browns, these are a no-brainer. Fun, nostalgic, and dangerously easy to finish — I really hope they bring these back again.

Score: 10/10
Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ca/en-ca/product/who-hash-bites-potato-bites.html