Zevia Natural Ginger Ale Review

There was a 6 pack of Zevia Natural Ginger Ale chilling in the fridge with my name on it for far too long. Zevia was first reviewed in 2008 - when Stevia hadn't been approved by the FDA yet - so it was considered a "carbonated Stevia supplement". Since then, it has gained approval, and after a slight tweak in the recipe, Zevia produced their first can of "soda" - no longer a "supplement" - in February 2009

Well, their alteration to the recipe must have been in their favor because, I was in awe after the first sip. I did not detect any weird aftertaste or off flavor at all. Instead, the tried and true ginger ale flavor shone through. Even more, each variety has this subtle smoothness to it that sets it apart from the traditional can of soda.

There are no calories, fat or sugar in this 100% natural soda; but you will see 11 grams of erythritol, a natural sweetener found in various fruits and vegetables. erythritol is a sugar alcohol, but it doesn't cause much gastrointestinal issues associated with other polyols like xylitotl, malitol, and sorbitol.

Zevia Natural Twist Soda Review

I found Zevia at Mrs. Greens All Natural Grocer, and after hearing so much about it, I had to pick it up. Zevia is supposed to be the "Natural Alternative to Diet Soda." It's made with the natural, high intensity sweetener Stevia, which is currently considered to be an "additive" since the FDA hasn't approved it for use in foods & beverages (there is an excellent article on Stevia over at TreeHugger).

Nevertheless, Zevia, which is marketed as a "carbonated Stevia supplement" (because Stevia cannot be used as a food ingredient), managed to make it to the supermarket shelves. I picked up a can of the Natural Twist flavor. It has a lemon/ lime taste and a strong carbonated taste. I didn't detect much after-taste like the folks at Bevnet did, but there was a slight left over acidic taste on the back of my tongue - this might be due to the carbonation though. As sodas go, this would not be a favorite of mine.