In the soft drink world, colas are the indisputable rock stars. But what about the lemon-lime sodas? Let’s take a look at all these drinks have to offer by delving into the ultimate match: Sprite vs 7UP. What is the difference between Sprite and 7UP? Let’s see these two beverages go head to head.
What came first, Sprite or 7UP?
7UP came first, launching all the way back in 1929. Yep, 7UP is the OG—the first clear soda on the market. It was even called the “un-cola.” It was invented by a man named Charles Leiper Grigg and was originally called “Bib Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda” (catchy) and contained the mood-stabilizing drug lithium citrate—back then was truly a wild time for sodas.
Sprite followed more than three decades later. It was invented in West Germany in 1959 under the name “Fanta Clear Lemon” and introduced to the U.S. in 1961 to compete against 7UP.
Who makes Sprite and 7UP?
In the U.S., Sprite is made by The Coca-Cola Company, while 7UP is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper but distributed by PepsiCo outside the U.S.
What’s the difference between Sprite and 7UP in terms of ingredients?
Ingredients-wise, Sprite contains: carbonated water, sugar, acids (citric acid, tartaric acid), acidity regulator (sodium citrates), sweeteners (acesulfame-K, aspartame), natural lemon and lime flavorings.
7UP is made up of filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, potassium citrate, natural flavors, calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor).
What’s the difference between Sprite and 7UP in flavor?
The real difference between 7UP and Sprite is in the taste. So what is the difference in taste? This is one of those challenging things to answer that really varies from person to person. Some people swear that there’s a strong distinction between the two beverages. 7UP is often classified as more syrupy, though some people say it has fruitier overtones as well. The only real way to know if they taste different is to do a self-administered blind taste test, which sounds like maybe too much work but also might be a fun way to kill an afternoon.
Is Sprite or 7UP more popular?
In the U.S., Sprite seems to have pretty much taken the crown in the clear-soda wars. That said, soda drinkers are a capricious bunch—things could shift anytime! Reddit is divided, but the general consensus is that Sprite-drinkers appreciate that Sprite has a sweeter flavor profile while 7UP stans prefer the crisper, more tart flavor. Funnily enough, Sprite is now seen as the “regular,” lemon soda, with 7UP (the original clear soda) becoming the more “alt” choice. There are some countries where 7UP still dominates, and plenty of folks online who swear by it. Oh, and let’s not forget the vocal fans of the secret third contender: the dearly departed Sierra Mist. And then there’s Starry. Hi, Starry fan!
What has more sugar, Sprite or 7UP?
Surprisingly, they’re neck and neck—each has 38g of sugar per 12-ounce can. For what it’s worth, clear sodas like these tend to have a little less sugar than their cola cousins, like Coke or Pepsi.
Does 7UP or Sprite have caffeine?
Neither have caffeine! Both 7UP and Sprite are caffeine-free. That hit of “energy” you feel? It’s all sugar, baby.
Can I use Sprite instead of 7UP in a cake?
When it comes to 7UP cake, most bakers will tell you: Any lemon-lime soda will do the trick. To be frank, the soda concentration in the cake batter is low enough that even seasoned tasters would struggle to tell the difference between Sprite and 7UP.
What matters more is carbonation—is your soda still fizzy and crispy? That bubbly lift is key; this is not the best place to use up your flat soda.
