Does Spongebob’s Soda Taste Good? We Tried Olipop Pineapple Paradise

Step aside, Pepsi. Olipop has traveled to the furthest depths of the sea to bring us a brand new flavor inspired by Spongebob Squarepants. (Or, at least, where he sleeps.) I got my hands on the functional soda brand’s new Pineapple Paradise flavor that sports the visage of his holiness—er, hole-i-ness? Y’all, there’s a Spongebob face on the can and the soda tastes like his house. Let’s find out if Mr. Squarepants was ready to get into the functional soda fight or if he should have stayed at Super Weenie Hut Jr’s.

New Olipop Flavor!

Olipop Pineapple Paradise Review

Walmart

Pros: I love pineapple juice so much that I drink it straight for fun. So, seeing the 16% juice callout in the ingredients made me happy. That said, the soda delivers a muted version of the flavor and tongue-burning I enjoy from real pineapple juice. That might be because this soda contains not just pineapple, but also lemon, apple, and mandarin juice concentrates. It’s a non-specific citrus experience. I have a feeling we’ll see Pineapple Paradise enter Olipop’s permanent pantheon after the collaboration ends just like their last two collaborations (Minions’ Banana Cream and Barbie’s Peaches & Cream).

Cons: Are we supposed to think that Olipop juiced Spongebob’s house to make this soda? Is he homeless now? Lore implications aside, this does have that seemingly-unavoidable functional soda funk. I’m not sure if it’s the fiber or what, but every gut health soda has something going on under the surface that doesn’t mesh with my taste buds. Maybe I just miss all the sugar.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

What’s special about Olipop?

In the field of functional sodas made to improve your digestive health, there’s a few things setting Olipop apart. For one, Olipop has two lines of drinks: refrigerated and shelf-stable. Many functional sodas on the market need to be refrigerated, but this new Olipop flavor in particular is pantry-safe. Olipop also contains OLISMART, a “proprietary blend of unique botanicals, plant fibers, and prebiotics.” I’m no expert so I can’t speak to the validity of their claims, but reading words like “botanicals” and “high fiber” do make me feel a little better about drinking a soda with a cartoon character on it.