Gwynedd Stuart
When I recently wrote a somewhat positive (but overall pretty ambivalent) review of Starry, Pepsi’s newly released lemon-lime soda, I wasn’t aware how strongly people felt about lemon-lime soda. Last I checked, there were around 80 comments on that review, some of them personal attacks on my character, ability as a writer, and value as a human being. One person called me “uncool” and then actually typed out the words, “This ‘author’ could give an aspirin a headache,” which is, no offense, the dorkiest insult I’ve ever read. But, listen, I get it. Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has them and most of them stink, even when they belong to a professional food taste tester.
But some of the more constructive comments gave me more insight into why people are so worked up about this soda release.
For one thing, Sierra Mist, a now discontinued lemon-lime soda from Pepsi, was made with real cane sugar and Starry is made with high-fructose corn syrup. Why Pepsi would replace a sugar-sweetened soda with a corn syrup-sweetened soda when everything on the market is trending natural is beyond me. I also recently had an opportunity to taste Sierra Mist (which we sourced from Amazon) alongside Starry, and I will say that we liked Sierra Mist better, although I still didn’t emerge from the experience thinking Starry was explicitly bad. It’s sweeter (too sweet for some) and slightly more caloric (150 cals and 39 grams of carbs per 12 ounce can to Sierra Mist’s 140 cals and 37 grams of carbs per can). I still think the branding is cuter than Sierra Mist’s was, but I’ve learned my lesson about making jokes about cannibalism (check the original Starry review to understand that reference).
But that’s all in the past now. Today I’m here to talk about Starry Zero, Pepsi’s new zero-calorie lemon-lime soda. Same bold branding as full-fat Starry, but sweetened with aspartame—same as Sierra Mist Zero Sugar. (I didn’t taste this alongside Sierra Mist Zero Sugar but I did taste it alongside Sprite Zero.)
We Review Starry
Check out the full review of the original Starry and find out if it’s a worthy replacement of Sierra Mist or not!
Tyler Bowers
Jessica Block
You are a terrible reviewer. Quit with all the stupid jokes. They’re awful. Beyond awful.
Starry Zero Sugar is fantastic. More of an in your face citrus taste compared to Sprite Z and I can taste no diet whatsoever. Just wish they would start making 2 liters more widely available (if they are available at all).
I love Starry Zero. So disappointed I can find it
I actually stopped drinking soda for 3 years well I still don’t drink it, however I had tried starry zero. If I was out to dinner and had no other choice of drink I would sip a bit at a sprite. I hate flat water. Sprite always left an awful after taste in my mouth but that was always my best choice. Now I saw starry come out …then starry zero. I kinda got excited because maybe I had another option if needed. I freaking love starry zero. It’s crisp clean light and no after taste at all. I still say I don’t drink soda, but I do have a starry zero once in a while as a little treat. I do feel it can be kind of addicting because I’m always wanting more. That’s the reason I quit in the first place.
I really like Starry Zero. It has a lot more lemon-taste in it than Sprite Zero. It’s refreshing and very liyht
Diet Coke tastes like rat piss mixed with penile discharge. There is NO comparison between Diet and Zero sodas.
The Zeroes taste FAR better.
As a diabetic who has drank sugar free soda for 30+ years, that’s my opinion.
My introduction to Starry Zero & Sierra Mist Zero was actually via the new PEPSI Sodastream syrups. I was surprised to see the comparison on GMMore (1 month ago) but it was cut short. I did look closer and Sodastream uses Sucralose (Splenda) instead of aspartame. Also I saw that Sierra Mist has MALIC ACID (Shayne’s Bane) which to me adds a more citrusy-bite.
I have seen the soda stream starry zero….how does it compare to it in a can?
I think Starry soda is awful!! I was a Diet Sierra Mist fan. I am extremely disappointed in Pepsi and I’ve switched to Diet Sprite.
I was impressed with Starry Zero, or no sugar or whatever it’s called. The caloric version is awesome too. And you’re definitely not uncool. As a fellow blogger I’d encourage you to keep up the good work.
Hope some day Pepsi will bring back Sierra mist back starry is okay but I like Sierra mist much better.
Your evaluation sucked. It’s a matter of preference personally any soda without real cane sugar or high fructose syrup sucks. It doesn’t matter to me what you LIKE Harr
Well I will say for anybody who really misses Sierra Mist I recommend should try that Simple 7 Up soda because it tastes very much like Sierra Mist!!
I bought and tried Starry Zero. Its a big NO for me. I loved Sierra Mist and will not forgive Pepsi for taking it from me. Back to Coke products for me.
I loved Sierra Mist..I’m not a big fan of high fructose corn syrup…the Pepsi made with real sugar has the taste of my younger years. I just hope the Pepsi made with real sugar is NOT discontinued…if that happens I’ll be drinking coke made in Mexico it’s made with real sugar..
I actually really like the more lime flavor of Starry Zero, moreso than zero/diet Sierra Mist. I also can’t say I particularly detected any aftertaste different from any other diet.
Mind you, I have the beetus, so I’m very much used to aspertame/splenda and such. I’ve even recently gotten used to Stevia, which took a bit to get used to.
Sprite is best if they would just tweak down the sodium from 65mg to 60mg. It’s like drinking ocean water. Starry I feel is identical to the old sierra with high fructose which is better than real sugar strangely and is lemon dominant not lime and I wish there was an all lime caffeine soda. Mtn dew white out imo was the best and despite being voted by fans they discontinued it to jealously spite me for being the world famous Truman show
Sure wish I could FIND Starry Zero. It is not available in Northern Virginia, as of the day I write, I searched this morning.
I’ve been buying Starry Zero in single bottles in Safeway and Giant stores in Alexandria and Springfield in NoVA. They also carry 12 and 24 pack cans at either location. 6 pack bottles are the only thing I haven’t seen in these stores.
Sprite is king of lemon-lime sodas. Pepsi has been chasing that dragon for years and they can’t seem to get it right. Starry is just repackaged Sierra Mist in that it’s too lime forward and pales in comparison to Sprite. Starry? More like Sorry..you…had to drink this…I’m not great at puns, look. Starry stinks!
All that’s to say that this is an expertly written review and I value you and the entire Sporked team.
Have a good day…or don’t! It’s your choice.
Honestly 7 UP . Is the king of lemon lime soda it’s been for decades. Way before sprite ever came out. Wich I do like sprite. But to my opinion 7 Up is the the king of lemon lime soda.