Tropical 7UP is here—did you ask for it? The original lemon-lime 7UP is perfect as is (we ranked it number one in our best lemon lime soda ranking). But soda companies are never satisfied with their flagship product. I mean, just look at Mtn Dew. They put out a new flavor every fortnight! So, I guess I can’t blame 7UP for trying to keep pace with new 7UP Tropical and 7UP Tropical Zero Sugar.
But I can blame them for classifying a peach as tropical fruit. According to the image on the cans, the Tropical 7UP flavor is a mix of mango (a decidedly tropical fruit) and peach (a decidedly not tropical fruit). Why not swap peach for pineapple and really make a tropical 7UP if that’s what you want? Anyway, this is a conversation I should be having with 7UP, not you, the reader, who simply wants to know if 7UP Tropical or 7UP Tropical Zero Sugar is any good. Let’s move on to the review.
When you first crack open a can of 7UP Tropical and take a big sniff, you’ll be hit with a powerful peachy aroma—almost like peach rings gummy candy. Take a sip, and that artificial peach turns into artificial mango. (It turns out, there’s very little difference between artificial peach and mango flavor; Tropical 7UP tasted like peach to my colleague Gwynedd Stuart, but it tasted like mango to me.)
Pros: The bubbles are great. That’s because 7UP, in general, has good bubbles. They’re on the bigger end and really fill your mouth with a refreshing wave of soda. The color is lovely. It’s a very pale orange/peach hue that would be great in a guest bathroom. The flavor (whether you think it’s mango or peach) is very sweet. And if you like that, then consider it a checkmark in the pro column.
Cons: Like I said, it’s so sweet. And, for me, that’s a mark in the cons column. I want balance in my soda. And while there is the slightest hint of orangey citrus flavor on the finish, there’s just not enough acidity for me. Where’s the lemon-limey 7UP? It’s totally lost in a sea of overly sweet mango-peach flavor.
With every new soda release comes a zero sugar version of that soda. But some sodas simply should not have zero sugar versions. It doesn’t always work. Such is the case with Tropical 7UP Zero Sugar.
Pros: I really try to look for the positive in all the products we taste but I am struggling with 7UP Tropical Zero Sugar. I guess, if you’re really thirsty, this is a cold, bubbly thing that you can drink and it will slake your thirst.
Cons: It doesn’t taste anything like regular 7UP Tropical. It somehow manages to taste way too sweet and bland at the same time. It’s like they forgot an ingredient. And it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I am so, so sorry, 7UP. I do really like your regular soda. I even like 7UP Zero Sugar. But Tropical 7Up Zero Sugar? No, thank you.
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
Subscribe
Get all the top food rankings, new product reviews, and other grocery content delivered to your inbox every other week.
Justine Sterling
Gwynedd Stuart
Jordan Myrick
Jessica Block
