Battle of the Lemon Lime Sodas: Sprite Versus Sierra Mist

This article will compare Coca Cola Bottling Company's Sprite against Pepsi Cola Bottling Company's Sierra Mist. I will compare the nutritional values, costs, flavor and overall appeal of both sodas.

Looking at the nutrition facts label on each bottle of soda, eight ounces of both Sprite and Sierra Mist provide 100 calories, the sodium level in Sprite is higher than the Sierra Mist product. Sprite has 20mg more sodium than Sierra Mist. This is probably because they each use different preservatives in their products. The carbohydrate content is the same for both Sierra Mist and Sprite; each has 26 grams of sugar in an eight-ounce serving. Neither Sierra Mist nor Sprite has any real nutritional value. The only health concern variant between Sprite and Sierra Mist is of course the higher sodium count in the Sprite product.

When comparing ingredients, the basic composition is the same. Sprite is made up mostly of carbonated water, high fructose sugar, and natural flavors. Sierra Mist has the same ingredients listed in the same order on its label. Sprite and Sierra Mist differ in the preservatives that they use. Sprite only uses sodium citrate and sodium benzoate to protect its flavor while Sierra Mist uses potassium benzoate, potassium citrate, ascorbic acid and calcium disodium edta as preservatives. Neither product contains caffeine.

The cost of a twenty-ounce bottle of Sprite is comparable to the cost of a twenty-ounce bottle of Sierra Mist. It is about $1.00 a bottle in vending machines. You can usually buy both products at most stores.

I prefer Sierra Mist to Sprite. I find that Sierra Mist is both sweeter than Sprite as well as less carbonated than Sprite. I do not like the higher carbonation level that I perceive to be in Sprite. This is for two reasons: First, the higher carbonation level of Sprite causes me a great deal of indigestion. Second, when I drink Sprite, it feels as if it is corroding my teeth the second it touches them. I know that this second reason is probably just a perception on my part. According to the nutrition labels on both Sierra Mist and Sprite, they both have the same sugar content (26g). It is the sugar, not the carbonation that dentist contribute to tooth decay. However, it does feel that way to me.

According to Wikipedia, Sierra Mist is the second-generation attempt by Pepsi Cola Bottling Company to surpass Coca Cola Bottling Company's Sprite. Sierra Mist replaced the initial Storm, which failed to succeed against Sprite in the test trials. The Pepsi Company introduced Sierra Mist at the 2003 Super Bowl to widen its market and make it a national brand. Sierra Mist has seen steady sales increases since then. However, it still ranks second behind Sprite in sales volume. Even though it ranks in second place, Pepsi Cola holds it out as a success story.

So far, we have determined that Sprite and Sierra Mist have about the same nutritional value. Sierra Mist would only come out ahead of Sprite if we consider the higher salt content of Sprite. Sierra Mist and Sprite cost the same $1.00 per twenty-ounce bottle. Sierra Mist and Sprite are both sold in similar markets. Sprite still exceeds Sierra Mist in sales but Sierra Mist's sales are on the rise.

The higher volume of sales would seem to indicate that the public prefers Sprite to Sierra Mist. However, at least for this writer, that is not the case. I prefer the taste of Sierra Mist. To me, it appears to be sweeter and less carbonated. When I drink Sierra Mist, I do not have the problem with indigestion that I do with Sprite. I also do not get the sensation that Sierra Mist is eroding my teeth as I do with Sprite.

Resource used in this article:

Nutrition Fact labels on both Sprite and Sierra Mist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Mist