Find out what Mumsnet users thought of Green Cola

[EllieMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the Mumsnet users who tried and tested the new Green Cola drink. This product test was open to all UK MNers who have at least one child. Selected testers received 4x330ml cans to try out.

Here is what Green Cola have to say: “Green Cola is a healthier AND tastier cola from an independent, British company. Why ‘Green’ Cola? Well, as well as having zero sugar and therefore no calories, we are 3 times green: 1) sweetened with natural Stevia from the green Stevia plant , 2) our caffeine is fully natural and extracted from green coffee beans, and 3) as a small, family company, we work hard to minimise our impact on the environment in everything we do.

Green Cola isn’t just healthier however, it also tastes even better than the leading no calorie brands – So you don’t have to sacrifice taste for health, making it an easy switch to make for you and your family.

We’re proud to be supporting Change4Life, Public Health England’s campaign to reduce childhood obesity through encouraging families to cut back on sugar by making simple swaps to healthier products – we share the Change4Life mission to offer healthier choices without compromising on taste!”

Testers please answer the questions below:
- What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?
- How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?
- What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?
- To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?
- Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?
- How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

Selected testers will be required to leave feedback on a thread on Mumsnet and complete a short survey. All who do so will be entered into a prize draw where 3 MNers will win a £100 voucher each of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw.
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?
I liked that it tasted much nicer than the diet varieties of Diet Coke. It kept the taste of full fat but was a much healthier option.

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

Nice taste, refreshing and much healthier.

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

Sugar content

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

Not actively looking to.

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

Yes definitely, particularly the cherry flavour.

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

Quite important.

I've just looked this up online. As well as stevia, it contains sucralose - an artificial sweetener linked to health problems - in it, as well as E150d caramel colouring. So I fail to see how this is a 'healthier' option and, as such, the marketing is deliberately misleading.

1. Green cola was ok, I’d probably drink it if coke or Pepsi wasn’t an option

1. The taste of green cola reminds me of the Sainsbury’s classic cola from the 90’s

1. With soft drinks, we look mainly for sugar free.

1. Vegan is ok but there are some products we wouldn’t want to compromise on taste with like cola

1. Be interested in caffeine feee and vanilla

1. Being honest, sustainable isn’t as high a priority as it should be for us at the moment.

What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

I actually really liked the taste and the packaging. I would certainly buy it again. The taste was stronger than other diet cola and that’s what I really liked. Diet versions quite often seem weaker tasting.

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

A stronger tasting cola that doesn’t taste watered down. Healthier.

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

No sugar, try to avoid aspartame and I also look for one which has extra benefits for myself or environment.

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

I drink a lot of soft drinks so it’s something I would be really interested in.

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

Lemon or cherry flavours would be really good. I enjoyed the taste so extra flavours would be welcome.

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

Really important. It’s very in right now, it’s something people are more aware of and I think it’s something that makes this brand stand out from others.

- What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

I enjoyed it and thought the flavour was good. More like Pepsi than Coke. DH wasn't a fan as he felt there was an unpleasant after taste and so he didn't finish the can

- How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?
It's like Coke but an alternative sweetener.

- What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?
I'm not sure I'd class this as a healthy soft drink. More of a low calorie option. I'd want some sort of nutritional value to class it as healthier.
- To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?
Not to any great extent. We are interested in welfare etc but we wouldn't switch to vegetarianism.

- Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?
Cherry and caffeine-free both sound good. Lemon is difficult to achieve without tasting too synthetic.
- How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?
Very important. Consumers need a choice. I felt the packaging looked very Coca-Cola like and if I was avoiding the company, I would avoid this based on its looks.

- What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

It was almost tasteless. It wasn't unpleasant, no odd aftertaste and a decent amount of fizz. It reminded me of a cheap cola alternative

- How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

A bland alternative to Diet Coke

- What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

Sugar free, taste

- To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

Not at all

- Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

Cherry might work - it would flavour it up a bit

- How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

It's a great idea, but unless the product tastes good it cannot work

• What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

I liked the branding and concept
Thought was actual Coca Cola brand
Didn’t live the taste - it’s tasteless but fizzy

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

Made from coffee beans more natural that coke. Watery taste but fizzy and refreshing

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

No sugar Minimal /no added colours / additives

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

Not actively looking to switch

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

Caffeine free yes

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

I think this is increasingly important - especially with brexit looming. We should be sourcing from the UK.

• What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

It has a fresh clean taste and does not taste as sweet as most colas. We all enjoyed it, even my daughter who can take or leave most fizzy drinks and will usually only drink Sainsbury's cherryade or water!

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

I described it as a cola with no chemicals added.

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

No aspartame

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

We buy quite a few vegan products as we all have a dairy allergy so they are great for us as a family.

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

I'd really enjoy trying a raspberry and cherry green cola.

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

Anything which benefits the environment is good for everyone.

@Elliemumsnet - I had an email to say I hadn’t completed the answers on this thread, but I know I have! :)

• What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

I liked the fact that it contains natural sweetness, however for me and my husband it was a bit too sweet. My children loved the taste though. Personally I prefer the taste of Pepsi.

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

It's very like coke zero in taste.

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

Taste and calorie content.

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

We are not looking to switch to vegan/vegetarian options.

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

Not really, possibly caffeine free.

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

Important to have the choice, but cost is still important.

We liked that the coke wasn't full of unhealthy stuff. Everyone agreed that it tasted different, but all liked it and would drink it again. We all loved the packaging.

Ethical and sustainable options absolutely the way forward.
Caffine free definatley, kids would like cherry, grown ups would like lemon.

We would describe it as a less bad fit you version of other coke.

We look for no suger/ Caffine, not full of 'crap'

We are not at all looking for vegetarian /vegan alternatives

What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

It tasted like cola and was better for you

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

Great taste for healthy drink

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

Taste not compromised

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

Prepared to switch for better tasting drink which is health

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

Yes vanilla and cherry would be good

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

Won’t much difference

What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?
I wasn't very keen on the taste. It was excessively sweet and lacked the 'Cola' flavour. It left my mouth feeling quite sticky. My daughters didn't mind it but one said "it didn't taste quite right".

-How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?
A varient on the zero sugar/ diet version.

-What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?
Natural ingeredient not synthetic. Natural colours.

-To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola? Not turning vegan or vegetarian but trying to use more eco and animal friendly products.

-Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?
A bitter lemon or lime version could be good to counterbalance the sweetness.

-How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies? Very important.

Thank you for letting me trial this, whilst this product is not quite right for me i would still try future new versions with different flavours etc.

The questions are a bit silly. All cola is vegan and it's all bad for your teeth and body. Sugar or no sugar.

Tart it up as much as you like but cola will never be a health product

What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

As a family we enjoyed the taste, to be honest it didnt' really taste any different to regular Cola, maybe "flatter"

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family? Tastes like flat coke, its not green either! lol

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

less sugar, less caffeine, no artificial colour and flavours are the most important options for my family.

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola? Its something we are exploring but those that are on the market are very over priced.

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

Absolutely, different flavours would be great, cherry, colourless, a large variety of flavours is a must. Also caffeine free would be fantastic.

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies? Very important, its important we teach our children young and they can continue this trend without second guessing their choices.

I'm baffled by this. I'm not a tester but drink a lot of Diet Coke so interested in this product. That's until you get to the question where they try and push Green Cola as a vegan/vegetarian product. Since when are other colas NOT vegan/vege?!? This is a really misleading way to advertise a product.

FleurNancy some drinks (although not coke) contain fish gelatine. So cannot be vegan. It is a bit of a misleading question as coke is vegan but other products in the range are not. Some contain added vit d, which is sourced from lanolin in sheep's wool so again not vegan.

@CynthiaRothrock Yes, I read that some of the orangey drinks like Fanta aren't but this is about cola products and I think they are making a giant and unjustified leap.

Re: colas not being vegetarian/vegan, Diet Pepsi is not vegan.

@FleurNancy I posted some links earlier in the thread as I thought it was a bit odd

www.coca-cola.co.uk/faq/coca-cola-drinks-suitable-for-vegans-vegetarians

Just reading the thread to find out of the cola is actually the colour green or not?

• What is your overall perception of Green Cola, in terms of taste, as a healthier alternative, better ingredients? Which elements did you like the most?

*I liked the idea of natural ingredients from a small and ethically concerned company. The reality was, however, that I really did not like the taste. It reminded me very much of the cheap cola you would get at birthday parties as a child. The stuff that was about 10p for 2 litres.....*

• How would you describe Green Cola to your friends and family?

Supposed to be a healthier alternative to Diet Coke or Coke Zero. Sadly disappointing in taste.

• What are the most important factors you look for when selecting healthier options in soft drinks?

Taste. Sugar content/ calories. Preservatives. Price.

• To what extent are you and your family looking to switch to vegan / vegetarian alternatives such as Green Cola?

Pretty sure that Coke Zero doesn’t have a steak secreted away at the bottom of the can......

• Would you be interested in other varieties from the Green Cola brand? If so, which? E.g. cherry, lemon, caffeine free?

I would actively avoid even trying them as I disliked it so much.

• How important is it to have wherever possible more ethical and sustainable soft drinks like Green Cola, as well as those from UK independent companies?

Hugely important, however they much also be enjoyable to drink.