Two Prebiotic Colas Rise to the Top in Taste Test

Prebiotic colas have become increasingly popular in recent years, with sales soaring from $33 million in 2022 to $777 million in 2025. To find out if these new colas live up to their promise of being a healthier alternative to classic sodas, the team at Serious Eats taste-tested six prebiotic colas on the market.

The criteria for evaluating these colas were similar to those used to assess classic colas: they should be tasty, refreshing, nicely carbonated, and have a well-rounded flavor profile with warm spices and deep caramel notes. The team found that the two winners, Poppi Classic Cola and Pepsi Prebiotic Cola, closely mimicked the ingredient lists of traditional colas.

Poppi's prebiotic Classic Cola contains 25 calories and five grams of sugar per 12-ounce can, compared to Coca-Cola's 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar. The team found that both Poppi and Pepsi had straightforward ingredient lists, using cane sugar as their primary sweetener, along with prebiotic fiber and caffeine.

In contrast to the other four colas tested, which were artificially sweetened or used stevia leaf extract alone, these two winners stood out for their more natural ingredients. The team found that Poppi's Classic Cola had a smooth texture and good carbonation, while Pepsi Prebiotic Cola was praised for its vanilla-forward flavor profile.

While the other four colas were not well-received by the taste-testers, they did provide valuable insights into what makes a prebiotic cola successful. The team found that sodas with artificial sweeteners or stevia leaf extract alone were less popular than those with more natural ingredients.