A heated rivalry has existed for decades between lovers of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, perhaps because they are very similar products. Learning to perceive the difference in flavor between these two iconic sodas can be fun, whether it's for personal satisfaction or as a "trick" to show off in the living room. Remember, however, that these are minor differences; in a blind test, most people cannot tell one drink from another.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Evaluating the Flavor
Step 1. Consider the flavor qualities
Coca-Cola and Pepsi are very similar, but their flavors are not exactly the same. Start with a sip, focus on the flavor and try to understand and perceive the aromas. Each person's sense of taste is different, but very often flavors are compared in this way:
- There Coca Cola it is often associated with a raisin flavor with a hint of vanilla.
- There Pepsi it is more often compared to citrus fruits.
Step 2. Judge the intensity
To describe the taste of a drink, you don't have to limit yourself to comparing its aroma with other ingredients, you also have to understand what sensation it leaves in your mouth. Take another sip and focus on how the liquid works on your tongue and throat as it moves around your mouth. Again, everyone's opinion is different, but many people say that:
- There Coca Cola it has a flavor that most people refer to as "softer". The aroma gradually expands and fades just as gently. The drink easily goes down the throat.
- There Pepsi it has a flavor that many find "more tart". It has a more violent "impact" on the taste buds and the aroma expands with "bursts" of flavor. As it flows down the throat, the taste becomes a little stronger.
Step 3. Weigh the sweetness
Again you need to sip the soda and focus on its sugar content. Is sweetness predominant or delicate? It's hard to make a judgment unless you can drink both drinks and compare them immediately. Official nutrition information states that:
- There Coca Cola it contains slightly less sugar, so it is less sweet.
- There Pepsi it has a higher percentage of sugar, so it tastes sweeter.
Step 4. Feel the level of carbonation
Take a sip of the soda in your mouth for a few seconds and focus on the bubbles and the sparkling sensation. Is the liquid carbonated enough or is it "smoother" than the sodas you are used to drinking? This factor is also not at all easy to evaluate, unless you have both products available for a direct comparison. Here are some data:
- There Coca Cola it has a higher carbon dioxide level, so it is more sparkling.
- There Pepsi it is less carbonated, so it is "smoother".
Step 5. Smell the drink to smell it
If you're still not sure what you're drinking, try smelling the drink as you gently rotate the glass (like a haughty wine taster). In this way you release a little more of the aromatic chemical components of the liquid and the nose is able to perceive them. Now focus your attention on the aroma; if you had to choose, does the scent remind you more of vanilla and raisins (like the taste of Coca-Cola) or citrus fruits (like Pepsi)?
Part 2 of 2: Take a Tasting
Step 1. Get both sodas for a comparison test
As described above, the differences are very small, but they can be noticed more easily (although it is not an easy task) during a comparative test (rather than just drinking one and trying to guess which one it is). To be able to tell a Coke from a Pepsi, you should have both products on hand and try them one after the other.
If you want to go through this test just for fun, then ask a friend to blindfold you and swap the position of the glasses so you don't know where the two drinks are. If, on the other hand, you are training to distinguish products for some future test, then avoid blindfolding
Step 2. After a first sip, decide which drink you prefer
First you need to just sip each liquid. Although each individual's sense of taste is different, this test isn't as random as you might think:
Statistically, most people prefer the taste of Pepsi to the first sip. It is stronger, sweeter and leaves a stronger trace. It is even able to stimulate more that area of the brain responsible for the evaluation of flavors
Step 3. Evaluate your favorite drink after drinking at will
Now you need to drink both drinks until the glasses are completely empty or until you feel full. Make a note of which drink you like the most even in large quantities. If your first impression has changed (at first taste you preferred one brand, while after drinking large quantities you prefer the other), then your tastes are within average. Indeed:
- Statistically, most people prefer Coca-Cola after drinking one or more cans. Its more delicate and less sweet flavor allows it to be consumed in large quantities.
- For this reason, if you preferred a drink at the first sip, but changed your mind after drinking a lot more, the first liquid was probably a Pepsi and the second a Coke.
Advice
- Coca-Cola is slightly more salty than Pepsi (33 mg of sodium in 240 ml versus 20 mg of Pepsi), but it is almost impossible to perceive it by taste alone.
- Although it is an impossible feature to savor, Pepsi has a higher caffeine content than Coca-Cola; for this reason, choose the first drink, if you need a "boost" of energy.
