4d ago

What European kola and soda brands do you know, as alternatives to Coke and Pepsi?

I know Afri Kola (not much, only have had it a couple of times in Germany) and Fritz Kola (moree common in other countries, delicious, also other flavours, orange and apple are very very good).

36 comments

Club Mate is exquisite

Kofola (from Czechia)

Does anyone remember this one?
- I don't, but I want it
  
  I haven't seen one in at least 20 years, I don't think it exists anymore.

Breizh Cola in Britanny, France

Italy has a ton of great sodas. Stappi's Chinotto is a favorite.
- Chinotto is much better than cola in my opinion.
  
  Agreed, Im just sad that I can't drink it anymore (bad teeth) and can't afford it (American with stupid tariffs)

Kofola is god tier, originally Czechoslovak but sold in Central/Eastern Europe. It’s more herbal so it’s a matter of taste like with everything but many people seem to enjoy that.
- Agreed, I loved it when I was in Czech republic.

Cockta is very popular in former Yugoslavia countries.
- We had a thing called Polo Cockta in Poland back in the day, supposedly based of Slovenian Cockta. It’s being sold again now but I assume that the brand owner coasts on nostalgia and I have no idea if it tastes anything like the old one. Do you know if yours is similar to the original formula?
  
  Ours is the same as one from Yugoslavia days here in Slovenia.

A.G. Barr of Scotland produce a variety of fizzy drinks, including Barr cola. Can be seen in most medium or above sized shops in the UK, unsure of their availability abroad.

There's Fritz Kola and Vita Cola from Germany

Cuba Cola is the oldest cola style beverage in Sweden. Its popularity has varied, but a few years ago i got a re-launch together with a sugar free variant.

Austria has a quite big drinks economy for being a small-ish country. Now I havent tried each of these yet, but here are a few brands:
Keli is one of the most well-known lemonade/soda brands and has a Cola flavour drink
Frucade is a good german-austrian lemonade brand, but has no Cola drink
"Tirola Kola" from Tyrol
Pedacola from Upper Austria (weirdly enough not a black colour)
"Murelli Dracola" from Styria (yes, a Dracula pun since this region allegedly inspired the story)
"Strizzi Cola" from Salzburg

In Spain, I have started buying mercadona's store-brand cola. It tasted basically the same as coca-cola at less than half the price and a fraction of the fascism.

Frem cola. Coop cola, Jolly Cola those are the ones i can recall my memory from Denmark/Scandinavia
- Jolly is the OG cola of Denmark, it is a product of cooperation between a lot of danish breweries to compete against Coca Cola and is imho the greatest cola ever to exist.
- Also Harboe.

In Germany I often drink Mezzo Mix, which is a "Spezi", cola with orange. Sadly it looks like both major brands are owned by Pepsico and Cocacola.
- Buy MischMasch instead, should be from Fritz Cola and tastes even better ;)
  
  I'm only an American, so I've never heard of those. Thank you for the tip.
- How about Paulaner Spezi or Gloria Cola Mix? :)
  
  Thank you. I'm just am American who visits occasionally do I don't know all of the options!

Sinalco is made in Germany afaik, and it has coke/orange/sprite flavors with zero sugar variants. Also cheaper than Coca Cola

Prixgarantie / Mbudget Cola in switzerland is better than the original

Freeway zero sugar from Lidl is pretty good and can probably be bought in a lot of European countries.

Green Cola is stevia-based and I believe it originates in Greece. I've had it on purpose at times.

Cockta
Sensation
Sky Cola
This is for Croatian store Konzum, prices may vary depending on store and country

In Greece we have "Green Cola" made using Stevia (not sugar, not Aspartame). It's the only one I buy, tastes fine. As far as I've seen (?), it's a smaller bootstrapped company in competition with the encumbant bottling mega-companies, so there is that benefit too.