In a quest to find satisfying alternatives to sugary staples like Sprite, Fanta, and Dr Pepper, one lifestyle writer has declared a clear winner. Lucy Addicott, on a mission to cut back on sugar, has been sampling low-calorie fizzy drinks and has now found a brand that she says ticks all the boxes for taste, health, and party appeal.
A Refreshing Discovery for Gut and Taste Buds
The brand that captured her attention is Hip Pop, which offers a range of naturally refreshing drinks designed to be gut-friendly substitutes for artificial, sugar-heavy fizzy drinks. The company was founded by Emma, who initially developed a kombucha to help her partner Kenny manage his IBS. The range has since expanded to include low-calorie sodas that promise to taste as good as they make you feel.
Lucy sampled the entire eight-flavour range, which is crafted from real fruit, contains no sweeteners, and is brimming with live cultures. She tested the drinks at social events, with meals, and as an afternoon pick-me-up. The current winter promotion allows new customers to get a 12-can trial case for just £12, slashing the per-can price to £1. This offer is limited to one deal per customer, with a subscription starting at 24 cans for £22.50 per month that can be cancelled anytime.
From Tropical Peach to Ginger Kombucha: Flavour Verdict
The flavour selection goes beyond the usual supermarket offerings. The soda blends include tropical peach, pink grapefruit, berries and cherries, and ginger and turmeric. For kombucha lovers, the options are strawberry and pineapple, ginger and yuzu, blueberry and ginger, and apple and elderflower.
While impressed by every flavour, Lucy had clear favourites. The blueberry and ginger kombucha and the berries and cherries soda stood out as top picks. She noted the authentic taste from real fruit was immediately apparent and matched the descriptions perfectly.
Taking an assortment to a party, she found they made a fantastic alcohol-free option for festive gatherings. The ginger kombucha wasn't universally loved, but the other flavours were a hit. For kombucha beginners, she recommends starting with the sodas, which contain the same live cultures but offer a lighter, more familiar fizz compared to the tangy, fermented taste of kombucha.
Packaging, Price, and Where to Buy
Beyond the contents, Lucy praised the vibrant, illustrative can design, which makes each flavour easily identifiable and looks great on display—a key factor for her, given her dedicated drinks fridge. She also highlighted that, unlike some watery low-calorie alternatives, the Hip Pop drinks were full of flavour.
Ultimately, she concluded that Hip Pop drinks taste delightful, are beneficial for gut health, add fibre to the diet, and are low in calories. Shoppers can purchase Hip Pop directly from the brand's website or find them at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, M&S, Morrisons, and Ocado.
For those exploring other options, the article also mentioned DASH sparkling water and Twinings sparkling tea as alternative low-calorie fizzy drinks.
