What Soda Has Stevia Instead of Aspartame?

November 21, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), aspartame has been classified as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans'. This has led many health-conscious consumers to search for a new zero-calorie option, and the question of what soda has stevia instead of aspartame has grown in popularity. The natural, plant-derived sweetener is a key ingredient in many popular alternative beverages today.

Quick Summary

This article explores soda brands that substitute the artificial sweetener aspartame with the plant-based alternative, stevia. It provides details on prominent brands, taste profiles, ingredients, and key differences between sweeteners to help consumers make informed beverage choices.

Key Points

Leading Brand: Zevia is the most prominent soda brand sweetened exclusively with stevia leaf extract, offering a wide variety of zero-calorie, zero-sugar flavors.
Other Options: Brands like Green Cola and Virgil's Zero Sugar also incorporate stevia, sometimes blending it with other natural sweeteners like monk fruit and erythritol.
Natural vs. Artificial: Stevia is a natural, plant-based sweetener, while aspartame is an artificial, synthetic compound, representing a key difference for many health-conscious consumers.
Health and Taste: Stevia is linked to minimal impact on blood sugar, but its taste can have a bitter aftertaste in some formulations; aspartame has a closer taste to sugar but comes with more public controversy.
Read Labels: Always check the ingredients list, as some products may use a blend of sweeteners alongside stevia, such as sugar alcohols, which can affect individuals differently.
Informed Choices: Knowing the distinctions between stevia and aspartame and the specific ingredients in various brands helps consumers make a more conscious decision about their diet.

Popular Soda Brands Using Stevia

One of the most well-known and widely available brands offering soda with stevia is Zevia. Zevia products are naturally sweetened with stevia leaf extract and contain zero calories and zero sugar. The company offers a broad range of flavors, including traditional soda varieties, fruity options, and even mixers.

Zevia's Flavor Assortment

Zevia is notable for mimicking classic soda flavors without the use of artificial sweeteners or added sugar. Their product line includes a variety of options to suit different palates.

Cola: A traditional cola taste with citrus and spice notes.
Ginger Ale: A crisp and refreshing ginger ale option.
Cream Soda: A rich, vanilla-forward flavor.
Grape: A fruity, nostalgic grape soda flavor.
Dr. Zevia: A take on a popular spiced cherry cola.

Other Notable Stevia-Sweetened Sodas

While Zevia may dominate the stevia soda market, other brands also incorporate this natural sweetener into their formulations.

Green Cola: Naturally sweetened with stevia leaf extract, this brand also uses caffeine sourced from green coffee beans.
Virgil's Zero Sugar: This brand uses a blend of natural sweeteners, including stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol. Virgil's is famous for its root beer and cream soda flavors.
Bai Brands: While not a traditional soda, Bai products, such as their sparkling water line Bai Bubbles, are sweetened with stevia and monk fruit extract.
VitaminWater Zero Sugar: Owned by the Coca-Cola company, this beverage contains a blend of stevia and monk fruit extracts.

How Stevia Compares to Aspartame

The choice between stevia and aspartame often comes down to personal health philosophy. Stevia is a natural, plant-derived sweetener, while aspartame is an artificial one. For consumers concerned about the synthetic nature of artificial sweeteners, stevia offers a plant-based alternative.


Feature	Stevia	Aspartame
Source	Plant-derived (Stevia rebaudiana plant leaves)	Artificial/Synthetic (amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine)
Calorie Count	Zero calories	Low calorie (negligible in a typical serving)
Aftertaste	Some variants may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste, though modern refinement minimizes this.	Generally has less aftertaste, though some people report a lingering one.
Taste Profile	Very sweet (200-400x sweeter than sugar), can affect perception of other flavors.	Very sweet (200x sweeter than sugar) with a taste profile that closely mimics sugar.
Heat Stability	Stable, making it suitable for baking and cooking.	Not heat-stable, losing sweetness when heated.
Controversy	Less public concern over long-term safety compared to aspartame.	Long history of public and scientific debate over potential health risks.

Potential Health Considerations for Stevia and Aspartame

When choosing a sweetener, understanding the potential health impacts is key. Stevia is often preferred by those seeking a more "natural" diet, as it is derived directly from a plant source. It is also known to have a minimal impact on blood glucose levels, making it a popular choice for diabetics. However, recent studies and regulatory bodies have suggested caution regarding the long-term use of artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, which has fueled the demand for natural alternatives.

The Importance of Reading Labels

It is crucial for consumers to read product labels carefully, even when a product is marketed as "stevia-sweetened." Some products may combine stevia with other sweeteners, including sugar alcohols like erythritol, to improve the taste profile. While zero-calorie and safe for most, some individuals might experience digestive issues from sugar alcohols. A pure, stevia-only option, like Zevia, avoids these additional ingredients.

Conclusion: Navigating Your Soda Choices

When seeking what soda has stevia instead of aspartame, brands like Zevia, Green Cola, and Virgil's Zero Sugar are excellent places to start. Zevia is a particularly strong option, offering a wide array of flavors with a commitment to zero sugar, zero calories, and plant-based ingredients. While stevia has generally been regarded as a safer, more natural alternative to aspartame, consumers should remain mindful of the ingredients in any beverage, always checking labels for clarity. By understanding the key differences between sweeteners and exploring the available options, you can make a more informed and health-conscious choice for your sparkling beverage needs.

Visit Zevia's website to learn more about their product range and philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

While major soda brands like Coca-Cola have experimented with stevia in products like Coca-Cola Life, these were often mid-calorie options or have since been discontinued. For an exclusively stevia-sweetened soda, independent brands like Zevia are the primary option.

Stevia is generally considered safe and has fewer reported side effects than some artificial sweeteners. Some individuals may be sensitive to certain stevia products, with reports of a bitter aftertaste or, in rare cases, minor digestive issues.

Yes, stevia is a popular sweetener for people with diabetes because it is zero-calorie and has no impact on blood glucose or insulin levels. However, it is always recommended to consult a doctor or nutritionist for personalized dietary advice.

While stevia itself is natural, some companies blend it with other natural or artificial ingredients, flavors, and sweeteners, such as erythritol. Brands like Zevia are known for using only natural, plant-based ingredients.

The taste difference is a key factor, as stevia can have a different flavor profile, sometimes with a subtle bitter or licorice-like aftertaste, while aspartame often provides a cleaner, more sugar-like sweetness. Formulations have improved, and many people find brands like Zevia to be a delicious alternative.

Zevia is widely considered a healthier alternative to regular soda because it contains zero sugar and zero calories. However, nutritionists often recommend consuming all sweeteners, including natural ones, in moderation and prioritizing plain water as a primary beverage.

Aspartame is being replaced in some products due to growing consumer demand for more natural alternatives and ongoing public health concerns, despite regulatory approval. Concerns raised by bodies like the IARC have pushed many to seek alternatives like stevia.