Which Drinks Contain Stevia? A Comprehensive Guide

November 10, 2025 •

5 min read

Stevia is derived from a plant native to South America and has been used as a sweetener for centuries. With a growing number of health-conscious consumers seeking to reduce sugar intake, finding out which drinks contain stevia has become a common question, as this zero-calorie sweetener offers a popular alternative. This guide will help you identify the wide range of beverages that incorporate stevia today.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a detailed look at various beverages, from soft drinks to flavored waters and teas, that use stevia as a sweetener. It lists specific brands and products across different categories, offering insights into how to identify stevia-sweetened options and the factors that influence its usage in commercial drinks.

Key Points

Variety of Drinks: Stevia can be found in a wide range of beverage types, including sodas, teas, flavored waters, juices, and sports drinks.
Popular Brands: Brands such as Zevia, Bai, and VitaminWater Zero Sugar are well-known for using stevia in their product formulations.
Zero and Low-Calorie Options: Stevia is a zero-calorie sweetener, making it a key ingredient in many zero-sugar and reduced-calorie drinks.
Blended Sweeteners: To counteract a potential bitter aftertaste, many manufacturers combine stevia with other sweeteners, such as erythritol or monk fruit.
How to Identify: To determine if a drink contains stevia, check the ingredient list for terms like "stevia leaf extract" or "Rebaudioside A".
DIY Options: For those who prefer to control the sweetness, stevia can be added in liquid or powdered form to homemade beverages like iced tea and lemonade.
Natural Alternative: As a plant-based sweetener, stevia is a popular choice for consumers looking for natural alternatives to traditional sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Popular Categories of Drinks with Stevia

Stevia's versatility and zero-calorie nature have made it a popular choice for beverage manufacturers seeking to offer healthier alternatives to sugar-sweetened drinks. You can find stevia in a wide range of beverages across different categories, and its use is growing as more consumers seek natural, low-sugar options.

Carbonated Soft Drinks

Several brands now offer zero-sugar or reduced-calorie sodas by sweetening them with stevia. The most notable name in this category is Zevia, a brand that specializes in naturally sweetened, zero-calorie sodas using stevia and monk fruit. They offer a wide range of flavors, including traditional cola, root beer, and various fruit options.

Major beverage giants have also experimented with and incorporated stevia into their product lines:

Coca-Cola: In recent years, Coca-Cola has changed its Coca-Cola Zero Sugar formula in the U.S. to include a small amount of stevia, alongside other sweeteners. Historically, they also offered Coca-Cola Life, a mid-calorie soda sweetened with both stevia and sugar, though this product was later discontinued.
PepsiCo: Brands owned by PepsiCo, like Sobe Lifewater and Trop50, have utilized stevia in some of their formulations. The company also once launched Pepsi True, a mid-calorie cola sweetened with a blend of sugar and stevia.
Green Cola: This brand focuses specifically on providing a zero-calorie, sugar-free cola sweetened with 100% stevia leaf extract.

Flavored and Sparkling Waters

For those looking for a flavorful but low-calorie way to stay hydrated, many flavored waters now feature stevia. These drinks satisfy sweet cravings without the empty calories found in sugary fruit juices or traditional sodas. Examples include:

Bai: The Bai lineup, which includes Superteas, antioxidant infusions, and Bai Bubbles, uses stevia alongside erythritol to achieve its signature low-calorie sweetness.
True Lemon/Citrus: This company offers powdered and liquid drink mixes that are sweetened with stevia for on-the-go water flavoring. Flavors range from strawberry lemonade to black cherry limeade.
VitaminWater Zero Sugar: Part of the Coca-Cola family, these beverages are sweetened with a combination of stevia and monk fruit extract.

Teas and Juices

Stevia is also used to create lower-sugar versions of teas and juices, catering to consumers who want the flavor of these drinks with less sugar.

Steaz: This brand produces a variety of tea-based beverages, including iced teas and energy teas, that are sweetened with stevia.
Starbucks Refreshers: These popular drinks, available at grocery stores, are sweetened with stevia leaf extract (Rebaudioside A) and also contain natural caffeine and B vitamins.
Honest Tea: A brand owned by Coca-Cola, Honest Tea offered a range of organic, low-sugar teas that included stevia as a sweetener.
Ocean Spray: Some of their ZERO Sugar juice drinks, such as Mixed Berry and Tropical Punch, are sweetened with stevia.

Energy and Sports Drinks

To provide energy without the added sugar, many functional beverages and sports drinks have turned to stevia. Products like Gatorade Fit and some of the offerings from Zevia (e.g., Zevia Energy) are examples of this trend.

Comparison of Popular Stevia-Sweetened Drinks


Drink Category	Example Brand	Key Features	Sweetener Blend	Typical Aftertaste	Calorie Count
Sodas	Zevia	Zero-calorie soda in classic and fruit flavors	Stevia & Monk Fruit	Minimal to none, depending on flavor	Zero
Flavored Water	Bai	Antioxidant infusions, bubbles, and teas	Stevia & Erythritol	Noticeable, but often mild	Zero to low
Teas	Steaz	Organic, iced teas and energy teas	Stevia	Can be present, but often blended away	Low to zero
Juice	Ocean Spray ZERO	Reduced sugar juice blends	Stevia	Mildly noticeable, blended with fruit flavor	Low (check label)
Water Enhancers	True Lemon	Powdered drink mix packets	Stevia	Varies by brand and concentration	Zero

Factors Affecting the Use of Stevia in Drinks

While stevia is a popular sugar alternative, manufacturers face several challenges when incorporating it into beverages. The primary issue is stevia's taste profile. High-purity stevia leaf extract can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar but may carry a mild, licorice-like or bitter aftertaste, especially when used in high concentrations.

To mitigate this, many companies use stevia in combination with other sweeteners, both natural and artificial. This blending strategy helps create a more rounded and palatable flavor profile that is closer to traditional sugar. Some common blending partners include monk fruit extract, erythritol, and in some cases, a small amount of sugar. The specific blend and purification process used can dramatically affect the final taste, which is why the flavor can vary significantly from one stevia-sweetened drink to another.

Conclusion: Navigating Stevia-Sweetened Choices

With the beverage industry's shift towards healthier options, a growing number of zero- and low-calorie drinks contain stevia. From major brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi to specialized alternatives like Zevia and Bai, consumers have more choices than ever before. The list of beverages sweetened with stevia is extensive and includes sodas, flavored waters, teas, and juices. However, because of stevia's potential aftertaste, many products combine it with other natural or artificial sweeteners to achieve a balanced flavor. To find a drink that meets your taste preferences, it is essential to read labels and explore the different offerings available.

Explore the range of products using stevia and learn more about its benefits at the International Stevia Council website.

How to Find Drinks with Stevia

When searching for beverages containing stevia, you can employ a few strategies. Firstly, read the ingredient list on any potential drink. Look for "stevia leaf extract," "Rebaudioside A," or other steviol glycosides listed as sweeteners. Secondly, check the product's nutritional information. Many brands will advertise "zero sugar" or "naturally sweetened" on the packaging, signaling a good starting point. Online retailers, like Amazon, and health-focused grocery stores, like Whole Foods, often have dedicated sections for beverages with natural or alternative sweeteners, making them easier to find.

Stevia vs. Other Sweeteners

Consumers often compare stevia to other sweeteners, both natural and artificial. Unlike sucralose or aspartame, stevia is plant-derived, which appeals to those seeking more "natural" ingredients. While zero-calorie, pure stevia has its distinctive taste, which some people may prefer. Many brands use it in combination with other natural sweeteners like monk fruit to produce a more balanced flavor profile. This approach allows for a broader range of zero- and low-calorie options to suit different preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. However, the highly purified steviol glycoside extracts used commercially are considered safe, though the FDA has not approved crude or whole-leaf stevia for use.

Yes, some Coca-Cola products use stevia. The U.S. formula for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar now includes a small amount of stevia. Other brands owned by Coca-Cola, like VitaminWater Zero Sugar, also use stevia.

Yes, all Zevia sodas are explicitly sweetened with stevia leaf extract, along with monk fruit, and contain zero calories.

Yes, some people perceive a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste from stevia, especially in products with higher concentrations or lower-purity extracts. To address this, many drinks combine stevia with other sweeteners to improve the flavor.

Since stevia does not raise blood glucose levels, it is considered a safe and suitable sugar alternative for people with diabetes. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary advice.

Both are natural, zero-calorie sweeteners. Stevia is derived from the stevia plant, while monk fruit is extracted from monk fruit. They are often used together in beverages to balance flavor, as they both have different taste profiles.

Yes, many brands produce water enhancer packets or liquid drops sweetened with stevia. They are widely available at major grocery stores and online retailers.