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In our ongoing quest to keep you updated on the sugar free food and beverage options in Shanghai (and to keep with our tradition of posting stories that are "SOOOO interesting"), we thought we'd mention that locally branded Coca-Cola Zero — a sugar free carbonated beverage that "unlike the sugar-free Diet Coke, is formulated to taste like Coca-Cola," according to Wikipedia — started being available in Shanghai grocery stores and convenience stores sometime last week (we think). Coke Zero, which comes in a black can, made its global debut in 2005, and friends in Beijing said they have had it up there since sometime earlier this year.
We thought perhaps Coke Zero (which does taste pretty good, we should add) used Splenda as its sweetener, but according to Coke's website (which doesn't yet list China in its list of locations where Coke Zero is available) the sweetener is something called Ace K. We paid RMB 3.1 for our Coke Zero at an Alldays.
Numerous other imported sugar free soft drinks are available in various Western grocery stores throughout China, but they are at least double the price of the locally branded items. While we're happy to have Coke Zero as another sugar free option in the city, we can't help but think that a Diet Sprite or a Diet 7-Up would make more sense for the local market. We know we would buy it.
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Coca-Cola Zero's Hong Kong website
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I have been on a Coke Zero QUEST since it's arrival in Shanghai.
Kedi stores all seem to have it for 2.40
I picked up on at Buddies today for 2.40
Now, if they will just learn to REFRIGERATE the beverages, we'll really be in business.
Shanghaiist missed the real Diet Soda scoop: Diet Coke changed its formula sometime around the New Year. Originally cans with the weird Olympic rings were the gross-tasting ones, but that label was phased out and now even normal label Diet Coke tastes gross. Maybe this is a chemical that some people are more sensitive to than others - for me, it's night & day.
I'm guessing it's a new sweetener - anyway as a former serious addict of the stuff, it's now basically undrinkable. It's become almost impossible to find cans that are date-stamped last year, but if you do find them buy out their entire stock. It'll be worth the Alzheimer's you get years down the road.
I'm with fijofojif - I used to be a major coke light (note the name!) addict. I can't drink diet coke in the US, and drinking real coke, while delicious and refreshing, will surely put me on the road to diabetes (no joke - runs in my family)
So I drank coke light (lots!) and now, I'm totally off the stuff, because its 100% been reforumlated or something.
I think Coke Zero tastes like death or something else unsavory. It tastes no where near real Coke, so I guess I'm off Coca-Cola products.
try diet pepsi, it taste like regular coke, but has 0 cal. for health reason, drink water. hehe.
but coke zero is not good for your body, it's cancer-developing
i rather have diet coke, i think it even tastes better than regular coke.
Shopgirl, Do you have any reliable links to support your cancer claim?
Exactly. VERYYYY interesting.
Shanghaist, I can see a whole range of stories for you, just by going to my supermarket and looking at the soft drinks' shelf.
Hey! wait! There are other shelves behind! Wow, a whole new world of posts remains to be sent!
Looking forward to read about tampons and detergents....
Lucas
Where can I get my hands on some of this "Ace K" of which you speak?
i like water..as i am pure as water !
its also the orginate of every drinks ! simply the best ! Do
Do you folks understood ?
Pure as Shanghai tap water. Gotcha.
god damming coke cola bouregoise pig dogs! chinese people proud! no need for u fuck fuck soda! we have the soda from china and by china! look at iraq! does iraq have the soda? i hate america. liars!!!!!!!!
Photoluc sounds like another bitchy, jaded French expat.
POE... POE... Purity of Essence...
I think General Jack D. Ripper would understand tommylee2's excellent point...
"God willing, we will prevail, in peace and freedom from fear, and in true health, through the purity and essence of our natural... fluids. God bless you all."
Clearly this Coke Zero business is some kind of Dalai-Clique/CIA plot to split China by contaminating the motherland's loyal youth with Ace K.
But be careful, tommylee2, because if you get too close to the truth...
"You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company."
Diet Pepsi? No way! The best diet soda now is fucking Diet A&W Root Beer, and I hate that shit.
Anyway it's a good motivation to hurry through the mountains of tea leaves I've accumulated. I get the good stuff, from India and Japan, ha ha.