Why does Dr Pepper taste like here?

Posted by Same-Inflation1966@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 65 comments

I was born in Texas, and the first country I ever went to outside of a state or territory, that we illegally took (y’all can relate). But to my dismay, my favorite soft drink Dr Pepper taste like absolute ass here. But specifically with my Dr Pepper sommelier powers find it reminiscent of the HEB (Texas’s is better, Walmart) generic brand of Dr Pepper, Dr B. This is upsetting me so much that it’s got the conspirasizing about the domestic generic Dr Pepper markets in the United States and the foreign markets abroad. I swear people of the UK this is not Dr Pepper, y’all have been boned.

Reply to Post

Reply

65 Comments

[-]

PersonalityLost5228@reddit

Assuming this is a 'compared to ...' question. As a general rule, everything in the UK tends to have less sugar in it and/or is less sweetened than the US until it comes to chocolate, where we clearly add more. . We still find things very sweet but going to the US, everything seems to be much more so - Dr Pepper, other sodas, sweets/candies and bread (wtf is sugar doing in bread??). The general difference would be the UK to US Dr Pepper is less sweet therefore syrupy, and a little less fizzy, giving it a lighter taste ... or a someone else put it 'fizzy benylin'. Still totally recognisable as dr Pepper tho.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

To me, it taste like the great value brand of Dr Pepper

Reply

[-]

Informal_Marzipan_90@reddit

Because our government think we should all be punished because fat cunts can’t control themselves, so introduced taxes on sugar, this had a knock on effect of brands reducing sugar and making everything taste like arse.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

I also say fuck those brands I know Dr Pepper big enough to take the hit

Reply

[-]

Informal_Marzipan_90@reddit

Agreed, I’d pay more for the original recipe.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

For sure

Reply

[-]

SpinMyEyes@reddit

Marzipan

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

The almond dough?

Reply

[-]

SpinMyEyes@reddit

Yup. To me, personally, it's like drinking a cake (🎂).

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

Interesting…

Reply

[-]

listyraesder@reddit

Virgin Disaronno & Coke

Reply

[-]

slimboyslim9@reddit

UK resident here who lived in Texas for a few years and still occasionally visits. You are exactly right. The new sugar tax here has completely changed soda in this country. Companies are doing whatever they can to replace sugar with substitutes and the Dr P. here is awful. I won’t even buy it. Was back in TX over Christmas and it was one of the first things I went to buy a couple of bottles to bring home (my family’s Christmas presents are apparently more important…). I also made sure I had it from the fountain at every opportunity. Texas Dr Pepper is special. Here, you may as well not bother. Wait til you visit home again and make the most of it.

Reply

[-]

Significant-Glove521@reddit

Interesting, I'm off to Texas soon, so I'm going to have to try the Dr Pepper whilst I am there.

Reply

[-]

slimboyslim9@reddit

Honestly, it’s the best. And because it is from Texas, they have it everywhere. And apparently they use cane sugar in Texas, which they don’t elsewhere, so it’s better there than anywhere else. I don’t have a source on that, it’s just word of mouth but my experience backs it up.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

The old Dublin, Texas glass bottles are mostly sugar came in taste delicious (they are just better) I think they used to only be sold in Texas but this is American capitalism… so I’m sure you can find it elsewhere. I would highly recommend a comparison between the varieties

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

If you have the chance, tho Texas is big as fuck you should go to the Dr Pepper Museum if you’re anywhere near Waco! It takes about $10 to get in I think

Reply

[-]

Cleveland_Grackle@reddit

Try some [Cheerwine](https://images.app.goo.gl/TB2Z8ZLxX5J5pBxo6) if you want some pure sugar in a can. Also, as previously stated, seek out St Arnold's Rootbeer and Texas Tea. HEB is the best supermarket for Texas based goodies.

Reply

[-]

Jlaw118@reddit

I’m the same with Capri Sun’s since the recipe changed. I’ve noticed in the Middle East it’s the original recipe for them and if ever we visit, the same as you, it’s the first thing I buy, crates and crates of the stuff. I even looked at shipping some back home but the shipping charges were ridiculous

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

I actually have a little brother who would love this news do you have any Middle Eastern countries in particular?

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

Thank you, you cultured man (or whatever I don’t judge)

Reply

[-]

drbataman@reddit

Dr.Pepper

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

Indeee

Reply

[-]

Jlaw118@reddit

Due to the UK government introducing sugar tax on sugary products, UK drinks manufacturers in recent years have been changing their recipes to cut sugar out of the drinks and replace them with artificial sweeteners. Despite the fact I think I speak for all UK consumers when I say we’d rather just pay the sugar tax and actually enjoy the drinks. But it’s more than likely due to that. Plus there’s a lot of ingredients in some American products that are deemed unsafe for consumption by EU regulations, so could also be that? My best advice would be to try your local European stores and see if you can pick up somewhat of a full sugar version of the drink with no artificial sweeteners. I don’t know if it would be exactly like what you’d have at home, but certainly better than the artificial UK ones

Reply

[-]

VolcanicBoar@reddit

As someone who prefers the artificial sweetener version of drinks, I agree. Let people make their own choice.

Reply

[-]

Jlaw118@reddit

I was thinking the other day that I really enjoy Fanta Zero and I’m a lover of Pepsi Max too. Both sugar free drinks, and both purposely sugar free drinks. If I want a sugar hit, I’ll buy full fat coke. I really wish they’d let us choose that. There’s a market for sugar free and a market for full sugar. Just wish they’d let us have those choices with nothing ruining that. I still can’t forgive Coca-Cola for ruining Capri-Suns with stevia instead of sugar, they’re vile now

Reply

[-]

chris_282@reddit

Man, I'd love an old school Fanta. I think you can still get proper Coke in McDonalds.

Reply

[-]

Jlaw118@reddit

I delivered to an African store in Bradford back in October/November and bought some glass bottles of Nigerian Fanta from there whilst I was there. They were so good! I assume full of E-numbers and sugar, but taste wise they were really good!

Reply

[-]

chris_282@reddit

I'm a known face to my local pizza guy, so he gives me a free can of whatever he's ended up with on any given week. I feel quite strongly that this country has fucked up fizzy drinks pretty badly.

Reply

[-]

Cleveland_Grackle@reddit

My first job was in a pizza shop. I used to much prefer the random cans of South African Fanta to the UK variant

Reply

[-]

Cleveland_Grackle@reddit

My first job was in a pizza shop. I used to much prefer the random cans of South African Fanta to the UK variant

Reply

[-]

Cleveland_Grackle@reddit

Fanta is a different beast entirely in the US.

Reply

[-]

Cleveland_Grackle@reddit

All pop/soda tastes like shite in the UK since the sugar tax.

Reply

[-]

Mysterious_Use4478@reddit

When did you first try it here? It’s gotten worse in the last few years.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

I was over there around the 11th

Reply

[-]

Mysterious_Use4478@reddit

Ah only recently then. Yeah it used to be better. There was a sugar tax introduced around 2018 that meant most fizzy drinks producers moved to cheaper sweeteners. Everything you get at McDonald’s and KFC etc. are all the reduced sugar versions. Tonnes of classic drinks taste shit now, Coca-Cola is one of the few ones that stuck with normal sugar.

Reply

[-]

the-illogical-logic@reddit

Out of the common well known ones I think coke is the only one left and also cherry coke last time I looked. Pepsi changed in the last few months it seems. Are there any others that are still full fat?

Reply

[-]

Mysterious_Use4478@reddit

Cokes the only one I know of

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

Damn Coke shoulda been Dr Pepper…

Reply

[-]

neuecarolyn@reddit

A sexy battery…

Reply

[-]

WarWonderful593@reddit

Try Irn Bru. Go local.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

I tried it I’m not the biggest fan of cream sodas, but thought it tasted pretty good

Reply

[-]

LondonCycling@reddit

Sugar tax. Manufacturers chose to change their recipes rather than raise prices. Dr Pepper was one such victim. So now it's artificial sweeteners to reduce the sugar content. Fwiw, we use different sugars in our fizzy drinks to the US; so a lot of our soda drinks taste slightly different. Coca-Cola is one of the very few unchanged recipes after the sugar tax. Pepsi resisted for a long time but caved in last year.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

I meant to put ass on the title. I don’t know if it’s because I’m high🍃 and dyslexic or if it was removed in the title.

Reply

[-]

chris_282@reddit

I was guessing the missing word was "what", but "ass" makes more sense. I'm with you, Tex. If you think you're cross about Dr Pepper, ask some locals about Ribena. The fucking puritans have fucked us all.

Reply

[-]

QueefHuffer69@reddit

My favourite thing about America is getting Dr Pepper in restaurants from a drink fountain. My favourite drink that the sugar tax ruined in the UK.

Reply

[-]

Happy_Boy_29@reddit

If yon does know better how would one know ? Its just sugar and water like all other fuzzy drinks, different mixes of chemicals to suit different tastes, no biggie our beer tastes like beer, yon beer tastes like what our Dr Peppers tastes like to yoiu, no conspiracy at all.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

I know I’m just adding the conspiracy layer for fun

Reply

[-]

Happy_Boy_29@reddit

A bit like the Blaze channel then.

Reply

[-]

Flavourifshrrp@reddit

Try it in the U.K. What’s the worst that could happen?

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

I did it’s not comparable to the real thing

Reply

[-]

DeapVally@reddit

It is the real thing, you're just a foreigner after all lol. US Fanta is absolute ass if we're slandering beverages though.

Reply

[-]

CourageOld838@reddit

In Dr Pepper, aspartame is to blame. It's ruined lots of tasty drinks here and in the EU, as has Stevia and Sucrolose. You can buy original, full sugar Dr Pepper from some sweet shops here that specialise in imported sweets and drinks from the US. A local petrol station where I live sells it, and a few others, such as Fanta - I take my little girl in for a treat, as she loves the Cheetos and Takis!

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

Awesome thank you, my fat American ass will be pleased

Reply

[-]

___a1b1@reddit

Who cares, it's a fizzy drink.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

Texas. Trust your cloudy island doesn’t want this heat

Reply

[-]

imtheorangeycenter@reddit

Just swap to (ok, try) Dandelion and Burdock. Both are incompressibly disgusting to me, but I've seen a few Americans who like the DrP, also like the D&B after the initial trepidation. Sounds kinky written like that. Also sugar tax: no no sugar in it, let alone HFCS which always makes drinks taste different. US Coke? Blurgh.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

Thank you for your help

Reply

[-]

Tingsapace@reddit

Dr Pepper in the UK is produced by the coca cola company rather than Keurig Dr Pepper. Products often use different recipes to suit the tastes ofvthe local market and ingredient availability. For the real answer you'll need to try contacting the coca cola company.

Reply

[-]

Same-Inflation1966@reddit (OP)

There’s more to this conspiracy 💡

Reply

[-]

NuisancePenguin44@reddit

It's because it now has a third less sugar and contains sweeteners.

Reply

[-]

NotDavid-Jatt@reddit

It tastes like fizzy benylin.

Reply

[-]

localgasgiant@reddit

You'll end up hanging around with someone who uses a collective term for a single vehicle

Reply

[-]

NotDavid-Jatt@reddit

I'm just going to get a Ginsters from the fridge. Put it on the slate.

Reply

[-]

YchYFi@reddit

Dr Pepper has an almond like taste to it. I like it occasionally.

Reply

[-]

AutoModerator@reddit

**Please help keep AskUK welcoming!** - Top-level comments to the OP must contain **genuine efforts to answer the question**. No jokes, judgements, etc. - **Don't be a dick** to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on. - This is a strictly **no-politics** subreddit! Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*

Reply