I can't stand diet sodas. Actually, I have two objections to them. One is that I don't trust artificial sweeteners. I suspect they aren't good for anyone but I know from past experiences that NutraSweet (at least) is not good for me. This works out okay because my other objection is that I think they taste terrible and fear for the sensory faculties of those who say they can't tell any difference.
Recently, the Coke and Pepsi folks introduced versions of their beverages that contain about half the sugar, making up the difference with the artificial stuff. A weblog posting I came across claimed that Coke C2 and Pepsi Edge were both pretty good and that they contained Sucralose, not Aspartame (aka NutraSweet). When I spotted individual bottles on sale at a market the other day, I decided to give them a try. This was more out of curiosity than out of an expectation that one could possibly become my beverage of choice. The whole idea of Sucralose troubles me a bit but I have no history with it, and figured one swig wouldn't hurt.
It turned out I was misinformed. Coke C2 uses Aspartame, not Sucralose…but I took a taste anyway and decided I wasn't missing anything. To me, it was just as undrinkable as Diet Coke with as much unpleasant aftertaste. The Pepsi Edge, sweetened with Sucralose, wasn't bad but it lacked the little sweet rush I enjoy in regular Pepsi, so I can't see any reason to drink it. They pretty much took away the one thing that ever made a cola preferable to a glass of water, and I'm glad I didn't spring for a six-pack.
While I was composing the above, the phone rang and I took time out to chat with a friend and I read him what I'd written so far. He said he'd tried both of them and he had an easier way of describing their respective tastes: "The Coke C2 tastes like monkey urine while the Pepsi Edge tastes like rhino pee." I don't know how he knows this. I don't want to know how he knows this. But I have the feeling he's right.