I'm A Massive Dr Pepper Stan, So I Ranked Their Flavors From Worst To Best
Dr Pepper has been a beloved American soda since 1885, and its star power only continues to grow: It's currently tied with Pepsi as the second most popular soda in the country. The nuanced blend of 23 flavors appeals to every type of soft drink lover, which is why the brand has earned such a loyal following.
You're probably familiar with the original recipe, but not everyone has delved into the soda's full portfolio of flavors—myself included. I'm a big Dr Pepper fan, yet I still hadn't tasted every variety. I decided to change that by tasting and ranking different Dr Pepper flavors from worst to best.
We may love Dr Pepper at Delish, but we did not hold back on our opinions (even the negative ones). Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know in the comments.
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar
We'll be honest, this one didn't do it for us. One of our team members said that this soda tastes "bad for you in a not yummy way." The blend of artificial sweeteners makes Dr Pepper Zero Sugar have a strong chemical aftertaste. We don't understand why people prefer the Zero Sugar formulation over regular Diet. But if you do, pop off I guess.
Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut Zero Sugar
Dr Pepper dropped their newest limited-edition flavor, Creamy Coconut, this summer and had stars like Tyler Cameron celebrating the launch. Creamy Coconut comes in two formulations—classic and Zero Sugar—but we'd advise against drinking the latter. Our Assistant Editor of Audience Development, Izabela Campos, said the main thing she could taste was the aspartame (derogatory). Combined with the intensity of the coconut flavor, it overall just tastes like medicine.
Dr Pepper Strawberries And Cream
This flavor was by far the most polarizing of the bunch. You definitely shouldn't expect to pick up notes of fresh strawberry; instead, expect something more like a strawberry hard candy. Some people in our office compared this soda to a strawberry crunch bar or the strawberry section of cheap Neapolitan ice cream (in a good way). Others found that it tasted too similar to a tube of Lip Smacker and had a medicinal aftertaste. We could see this flavor appealing more to a younger audience.
Dr Pepper Cherry
I'm a sucker for all things cherry-flavored, and Dr Pepper is no exception. It's the only flavor that looks visibly different from the rest, thanks to the reddish-brown tint. The fruity taste is more subdued, and most of the people in our office compared it to the cherry soda from a certain competitor. It's not strong enough to veer into cough syrup territory, but the cherry lover in me wishes the flavor was a bit more pronounced.
Dr Pepper & Cream Soda
Dr Pepper's other flavors add something extra while letting the original recipe still shine. Dr Pepper & Cream Soda, on the other hand, is a different story. The volume of the vanilla is cranked up to 100, and our office compared the flavor of this soda to a cream soda Dum Dum. It's by far the most decadent and rich flavor of the brand's lineup—which makes it a great option if you want a special treat.
Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut
After the disappointment of the Zero Sugar formula, we were hesitant to try the standard version of Dr Pepper's newest flavor. Our first instincts were to hate it, but...Creamy Coconut kind of slaps. It may smell like sunscreen, but the coconut flavor pairs surprisingly well with the Dr Pepper base recipe. Features Director Ryan Grim compared the flavor to Coco Lopez cream of coconut, and admitted it may even be his favorite Dr Pepper variety overall.
Diet Dr Pepper
I have to be honest: diet soda isn't my thing. Normally if I notice any taste of aspartame or stevia, I'm out. But Diet Dr Pepper is truly the only diet soda I can wholeheartedly enjoy. It's rare that a sugar-free version tastes this similar to the original recipe. My coworkers who are less aspartame-averse also had rave reviews for this flavor.
Dr Pepper
Yes, this is a boring choice, but it's the right one. OG Dr Pepper has been a favorite since 1885 for a reason. The proprietary blend of 23 flavors strike the ideal balance of sweet, herbal, and spicy. As much as we love the fun and inventive iterations on the classic formula, you truly can't beat the original. It's perfect, no notes.
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