There are so many protein products on the market.
What was once relegated to protein powders has transformed into a huge industry, with everything from protein-infused cookies and pancake mix, and now, soda.
Protein soda is essentially a sparkling, sweetened beverage with added protein — but which ones are really worth drinking?
I visited four grocery stores in San Diego County and ultimately found five cherry protein drinks from Summit Popz, Clean Simple Eats, Premier Protein, Proda, and Barebells to review.
For each, the protein source is whey protein isolate, a by-product of cheesemaking that’s essentially highly filtered, protein-rich whey with less lactose and fat than typical whey.
In terms of criteria, I was looking for something flavorful and enticing to drink, with a fair amount of carbonation. I also factored in cost and nutritional value, including calories, sugar, and protein.
Here’s how they ranked from my least favorite to my top pick.
5. Clean Simple Eats cherry-lime clear protein soda
Cost: $3.49 for one 12-ounce can
Calories: 60 calories
Protein: 10 grams
Added sugar: 0 grams
The cherry-lime clear protein soda by Clean Simple Eats had a milky aroma from the get-go, likely due to the grass-fed whey protein isolate.
There was a touch of cherry-lime flavor, but the milkiness made this taste more like a cherry cream soda to me. Cherry really overpowered the drink.
My main issue with this was that it had a distinct whey-protein taste that made me keenly aware I was indeed drinking something meant to be a protein beverage.
I can appreciate the protein and the no-added-sugar — it uses stevia-leaf extract as a sweetener — but I wouldn’t sip this again because of the flavor.
For me, there are other options with similar nutritional content that are more enjoyable.
4. Barebells sweet-cherry protein soda
Cost: $3.49 for one 12-ounce can
Calories: 50 calories
Protein: 10 grams
Added sugar: 0 grams
This Barebells beverage is the outlier of the group because it contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, and the other don’t contain any.
This cherry protein soda smelled and tasted like a liquid Jolly Rancher. It’s the most candy-like of all the drinks I tried and is sweetened with sucralose (a zero-calorie artificial sweetener) as the sweetener. I didn’t really pick up cherry flavoring, mostly a general sweet, fruity candy flavor.
I suppose this would be good if you want something as far removed from a protein soda as possible. To me, it just tasted like an energy drink. In a way, the overt sweetness covered any lingering whey protein isolate flavor.
The result is far too cloying for my taste, but I prefer the candy taste to the distinct whey flavoring of Clean Simple Eats. I wouldn’t want to drink this Barebells option again, either, but I could see someone with a sweet tooth (and a caffeine craving) loving it.
3. Summit Popz protein cherry-limeade sparkling beverage
Cost: $1.99 for one 12-ounce can
Calories: 70 calories
Protein: 15 grams
Added sugar: 0 grams
I love Aldi’s wide selection of products, so I wasn’t surprised to see it offers its own take on protein drinks through its private label, Summit Popz.
It’s labeled a “sparkling beverage” rather than a soda, but I included it in this ranking because it met my criteria: It has added protein and is carbonated and sweetened.
It had a clearer cherry-and-lime flavor that made it seem more authentic to its label, and wasn’t too sweet despite the use of sucralose.
I appreciate the price, too, as it was the most affordable of the five I tried. However, it can’t rank higher because the carbonation felt severely lacking. It’s almost like I opened a soda, left it in the fridge for a few hours, and came back to it.
Perhaps I just got a dud of a can, but I felt this needed considerably more effervescence for it to live up to the “sparkling” part of its name.
I would, however, get it again based on price and protein content, which help boost the overall rating.
2. Proda cherry-lime protein soda
Cost: $3.49 for one 12-ounce can
Calories: 40 calories
Protein: 10 grams
Added sugar: 0 grams
Proda’s Soda cherry-lime protein soda had the most authentic soda-like feel out of anything so far. It also had a refreshing cherry-lime flavor, so it delivers on both of its names.
It uses stevia and monk fruit to offer sweetness without being cloying, which seems to be a winning combination. There was a touch of whey flavor, but it was somewhat balanced with the cherry lime flavoring.
It has the fewest calories of all beverages, but the real highlight was the flavor and carbonation. This was pleasant to drink, and I enjoyed it well beyond the first couple of sips.
It would be enjoyable as a soda alternative with a meal or just as an afternoon pick-me-up. I did notice this drink had a mild whey aftertaste, but the many pros outweighed this slight con.
It delightfully delivered a mix of soda carbonation, cherry-lime flavors, and protein content.
1. Premier Protein black-cherry sparkling protein soda
Cost: About $2.24 for a 12-ounce can
Calories: 90 calories
Protein: 15 grams
Added sugar: 3 grams
At the time of purchase, I only found the Premier Protein soda available in packs of four for $8.94. The price per can was slightly higher than Aldi’s but still considerably cheaper than everything else on this list.
This was the only soda with cane sugar listed as an ingredient, which brings 3 grams of added sugar. I think this helped mellow the flavor without making it ultra-sweet, which I find alternative sweeteners often do. Premier Protein also uses stevia extract, which seemed balanced by the sugar.
This is the highest-calorie option on the list and is tied with Summit Popz for the drink with the most protein, at 15 grams. Impressively, both contain more protein than a ½-cup serving of cottage cheese (14 grams).
It didn’t have as obvious a protein taste; instead, the cherry-lime flavor came to the forefront. I could discern both flavors, which gave this drink a fruity, uplifting taste.
Final verdict: Premier Protein’s soda was my top pick, but there’s a drink here for everyone
Ultimately, Premier Protein’s black-cherry sparkling protein soda was the drink I enjoyed most and would be most likely to repurchase.
The tasty flavor, solid carbonation, balanced sweetness, affordable price, and high protein content put it solidly at the top of my ranking.
However, it’s the highest-calorie drink I tasted and the only soda on this list with added sugars. If a low-sugar, low-calorie diet is a priority for you and your nutrition goals, you may prefer one of the others on this list.
After all, everyone’s taste buds are different — and each drink on this list has its pros and cons.
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