Ah, the Shirley Temple — the original mocktail. This iconic sparkling beverage of ginger ale, grenadine, and maraschino cherries is especially popular among kids (although adults love Dirty Shirleys, too).
Speaking as a former server, I have to admit I used to groan when someone ordered a Shirley Temple. Not only did it mean that I had to leave all of my tables to make the drink in the back, but I also always ended up craving it too. Yes, it may be super sweet, but it’s also ridiculously delicious. So when I saw that prebiotic soda brands Poppi and Olipop both released Shirley Temple flavors, I knew I needed to try them.
A few weeks back I started seeing post after post about Poppi and Olipop launching their Shirley Temple sodas, and my interest was piqued. I’m not really a big soda or sparkling water drinker to begin with, but I do love an occasional Poppi or Olipop — so I was very excited to try this new flavor.
People are very vocal online about their love of Olipop and Poppi. Many tend to prefer one brand over the other, but I don’t drink them enough to have a favorite. But with both brands launching the same flavor at the same time, I knew I had to find out which one I liked better.
What You Should Know About Olipop’s Shirley Temple
Olipop describes their new soda as a combination of “smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor.” While it seems to be taking inspiration from a classic Shirley Temple, Olipop’s flavoring is focused on being “bolder, brighter, and better” than the original. They are also leaning into the potentially controversial fourth ingredient of lime, which I personally don’t think belongs in a Shirley Temple.
Olipop now has its own scientific advisory board that conducts human gut microbiome research to ensure Olipop actually does what it claims, which is to create a soda that “supports digestive health.” This flavor has 6 grams of fiber and 4 grams of sugar. The can also states it contains prebiotics, botanicals, and plant fiber, and that it is 11% juice.
What You Should Know About Poppi’s Shirley Temple
Poppi’s branding for the new flavor seems to be aimed at the people who grew up loving Shirley Temples: “Now you’ve had a glow-up … and so has this iconic flavor.” Poppi claims that you won’t need a cherry on top to taste the nostalgia in its “juicy” and “refreshing” version (but it definitely won’t hurt).
Poppi started back in 2015 as a probiotic option for those who just couldn’t give up soda. All of its sodas have 5 grams of sugar or fewer, are 35 calories or fewer, contain apple cider vinegar, and have prebiotics to help support a healthy gut. Their Shirley Temple flavor in particular has 5 grams of sugar and 3 grams of fiber, and it contains 3% juice.
Poppi vs. Olipop: Which Shirley Temple Soda Is Better?
If you want a soda that tastes just like a Shirley Temple, Poppi is the clear winner. The flavor is so nostalgic and seriously tastes like grenadine was poured right into my cup of ginger ale. (This is a compliment.) The soda is bubbly, crisp, and quite refreshing. Little me in the peak of summer would’ve been quite content with this.
I did a little taste test with five of my friends who all drink Poppi and Olipop. When it came down to which taste they preferred (not just which tasted most like a Shirley Temple), the house was divided. Half of my friends preferred Olipop and said that Poppi’s version tastes like a too-grenadine-heavy Shirley Temple. Something interesting to note is that all of my friends who picked the Olipop Shirley Temple flavor also prefer Olipop over Poppi in general.
My friends who picked the Poppi Shirley Temple said it tasted just like the real thing. They loved the bright cherry flavor and crisp ginger ale undertones of the soda. And I was on this team.
So if you’re looking for a Shirley Temple in a can, then I have to say Poppi wins. But that doesn’t mean you should count Olipop out of the race. While it doesn’t taste as close to a Shirley Temple as Poppi’s version, it is still refreshing and delicious. Plus, I think their can’s design is cuter, if that happens to matter to you.
