The Real Difference Between 7UP And Sprite - Mashed (2024)

ByAudrey Michels/

While a can of 7UP has the same amount of calories as a can of Sprite and boasts the same all-natural, lemon-lime flavor, they're quite distinct from each other in a number of ways, starting with their histories (via 7UP and The Coca-Cola Company).

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7UP was created back in 1929 by Charles Leiper Grigg. It's changed quite a lot since then, when the soda was marketed as Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda (quite a mouthful, no?). The original formula included the mood-stabilizing drug lithium citrate in its formula, which is still used to treat bipolar disorder and other mood disorders to this day (via Gizmodo).Some even believe the "7" in 7UP refers to the atomic mass of lithium, although it could just be in reference to the drink's original seven ingredients.

While this sounds a little crazy, it's not wholly dissimilar from the original Coca-Cola, which used coca leaves in its recipe, the source of cocaine (via Business Insider). In fact, the reason sodas were made with carbonated water is because it was believed to have medicinal properties, so the inclusion of medicine in soda wasn't all that hard to swallow at the time.

Sprite started as a competitor for 7UP

The Real Difference Between 7UP And Sprite - Mashed (2)

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Sprite, on the other hand, never included a mood stabilizing drug in its formula, and wasn't even invented until 1959. It, like 7UP, had a much longer and clunkier name to begin with: Clear Lemon Fanta. Just two years after its formulation in West Germany, Sprite was introduced to the U.S. market to compete directly with 7UP (via Rock Hill Coca-Cola). It's owned by the Coca-Cola company. Today, 7UP is owned by Keurig Dr Pepper in the United States, and PepsiCo in the rest of the world.

Finally, there are the differences between the drinks themselves. When it comes to formulation, one distinction often pointed out is the salt. Sprite uses sodium citrate in its formula, while 7UP uses potassium citrate. However, when it comes to taste, it can be less clear cut. As evidenced by multiple Reddit threads, some people can taste clear differences in the level of sweetness, tanginess, and carbonation between the two drinks, while others simply cannot tell the difference between the two at all. Today, the market contains far more lemon-lime sodas and soft drinks than just Sprite and 7UP, including Sierra Mist, and Sun Drop.

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The Real Difference Between 7UP And Sprite - Mashed (2024)

FAQs

The Real Difference Between 7UP And Sprite - Mashed? ›

When it comes to formulation, one distinction often pointed out is the salt. Sprite uses sodium citrate in its formula, while 7UP uses potassium citrate. However, when it comes to taste, it can be less clear cut.

How is 7UP different from Sprite? ›

Sprite is sweeter, and less carbonated, while 7UP is a bit more tart and fizzy. I think 7UP is more like ginger ale, almost. 7UP is also what we used to get to drink when we were sick growing up.

What ingredient was removed from 7UP? ›

Lithium citrate was removed from 7UP in 1948 when the government banned its use in soft drinks. Other problematic ingredients included calcium disodium EDTA which was removed in 2006, and at that time potassium citrate replaced sodium citrate to lower the sodium content.

Is there a difference between 7UP and simple 7UP? ›

The flavor is smooth and the ingredients list is pretty simple which I enjoy. It doesn't have as many calories and carbs as your average soda which is always a plus. I can see some people being put off by the flavor because it does taste a little different than the regular 7up but that's not really a bad thing.

Is 7UP just carbonated water? ›

The ingredients are very simple as the name suggests. “Filtered carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, lemon extract, lime extract, stevia leaf extract.”

What is better when you're sick, Sprite or 7UP? ›

You can also drink noncaffeinated sodas, such as Sprite, 7UP or ginger ale. Take care to avoid caffeinated sodas, since caffeine can make your upset stomach worse. The carbonation from sodas inflates the stomach while increasing its internal pressure.

What is the healthiest soda? ›

The statistic states that Zevia Zero Calorie Soda, specifically the Cola flavor, has been ranked as the healthiest soda by Eating Well magazine. This ranking is attributed to the fact that Zevia Zero Calorie Soda contains no calories, sugar, or sodium.

Why does 7Up taste different than Sprite? ›

7Up is often classified as more syrup-y, though some people say it has fruitier overtones as well. Personally, I think of 7Up as being a little more effervescent and sweeter, though that may just be because the restaurant I usually ordered it from as a kid had good soda chemistry in their taps.

Does 7 up still contain lithium citrate? ›

Lithium citrate was removed from 7Up in 1948 after it was banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Lithium citrate is used as a mood stabilizer and is used to treat mania, hypomania, depression and bipolar disorder. It can be administered orally in the form of a syrup.

Why did 7 up have lithium in it? ›

The product, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", was launched two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. It contained lithium citrate, a mood-stabilizing drug, until 1948. It was one of a number of patent medicine products popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

Do 7UP and Sprite have the same ingredients? ›

Finally, there are the differences between the drinks themselves. When it comes to formulation, one distinction often pointed out is the salt. Sprite uses sodium citrate in its formula, while 7UP uses potassium citrate. However, when it comes to taste, it can be less clear cut.

What is special about 7UP? ›

7UP is a crisp, clean, refreshing taste of sparkling lemon and lime. Enjoyed since 1929 this fruit-flavoured sparkling drink has been enjoyed by millions for decades. Take a moment to refresh; suitable for when you're on the go, in good company, or to sit back and relax after a long day.

Is Starry the same as 7UP? ›

No, Starry is not the same as 7Up.

What was removed from Dr Pepper back in the 1950s? ›

The period (full stop) after Dr was used intermittently in Dr Pepper logos until the 1950s, when, after some debate, it was discarded permanently, for stylistic and legibility reasons.

Which La Croix tastes like Sprite? ›

Lemon/Lime

They're basically only liked by LaCroix snobs because they kind of taste like a fountain Sprite when it's running low on syrup.

What sells more, 7Up or Sprite? ›

Most Popular Sodas in America

This is based on the amount sold in 2021. The top ten are 7-Up (just under $1 billion), Sunkist ($1 billion dollars), Sierra Mist ($1 billion), Fanta ($2.34 billion), Sprite ($6 billion), Mountain Dew ($7 billion), Dr.

Is 7UP more acidic than Sprite? ›

The amount of acid present in the pop "Sprite" was the least when compared to the "7-Up" & "Diet Canada Dry" showing that it is the most healthy pop out of the three. If would conduct our titration experiment again, but use flat pop instead, it would give us more accurate results and pHs that make sense.

What is the flavor of the 7UP? ›

7 Up (stylized as 7up outside the United States) or Seven Up is an American brand of lemon-lime–flavored non-caffeinated soft drink. The brand and formula are owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, although the beverage is internationally distributed by PepsiCo.

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