Every morning I stop in the newsagents near work and buy a soft drink (sugar free of course). It’s usually the Lemon and/Or Lime diet cokes but this morning I saw a new product. CocaCola Zero. It has just been launched here – according to Wikipedia. Of course not everyone is happy!

I’ve been here before- not New Coke (which I never tasted) but with Tab and Diet Coke. Tab was the first zero (or low) calorie drink they offered back around the late 70s (in N. Ireland). More info as ever on the ubiquitous wikipedia.

In 1981/82 diet coke came on the scene and Tab just disappeared. I think Diet Coke is too ubiquitous now to vanish. So CocaCola Zero is presumably a counter to Pepsi Max. Diet Coke was possibly a bit bitter say compared to Diet Pepsi so this addresses that by sticking with the Coke taste, just removing all the sweeteners.

So what does it taste like? Coke.

Something I’ve wondered about is, what does Coke taste like in other countries? That’s not a silly question. Here in London, over the last few years, there has been a massive grey import market in Diet Coke, or Coke Light as it’s better known.

I’ve drunk cans made in South Africa, Poland, Germany, probably half the countries in Europe. And the taste is definitely different. Also, a funny little quirk. All the cans were the standard 330 ml except the S. Africans which were 340 ml. You can still buy these- many small newsagents, chicken shops stock them. I guess the wholesale price is cheaper than the licensed bottlers.