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Comment by mrguyorama | Hacker News Reader

Anecdotally, I find Coke branded soft drinks to use more "spice" for their flavors, while Pepsi branded ones (excluding Dr Pepper) to just load up on sugar. You can do the same comparison with Mug brand root beer versus Barq's. Mug is just caramel colored sugar, while Barq's seems to be "spicy"

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>while Pepsi branded ones (excluding Dr Pepper)

Dr Pepper is independent, neither a part of Pepsico or CocaCola Company. Part of their (successful) marketing campaign was making everybody believe that there are only two choices when it comes to soft drink: coke or pepsi. Dr Pepper (and other extinct brands) got left out of the public consciousness this way

Though, on a regional basis, Dr Pepper gets bottled and distributed with one of the big two.

Dr Pepper isn't entirely independent - it's a part of Keurig Dr Pepper, and is associated with 33 other bottled beverages including schweppes, canada dry, yoohoo and Snapple

Back in the 90s when I used to watch ads, Dr Pepper had an advertising campaign in the UK which had besuited scientists examining, and declaring "we can you one thing, it is NOT a cola"

It's 'spice' for me as well - I can always tell Coke from Pepsi because of the 'spice' flavor.

Same, I always figure it's the leaf they use.

Coke is still the only major soft drink to use coca leaves (with the psychoactive components chemically removed).

Perhaps what you are noticing is bitterness from caffeine.

Nah, Coke has significantly more "bite" (boy it's hard to come up with the right term to describe it) than Pepsi does. I don't think there's a significant difference in caffeine content between the two.

I'm honestly baffled that there are people who have trouble telling the two apart...

In Barq's vs. Mug -- quite true. Haven't had either in probably 10 years but Barq's "bite" is the caffeine.

Only 22 mg of caffeine in a can of barqs. You sure that is what you are tasting?

Ever tasted raw caffeine? Yeah I am sure.

It's not bitter, it's literally like dashing something from the spice cupboard on your tongue.

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