More people are looking for sweetener-free drinks, and honestly, we get it. So many “diet” or “zero sugar” options are packed with artificial sweeteners that leave a strange aftertaste or an almost chemical sweetness. At Hip Pop, we’ve always believed that sweetness itself isn’t the problem, it’s when drinks become overly sweet, or rely on artificial ingredients to mimic real flavour.
That’s why we never use artificial sweeteners in any of our drinks. Instead, we focus on natural ingredients and keep our recipes naturally lightly sweetened.
For us, sweetener-free doesn’t mean sweetness-free. It simply means letting real fruit, fermentation and proper ingredients shine, with fizz and flavour that taste exactly as they should.
What Does “Sweetener-Free” Actually Mean?
When we say our drinks are sweetener-free, we mean it in the clearest, most transparent way possible: we don’t use any artificial sweeteners, alcohol sweeteners, or stevia-style additives, full stop. No sucralose, no aspartame, no acesulfame K, no erythritol, no stevia blends. Just real ingredients and a natural approach to sweetness.
There’s often confusion around this term, so here’s how we think about it:
No artificial sweeteners
We avoid artificial sweeteners because they tend to create an intense, lingering sweetness that doesn’t taste natural. Many people tell us they’re switching away from these ingredients because of the aftertaste, that slightly metallic or chemical finish you often get in “zero sugar” drinks.
No low-calorie alcohol sweeteners
Ingredients like erythritol or xylitol often appear in drinks marketed as “better for you”, but they can feel quite processed. Some people also find they don’t sit well with their digestion. We simply don’t think they’re necessary for a great-tasting drink.
No stevia
Stevia is natural, but it still has a very distinctive sweetness that can overshadow everything else. For us, it never gave the clean, refreshing flavour we wanted, so we don’t use it.
Lightly sweetened with natural sources of sugar
This is the key difference.
We believe sugar isn’t the enemy, too much sugar is. A small, balanced amount can support flavour beautifully, especially when paired with acidity, botanicals or fermentation. Using natural sources of sugar lets us keep sweetness subtle, bright and grown-up, without tipping into syrupy or sickly territory.
Sweetness that tastes like real ingredients, because it is
Our drinks get their character from things like fruit, botanicals and fermentation (yummy kombucha), not from engineered sweetness. That’s why they taste cleaner, fresher and more complex than traditional soft drinks or artificially sweetened alternatives.
Sweetener-free, for us, means honest flavour, simple recipes and no shortcuts.
Understanding Sugar: It’s About Proportion
We talk a lot about being sweetener-free, but that doesn’t mean we’re anti-sugar. Far from it. At Hip Pop, we use natural sources of sugar because they help create balance, depth and proper flavour, especially in fermented drinks like kombucha. The important thing isn’t cutting sugar out completely; it’s keeping it in proportion.
According to NHS guidance, adults should aim for no more than 30g of “free sugars” per day. That includes sugars added to foods and drinks, as well as those naturally present in honey, syrups and unsweetened fruit juices. It’s a helpful benchmark, but it doesn’t mean sugar is something to fear, it just highlights how excessive amounts, especially from high-sugar soft drinks, can stack up quickly.
Why we use a little natural sugar
A touch of natural sugar does two important things in our drinks:
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It supports fermentation, which helps create those delicious tangy notes in our kombucha.
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It brings balance, letting the flavours round out naturally instead of tasting flat or overly acidic.
Just as importantly, we keep the sweetness light. Enough to make the drink enjoyable, but not so much that it becomes syrupy or masks the real flavours we’ve worked hard to craft.
Sugar vs sweeteners: not the same conversation
Artificial sweeteners are often used to create intense sweetness without the calories, but they don’t offer the same natural flavour experience. Many people find them overly sweet or notice an aftertaste that lingers long after the drink is gone. For us, they simply don’t give the clean, honest profile we want.
Natural sugar, used sparingly, behaves differently. It integrates with real fruit, botanicals and fermentation in a way that feels smooth, refreshing and, importantly, authentic.
Moderation, not restriction
We believe in balance. You don’t have to avoid sugar entirely to drink well, you just don’t need loads of it. Keeping sweetness subtle makes the drink more grown-up, more refreshing, and easier to enjoy throughout the day.
Sweetener-free isn’t about removing sweetness from life; it’s about choosing the kind of sweetness that tastes natural, feels good, and fits comfortably into everyday habits.
What Makes a Great Sweetener-Free Drink?
When we create sweetener-free drinks at Hip Pop, we’re not just removing artificial sweeteners, we’re building flavour from the ground up. A great sweetener-free drink isn’t simply “less sweet”; it’s more balanced, more interesting, and far more enjoyable because the real ingredients have room to shine. Here’s what we believe truly sets the best sweetener-free drinks apart.
1. Balance, not blunt sweetness
Without artificial sweeteners, drinks don’t need to chase that intense, hyper-sweet profile you find in many soft drinks. Instead, the focus is on balance, a clean interplay between gentle sweetness, acidity, and fizz. This lighter hand creates a more grown-up drink that feels refreshing rather than overwhelming.
2. Real ingredients doing the heavy lifting
When you’re not relying on sweeteners, you have to build flavour properly. That means real fruit, fermentation, botanicals and spices, ingredients that naturally bring depth, aroma and character. For example, citrus adds brightness, ginger adds warmth, berries add richness, and fermentation adds that lovely tang. These natural notes create the complexity that sweeteners often mask.
3. A clean, crisp finish
Many sweetened or sugar-free soft drinks leave a lingering aftertaste, either from heavy sugar or the telltale signature of artificial sweeteners. Our sweetener-free drinks finish cleaner, making them far more refreshing and easier to sip throughout the day.
4. Fizz that enhances, not overwhelms
A good sweetener-free drink uses carbonation to lift the flavours, not drown them. The bubbles should amplify citrus, cut through richer notes, and add a sparkling feel without turning the drink sharp or harsh.
This is especially important when sweetness is subtle, fizz becomes part of the flavour experience.
5. Flavour profiles designed for adults
Because sweetener-free drinks aren’t trying to imitate ultra-sweet sodas, they can explore more interesting flavours:
These profiles resonate more with adults who want something refreshing, flavourful and distinctly not childish.
Featured Product: Ginger & Yuzu Kombucha
If you want complexity, this is where kombucha really earns its place. Our Ginger & Yuzu Kombucha brings a warming ginger kick balanced with bright, aromatic yuzu, a citrus fruit loved for its tangy, floral character.
Fermentation creates a natural tartness that cuts through the sweetness beautifully, meaning we only need a little natural sugar to round things out. The result? A sweetener-free drink with depth, sparkle and a long, clean finish.
Sweetener-Free Drinks That Taste Great
For us, sweetener-free drinks aren’t about restriction, they’re about better flavour, cleaner ingredients, and a more balanced approach to sweetness. When you take out artificial sweeteners and let real ingredients lead the way, everything tastes fresher, lighter and more honest.
At Hip Pop, we make drinks the way we believe they should be made: naturally, thoughtfully, and with flavours that actually taste like themselves. Sweetener-free doesn’t mean giving up the joy of a fizzy drink, it just means choosing one that feels good, tastes real and fits comfortably into everyday life.