Quick Facts
| Invented | 1893, New Bern, North Carolina, by pharmacist Caleb Bradham |
|---|---|
| Original name | "Brad's Drink", renamed to the iconic Pepsi-Cola in 1898 |
| Owned by | PepsiCo, the group formed in 1965 |
| Formats here | 330ml UK cans, sold as cases of 24 |
| Variants here | Regular, Max, Max Cherry and Diet |
The Story Behind Pepsi
Pepsi began in 1893 as "Brad's Drink", mixed by pharmacist Caleb Bradham at his counter in New Bern, North Carolina. He renamed it Pepsi-Cola in 1898, borrowing from the word "dyspepsia" and pitching the cola as a digestive tonic, although pepsin itself never went into the recipe. The brand grew into a national bottling operation, survived an early bankruptcy after the post-war sugar-price crash of the 1920s, and later joined Frito-Lay to form PepsiCo in 1965. It has been one half of the long-running international cola rivalry ever since.
The Pepsi Challenge
The single most famous thing about the brand is the Pepsi Challenge, a blind taste test PepsiCo has run since 1975. Shoppers were handed two unmarked cups, one Pepsi and one Coca-Cola, and asked which they preferred with no label to sway them. More testers picked Pepsi, and the campaign moved the numbers: Pepsi's share of the market climbed from 23.3 percent in 1975 to 31.7 percent by 1984. The takeaway that still travels today is simple, that plenty of cola drinkers prefer the taste of Pepsi when the branding is stripped away.
Picking Your Pepsi From Regular, Max or Diet
With four different options to choose from that fall into two camps. Regular is the classic full-sugar cola, the taste the brand was built on. The other three drop the sugar entirely: Diet is the light, crisp one sweetened with aspartame, while Max is the more distinctive zero-sugar pour with a fuller body and a touch more caffeine, engineered to taste as close to Regular as a sugar-free cola gets. Max Cherry takes that same Max base and layers a sweet cherry note over it. Pick Regular for the original, Diet for an easy-drinking low-key option, and Max or Max Cherry when you want zero sugar without giving up the punch.
Pepsi Beverage Multipacks
All four cases are 24-can trays of the 330ml UK cans, giving you plenty in order to quench your thirst; here's how they compare.
| Variant | Sugar | Taste profile |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | Full sugar | The original cola: sweet, sharp and heavy on the classic Pepsi flavour |
| Max | Zero sugar | Bold and full-bodied with extra caffeine, the closest zero-sugar can to Regular |
| Max Cherry | Zero sugar | The Max recipe with a ripe cherry layer, fruity but still a proper cola |
| Diet | Zero sugar | Lighter and crisper on aspartame, with a cleaner, drier finish |
Sugar and Sweetener Ingredients in Each Can
Regular is the only full-sugar can in this line-up. Diet, Max and Max Cherry are not only delicious but are all sugar-free and calorie-free with the only difference between them coming down to the sweetener and the caffeine. Diet leans on aspartame for its lighter finish, whereas Max blends aspartame with acesulfame-K and carries a little more caffeine, which is why it reads as fuller and closer to the original. Every Pepsi variant here is suitable for vegans. Sweetener blends and recipes do get updated, so the printed panel on the can is the accurate source for caffeine, sweeteners and allergens.
Who Each Unique Pepsi Suits Best
Original cola drinkers: Regular is the straightforward choice, the full-sugar taste people picture when they think of Pepsi.
Sugar-cutters who still want bite: Max keeps the bold cola hit and the caffeine while dropping the sugar, so it suits anyone moving off full-sugar drinks without wanting a lighter taste.
Cherry cola fans: Max Cherry is the pick for a fruity twist, and one of the few widely stocked cherry colas that is also zero sugar.
Everyday light drinkers: Diet is the gentle, low-key can for steady all-day sipping rather than a heavy cola hit.
Households and event buyers: a 24-can tray is built for family fridges, offices and parties. To spread the order across more of the chiller, add the imported Fanta sodas, a case of Red Bull or anything from the wider soft drinks shelf.
Buying Original Pepsi by the Case
A single can from a corner shop is handy, but the price per can climbs quickly once you are buying them one at a time. A 24-can tray brings the cost down to well under a pound each, and you can spread an order across Regular, Max, Max Cherry and Diet however you like. Clear the £20 threshold and UK delivery is on the house. Pepsi also sits well next to the Korean Milkis sodas if you are putting together a more varied fridge.
Common Pepsi Questions
How Does Pepsi Max Differ From Diet Pepsi?
Both are zero sugar and zero calories, so the difference is taste and caffeine. Diet Pepsi uses aspartame and drinks lighter and crisper, with slightly less caffeine. Pepsi Max blends aspartame with acesulfame-K for a bolder, fuller flavour and carries more caffeine, which is why it tastes closer to full-sugar Regular.
Is Pepsi Max Really Sugar-Free?
Pepsi Max and Max Cherry are both sugar-free and calorie-free, sweetened with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame-K rather than sugar. The "Max" refers to maximum taste, not maximum sugar. Only the Regular can in this range contains sugar.
What Was the Pepsi Challenge?
The Pepsi Challenge is a blind taste test PepsiCo has run since 1975, offering people two unmarked cups of cola, one Pepsi and one Coca-Cola, and asking which they prefer. More tasters chose Pepsi, and the campaign is credited with growing Pepsi's market share through the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Are These UK or American Pepsi Cans?
These are the standard 330ml UK cans, not American imports. They match what you would find in a UK supermarket multipack, sold here as full cases of 24 for stocking up rather than as loose singles.