**TL;DR- The ‘cola wars’ have been going on for decades, with the biggest dispute being between Coca-Cola and Pepsi (escalating with the introduction of ‘New Coke’ in 1985) [1]. The two companies have been competing since their birth, but in reality, Dr Pepper is better than both of them combined.** One reason for Dr Pepper’s superiority compared to its carbonated counterparts is the general taste of it. Dr Pepper has a unique and refreshing caramel taste, with its ‘sparkling blend of 23 fruit and spice flavours’ [2]. It’s also carbonated just right, so that the bubbles are not so intense that you can’t taste the actual flavour. Too much fizz is very much the case in both Coke and Pepsi, as both of them are so over-carbonated that it’s hard to tell what they’re even meant to taste like. There are no fruit and spice flavourings in Coca-Cola, which is instead flavoured by vague ‘vegetable extracts’, and Pepsi’s almost citrusy flavour is overpowered by bubbles. They also both taste pretty much the same, whereas Dr Pepper is much more distinctive. Dr Pepper’s taste is also better than Coke or Pepsi as it isn’t ruined by too much sugar. In fact, 250ml of Dr Pepper contains 12g of sugar, which although quite high, it is nowhere near as high as Coca-Cola, which has 27g, and Pepsi which has 28g per 250ml. The fact that Dr Pepper has less makes the beverage not only healthier, but also more delicious than its rivals, because the sugar doesn’t overwhelm your tastebuds. [1] Becky Little in *History*, March 12, 2020 [https://www.history.com/news/cola-wars-pepsi-new-coke-failure] [2] Sainsbury’s online groceries [https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/pepsi/pepsi-2l]

Dr Pepper offers few alternatives to its original flavour, while Coca-Cola offers a wide range of flavours and forms. Dr Pepper is hard to find if not in its original full-fat flavour. While Coca-Cola is offered in a range of flavours from cherry to vanilla. Diet to sugar free. This proves superior to Dr Pepper as to drink it you have to enjoy each of the 23 distinct flavours, while with Coca-Cola you can choose which flavour you enjoy the most and purchase that, not having to compromise.

**TL;DR Dr Peppers is sorely underrated and generally a delightful and refreshing alternative to other carbonated soft drinks** The beauty of Dr Pepper is its mystery: it (claims) to contain 23 flavours and, much like Coca-Cola, the recipe is kept under lock and key. (Allegedly in two different safety deposit boxes in two different banks.) (1) Unlike Coca-Cola, it's impossible to say what actually is in the bottle. Coke and Pepsi; you can safely say, are both colas. Dr Pepper is legally not defined as a cola. (2) It's not as aggressive in taste as Coke, which can (subjectively) feel like drinking needles. That's arguably the fizz: for a true measure of taste, drink both flat. You will consistently find that Dr Pepper has more of an actual taste than any variety of Coca-Cola or Pepsi. You can find plenty of advice online on how to decarbonate the drink to make a sweet, warming hot winter drink. Versatile to boot. Ultimately, who wouldn't prefer it? 1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Pepper 2.https://www.mashed.com/126570/the-untold-truth-of-dr-pepper/