Fanta vs. Sunkist vs. Crush: Differences & Which Is the Best?
With summertime fast approaching, the demand for soda is going to skyrocket, especially orange-flavored ones. Stores everywhere are going to stockpile supplies – Fanta, Sunkist, and Crush being some of the most popular choices. But are these orange sodas the same?
Fanta is a carbonated beverage made by the Coca-Cola company while Sunkist and Crush are made primarily by Keurig Dr. Pepper. Fanta is a fruit-based drink with many different flavors, whereas Crush and Sunkist are primarily known for their orange-flavored product.
In this article, we are going to put these 3 drinks up against each other to see which one comes out on top. I will compare their colors, price, taste, nutritional value, as well things like their packaging and shelf-life.
Fanta vs. Sunkist vs. Crush: Differences
Even though they may seem the same when you look at them, Fanta, Sunkist and Crush have some differences. So, let’s see what they are and which would be the best choice.
Origin and Ownership
Fanta
Fanta is a group of fruit-flavored soft drinks manufactured by the Coca-Cola company since 1940. Due to Germany placing a product embargo, the company decided to come up with an alternative to their classic Coca-Cola. Using only local ingredients, the company, under the supervision of Mark Keith, came up with their second-ever product, Fanta.
Crush
Crush is a brand of carbonated soft drink owned and distributed by Keurig Dr. Pepper. The original company that introduced this drink in 1911 was called the Orange Crush Company. The drink was initially made to be a brand of orange soda which later grew and developed many other flavors.
Sunkist
The Sunkist trademark has been in operation for more than 100 years as a grower of citrus fruits. But the Sunkist soda came into existence in 1978. A year later, the soda was distributed nationally and it soon became one of the most sold orange sodas in the US.
Taste
Fanta has a notably strong orange-flavored smell. The taste is similar to orange candy. The drink has noticeable fizz.
In contrast, Sunkist has a stronger orange smell. But the taste is slightly less sweet than Fanta. Of the three sodas, Sunkist has the deepest orange color. The taste of the orange is natural.
Crush has the sweetest taste of the three. Some have found the sweetness to be overwhelming. The flavor is also a bit artificial compared to the other two.
Appearance
The name Fanta encompasses all of the fruit-flavored drinks by the Coca-Cola company. But the orange flavor is the one that most people recognize. The color of the soda has changed over the years, depending on the flavors. From a light-yellow hue to bright orange, Fanta has had many faces through the generation.
Crush’s lineup has consisted of many different flavors sporting different colors. Their orange soda is nearly identical to Fanta and Sunkist in appearance.
Packaging
All three drinks have had different packages over the years. They are commonly sold in plastic bottles, which have seen multiple versions and changes. They also come in can form as well as in a glass bottle.
Here are the sizes of each of the three types of soda currently available:
| Sizes of Fanta | Sizes of Crush | Sizes of Sunkist |
|---|---|---|
| 20 oz (standard) | 20 oz (standard) | 20 oz (standard) |
| 7.5 oz (6 pack, 10 pack) | 12 oz (can) | 12 oz (can) |
| 12 oz (8,12,24 pack) | 67.6 oz | 2 liters |
| 16 oz | 7.5 oz | 5 liters |
| 13.2 oz | 12 oz (bottle glass) | 200 oz |
| 2 liters | 100 oz | 12 oz (glass bottle) |
Ingredients
The formula for making Fanta has gone through change since its inception. The current formula was conceived in Italy in 1955, a full 15 years since the product launched. The recipe for Crush soda was crafted by chemist Neil C. Ward in 1911.
Following are the constitution of Fanta, Cush, and Sunkist, specifically their orange soda.
Fanta
It includes carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, food colors, sodium polyphosphates, and ester of rosin. It also contains sodium benzoate as a preservative.
Crush
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), natural flavors, modified corn starch, ester gum, yellow 6, salt, and red 40.
Sunkist
Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Ester Gum, Caffeine, Yellow 6, Red 40.
When comparing the ingredients of each of the products, the item that immediately catches the eye is the caffeine, Sunkist is the only one of the three to have caffeine in their soda. This obviously gives Sunkist a surprising kick. In contrast, both Fanta and Crush are totally free from caffeine.
Other than that, most of the other ingredients are, for the most part, similar.
Popularity
Fanta is one of the most popular orange soda brands all over the world. It is one of the highest-selling sodas in the US. The popularity of the product has reached a point where there are many regional variants. For example, rock-shandy flavor in Ireland, and Fanta-Shokata in Albania. Fanta is called “Hit” in Venezuela.
Crush’s popularity is not as widespread as Fanta’s. Outside of the US, Crush has distribution in Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Syria, Mexico, etc. In Canada, Crush is distributed by the PepsiCo company.
Sunkist is distributed all through the United States. Since its initial production, Sunkist has become one of the most well-known and highest sold orange sodas in the US market. Outside of the US, soda is very popular in Canada, Australia, the Philippines, etc. In Australia, the drink is notably caffeine-free.
Nutrition
Below is a table that compares the nutritional information of Fanta, Crush, and Sunkist side-by-side:
| Nutrition | Fanta | Crush | Sunkist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 270 | 270 | 270 |
| Total Carbohydrate | 73g | 72 g | 74 g |
| Total Sugar | 73g | 71 g | 73 g |
| Sodium | 90 mg | 120 mg | 110 mg |
| Total Fat | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g |
| Vitamin D | (Insignificant) | (Insignificant) | (Insignificant) |
Variations
Fanta
Although most people are aware of Fanta’s orange-flavored soda, the fact is there are a lot more variations available. Fanta has over 200 different flavors worldwide with many flavors being regional modifications.
Besides the orange flavor, some of the well-known flavors are pineapple, strawberry, grape, etc. You can also try more exotic flavors such as dragon fruit, Fanta berry, and Piña colada.
Crush
There have been many different flavors of Crush since its inception in 1911. The orange flavor Crush is the most well-known. But there is also pineapple, strawberry, grape, grapefruit, apple, pear, watermelon, etc. Plus, some other flavors were also in distribution at various points in the past.
Sunkist
The brand was initially made to be a line of orange soda. Other notable flavors of Sunkist are strawberry, grape, fruit punch, peach, strawberry lemonade, cherry lemonade, and berry lemonade. They also have a zero-sugar orange variant.
| Fanta | Sunkist | Crush | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste | Moderately sweet | Least sweet | Sweetest |
| Appearance | Bright orange | Deepest orange color | Bright orange |
| Ingredients | Non-caffeinated | Caffeinated | Non-caffeinated |
| Nutrition | Second most sugar | Least sugar | Most sugar |
| Variations | Highest number of variations | Limited | Limited |
Fanta Vs. Sunkist: Which Is Better?
In terms of taste, Fanta has a sweeter flavor than Sunkist. Moreover, Sunkist is a caffeinated drink in most parts of the world. So, people who have an affinity for coffee or caffeine will certainly enjoy Sunkist more than most orange sodas.
In terms of variety, Fanta has the advantage with dozens of different flavors in production throughout the world.
Is Crush the Same as Fanta?
Fanta and Crush are not the same. They are made and distributed by two different manufacturers. They are also different in taste as Crush is much sweeter than Fanta.
Which Came First, Crush, Fanta, or Sunkist?
The Crush brand of orange soda originated in 1911, which is 39 years before the production of Fanta and 67 years before the production of Sunkist started. So, of the three brands, Crush was the first to arrive.
Which Orange Soda Is the Best?
In terms of orange flavor, Sunkist probably has the edge over its competitors. It is sweet without being overwhelming and has a strong orange fragrance.
To conclude, few things are as blissful as drinking a cold orange soda on a hot summer day. And with so many different brands available, you are never short on options.
