Love It or Hate It: The Most Polarizing Beverages of All Time

People often have very different tastes when it comes to their favorite beverages. However, there are some beverages that people feel so strongly about that there have been numerous debates about the quality of these drinks.

If you say you don’t like orange juice or a certain flavor of Gatorade, most people will accept your opinion. On the other hand, if you tell someone who likes Coke that you prefer Pepsi or tell a coffee-lover that you prefer tea, you might get a long lecture about your questionable tastes. There have been many polarizing beverages throughout history that have sparked debates for years. Even though these debates may never truly be settled, here are some of the most polarizing beverages of all time.

Although people who don’t drink soda might not care about the difference between Coke and Pepsi, frequent soda drinkers know that there’s a big difference. However, this difference isn’t just a matter of preference — it has also sparked many heated debates over the years. The Coke vs. Pepsi debate has made Pepsi one of the most polarizing beverages of all time. Those who prefer Coke may be used to hearing “Is Pepsi okay?” when eating out, but the answer will likely always be “No.”

Not only has Coke vs. Pepsi been a heated debate for years, but the New Coke that was released in 1985 was just as polarizing. In 1985, the Coca-Cola Company announced that it was changing the formula of Coke for the first time in nearly a hundred years. There was so much uproar about the new Coke formula, that the company ended up rereleasing the original formula as Coca-Cola Classic.

Diet soda in general has been controversial since the first diet soda was released in the United States in the 1950s. Even though there have been disagreements about diet sodas for years, the controversies continue today. While one side says diet soda is horrible for your health, the other side says it’s harmless and a healthier alternative to regular soda, which is loaded with sugar. The main source of this debate is aspartame, which is an artificial sweetener used to sweeten most diet sodas.

Kombucha, a popular fermented drink, first gained popularity in the 1990s. This popularity has grown in recent years, but not everyone agrees with the supposed benefits of this drink. While there is some evidence that the benefits of drinking kombucha are similar to that of a probiotic, the evidence is mixed. There have also been concerns about contaminants in Kombucha.

La Croix is the kind of drink you either hate or you can’t live without it. While it’s definitely a healthier alternative to drinking soda, many people claim that La Croix tastes terrible. Those who find it mostly unflavorful have even commented that it tastes like you’re drinking sparkling water while someone else shouts the flavor from the next room. Those who love sparkling water will tell you that once you get past the fact that it’s not sweet, it’s a delicious beverage you can’t live without.

Coconut water is a drink hailed by the health community as an alternative to sugary electrolyte drinks. It’s often considered an alternative that’s just as effective for rehydration as sports drinks. However, the evidence on this is mixed. Some experts claim that coconut water isn’t any more hydrating than regular water. Additionally, what people disagree with isn’t just the hydrating properties of coconut water — they also disagree about the taste. People either love the taste of coconut water or they loathe the strange flavor.

The use of Matcha tea can be traced back to at least the 8th century in China. It has grown in popularity in the US in recent decades, especially with brands like Starbucks adding it to their menu in the early 2000s. However, many people who enjoy this sweet and creamy green tea latte haven’t tried authentic Matcha tea. While Matcha purists enjoy making their own Matcha tea, others claim that Matcha powder tastes like dirt or grass since it's known for its earthy flavor.

The hot coffee vs. iced coffee debate has almost been as polarizing as the coffee vs. tea debate. Many coffee enthusiasts think that brewed coffee should always be served hot, no matter what the weather is like. Iced coffee drinkers disagree. Those who exclusively drink iced coffee can be found drinking it even in the middle of winter.

White Claw is a hard seltzer that launched in the United States eight years ago. This brand has grown in popularity, especially since 2020, and makes up the majority of hard seltzer sales each year. Many people love this ready-to-drink beverage because it allows you to enjoy an alcoholic beverage without drinking too much alcohol. The ABV of White Claw is only 4.5%. Many people have also criticized the taste of White Claw. This criticism hasn't kept it from being one of the most popular seltzers.

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a creamy glass of eggnog, sprinkled with nutmeg on top? Even if it’s your favorite holiday beverage, not everyone agrees that this classic holiday drink is delicious. This creamy and sweet beverage is incredibly polarizing during the holiday season. Some people love eggnog and others nearly gag at the thought of it.