Most people need no introduction to these two sodas. They both bring in billions for their parent company and are readily available at stores and many restaurants in the U.S. and beyond.
Given their popularity, many people are curious about the differences between these two sodas. Below you will find out what sets these two apart.
Pepsi vs Mountain Dew
Taste
Most people have tasted both sodas. Pepsi is a cola and Mountain Dew is a sugary citrus soda. Frankly, they are two different sodas that often appeal to different types of tastebuds.
That being said, please consider voting for your favorite between Pepsi and Mountain in our below poll.
Nutrition
Overall, the better option nutritionally is Pepsi. It wins on calories, sodium, carbs, and sugar. Of course, both sodas are not healthy options to drink in excess. According to Healthline, consuming high amounts of soda can lead to health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, tooth decay, weight gain/obesity, and more.
| Pepsi | Mountain Dew | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 12 fl. oz. | 12 fl. oz. |
| Calories | 150 | 170 |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Sodium | 30mg | 60mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 41g | 46g |
| Total Sugars | 41g* | 46g* |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
Ingredients
While these two sodas share carbonated water and high fructose corn syrup as their primary ingredients, they really are two different sodas. Pepsi contains one of the signature ingredients of most colas known as caramel color. Mountain Dew is a citrus soda with orange being one of its flavors since it contains orange juice.
Pepsi – Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor.
Mountain Dew – Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Erythorbic Acid (Preserves Freshness), Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Flavor), Yellow 5
Caffeine
Below is the caffeine content for Pepsi and Mountain Dew for their popular serving sizes. While both have caffeine, Mountain Dew has more of it.
| Serving Size | Pepsi – Caffeine(mg) | Mountain Dew – Caffeine(mg) |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5 fl. oz. | 24mg | 34mg |
| 12 fl. oz. | 38mg | 54mg |
| 16 fl. oz. | 50mg | 72mg |
| 16.9 fl. oz. | 53mg | 77mg |
| 20 fl. oz. | 63mg | 91mg |
| 24 fl. oz. | 76mg | 109mg |
Ownership
Both sodas are made by the soda and snack food giant, PepsiCo. They are key components of the company’s portfolio of brands.
Introduction Dates
Pepsi – Caleb Bradham invented this soda in New Bern, North Carolina. It was introduced in 1893 and was originally called Brad’s Drink. Its name changed to Pepsi-Cola in 1898 when Bradham decided it needed a more captivating name.
Mountain Dew – Brothers, Barney and Ally Harman, produced a lemon-lime whiskey mixer in the 1930s. They developed it after moving to Tennessee from Georgia and not being able to find a suitable mixer for their tastes. They called it Mountain Dew which according to Thrillist is slang for moonshine. The original formula for Mountain Dew soda was invented sometime in the 1940s. Pepsi acquired the brand in 1964 which is when the soda started to grow in popularity throughout the United States.
Sources:
Mtn Dew Image Credit – a1d4a1c3/open food facts/creative commons
pepsicobeveragefacts.com
pepsiborninthecarolinas.com/history
contact.pepsico.com/mtndew/article/when-was-mountain-dew-invented-how-did-it-get-its-name
