This “Healthy Coke” Trend On TikTok Is Going Viral, But Is It Actually Good?

As is now expected from TikTok, a new crazy food trend has started to go totally viral. This time, users have been touting this “healthy Coke” recipe that swears that this alternative take on the beloved soda is a great, healthier alternative. So it’s time to finally answer the question: does this version taste good, and can it actually replace regular Coca Cola?

TikTok user @mandyvjones shared her recipe, saying that she learned about the drink from her pilates teacher. She claims that this “taste just like a Coke.”

So let’s first talk about how you make it. You can a handful of ice and put it in a glass, preferably a tall glass. Next add in a splash of balsamic vinegar. Jones used a balsamic from Modena, which is a dark, almost syrupy vinegar. Other users have estimated that the “splash” used is about two tablespoons.

Next, Jones added in Guava Sao Paulo La Croix, though she said you can use any flavor of sparkling water you’d like. She proudly exclaimed: “it already looks like a Coke!” as she stirred the two together. She then said:  “I swear to God, it tastes like a Coke, and it’s healthy, and it’s good for you.”

Her video has 6.3 million views, and many have said that the drink is refreshing, but many other weighed in saying that it does not taste like a Coke at all. Another commenter added that “brown and bubbly does not equal Coke.”

So, what’s the tea? Well, it seems like the overall consensus is that while the drink is surprisingly not unappealing like you’d think, it won’t fool anyone into thinking they’re drinking a Coca Cola.

To make the drink taste best, you could use a fruity variety of balsamic vinegar and a sparkling water flavor that compliments it. Many users have pointed out that the drink is like a “shrub,” which is a name for drinking vinegar that’s a concentrated syrup that uses fruit, sugar, and vinegar.