Premium European Sparkling Beverages Guide: Orangina, EPSA, Almdudler & More

Premium European sparkling beverages are a different category from mainstream American sodas. They use real juice, regional ingredients, and recipes that have remained unchanged for decades. Here is a guide to the European sparkling drinks we carry — Orangina from France, EPSA from Greece, Almdudler from Austria, and Paulaner Spezi from Germany — and what makes each one worth choosing over a standard soda.

What Separates Premium European Sparkling Beverages from Standard Sodas

• Real juice content: Orangina contains 12% real citrus juice; EPSA lemonade uses 7% real lemon juice. Standard sodas use artificial flavoring.
• Regional ingredients: Almdudler is made with 32 Alpine herbs. Paulaner Spezi is brewed by a Munich brewery founded in 1634.
• No artificial colors or flavors: European food regulations are stricter than US standards, and these brands reflect that.
• Lower sweetness: European sparkling beverages are generally less sweet than American sodas, allowing natural flavors to come through.

Orangina — France’s Iconic Sparkling Citrus Drink

Orangina is a sparkling citrus beverage made with 12% real citrus juice — orange, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, and lime — with light pulp, carbonated water, and natural flavors. No artificial colors. Caffeine free. The original French recipe has been unchanged since 1936. The iconic round bottle was designed in 1954 to mimic the shape of an orange; shake gently before drinking to redistribute the natural pulp. For more on the brand, see orangina.eu.

Orangina Formats

• Orangina 8.5 oz Glass Bottle — The classic. Shake gently before drinking.
• Orangina 8.5 oz — Original French Recipe — Single serve glass bottle.
• Orangina 6-Pack Glass Bottles (6 x 8.5 oz) — Best value.
• Orangina 11.2 oz Can — On-the-go convenience.
• Orangina 11.2 oz (330ml) Can — 12% Real Juice — European can format, caffeine free.

EPSA — Traditional Greek Fruit Sodas

EPSA is one of Greece’s oldest and most beloved beverage brands, producing traditional fruit sodas in classic glass bottles. Less sweet than American sodas, made with real fruit juice, and carbonated at a level that highlights the natural flavors rather than overwhelming them. A genuine taste of Greece in every bottle.

• EPSA Lemonade, Sparkling Greek Lemon Soda with 7% Real Juice — 7.85 fl oz (232ml) Glass Bottle — Bright, naturally lemony, lightly carbonated. More complex than any American lemon soda.
• EPSA Orangeade Sparkling Greek Orange Soda — 232ml — Classic Greek orange soda. Real citrus flavor, glass bottle.
• EPSA Sour Cherry Drink, Greek Still Sour Cherry Juice Beverage — 7.85 fl oz (232ml) Glass Bottle — Still (non-carbonated) sour cherry juice. Deep, tart, and intensely fruity — a uniquely Greek flavor profile.

Almdudler — Austria’s National Herbal Soda

Almdudler is the unofficial national drink of Austria. Made since 1957 with a blend of 32 Alpine herbs, it has a gently herbal, lightly sweet, subtly citrusy flavor that is completely unlike any mainstream soda. Iconic in Austrian culture — served at ski lodges, traditional restaurants, and mixed with wine as a spritzer. Available in bottle and can formats.

• Almdudler Original Austrian Herbal Soda — 16.9 fl oz (500ml) Bottle
• Almdudler Original Austrian Herbal Soda — 11.2 fl oz (330ml) Can

Best for: A genuinely unique soda experience, mixing with white wine as an Austrian Almspritze, or as a conversation-starter at any gathering.

Paulaner Spezi — Germany’s Classic Orange-Cola

Paulaner Spezi is a uniquely German soft drink — a blend of cola and orange soda — produced since 1974 by Paulaner, the famous Munich brewery founded in 1634. Spezi (pronounced SHPET-see) is the dominant soft drink category in Bavaria and southern Germany, but virtually unknown outside of German-speaking countries. It is sweeter than a standard cola but has a distinctive orange citrus note that cuts through the cola base. A must-try for anyone curious about regional European soft drinks.

• Paulaner Spezi Orange Cola Soda — 11.15 fl oz (330ml) Can — Since 1974, Munich, Germany.

Nixie — USDA Organic Sparkling Water

Nixie is a US brand offering USDA Organic certified sparkling water with natural fruit flavors — zero calories, no sweeteners, no artificial ingredients. A clean-label option for shoppers who want a flavored sparkling drink without sugar or artificial additives.

• Nixie Sparkling Water Watermelon Mint — 12 fl oz Can — 0 calories, USDA Organic, no sweeteners.

Acqua Panna — Tuscany’s Fine Dining Still Water

Sourced from the Apennine Mountains in Tuscany, Italy, Acqua Panna is the still water of choice at fine dining restaurants worldwide. Its naturally soft, smooth taste with a balanced mineral profile makes it exceptionally food-friendly.

• Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water — 750mL Glass Bottle

How to Choose: European Sparkling Beverages Compared

• Best premium soda alternative: Orangina — 12% real citrus juice, original French recipe since 1936
• Most unique flavor: Almdudler — 32 Alpine herbs, unlike anything else
• Best Greek classic: EPSA Lemonade or Orangeade — real juice, glass bottle
• Most unusual for curious drinkers: Paulaner Spezi — Germany’s orange-cola
• Most intense fruit flavor: EPSA Sour Cherry — still, deeply tart
• Zero calorie, organic: Nixie Sparkling Water Watermelon Mint
• Best still water for dining: Acqua Panna 750mL glass

Serving Suggestions

• Orangina over ice with a slice of fresh orange — classic and refreshing
• Orangina as a mixer — pairs with gin, vodka, or Aperol
• Almdudler Almspritze — mix Almdudler 1:1 with dry Austrian white wine over ice
• EPSA Sour Cherry straight — serve chilled in the glass bottle, no ice needed
• Paulaner Spezi ice cold — best served very cold in a tall glass

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Frequently Asked Questions About European Sparkling Beverages

What is Orangina made of?

Orangina is made with 12% real citrus juice (orange, lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, lime), light pulp, carbonated water, and natural flavors. No artificial colors, caffeine free. Original French recipe since 1936.

What is Almdudler?

Almdudler is Austria’s most beloved herbal soda, made with a blend of 32 Alpine herbs since 1957. It has a gently herbal, lightly sweet, subtly citrusy flavor — the unofficial national drink of Austria. Available in bottle and can formats.

What is EPSA?

EPSA is a Greek beverage brand producing traditional fruit sodas in glass bottles — sparkling lemonade (7% real juice), sparkling orangeade, and a still sour cherry drink. Less sweet than American sodas, made with real fruit juice.

What is Paulaner Spezi?

Paulaner Spezi is a classic German orange-cola blend produced since 1974 by the Paulaner brewery in Munich. Spezi is the dominant soft drink in Bavaria but largely unknown outside German-speaking countries. A uniquely regional European flavor.

What is the difference between Orangina in a can vs glass bottle?

Glass preserves flavor more faithfully — it is chemically inert and doesn’t interact with the beverage. The 8.5 oz glass bottle is the classic Orangina format. The 11.2 oz can is more convenient for on-the-go. Same recipe, different experience.