soft drink

German Soft Drinks — Lemonade, Juice & Refreshments from Germany

Germany's soft drink culture goes far beyond the big international brands. At GermanFoods.shop, you'll find authentic German lemonades, juices, cola varieties and sparkling refreshments that you simply can't buy in American, British or Canadian supermarkets. From Mezzo Mix — the beloved cola-orange blend first introduced in 1973 — to Paulaner Spezi, Vita Cola from Thüringen, Bionade, Fritz-Kola and classic German Apfelschorle (apple spritzer), our selection captures the flavours that German expats miss most. We ship directly from Erfurt, carefully packed for safe Arrival.

German soft drinks reflect a distinctive culture of regional flavours and independent breweries. Many of the most popular drinks have roots in specific German cities and regions, giving them a character that global brands simply cannot replicate.

Mezzo Mix has been a German staple since The Coca-Cola Company introduced it in West Germany in 1973. The cola-orange blend — marketed with the slogan „Cola küsst Orange" (Cola Kisses Orange) — is officially sold only in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The drink belongs to the broader „Spezi" category, a generic term for cola-orange mixtures that originated in Bavaria. Paulaner Spezi, produced by the Munich brewery, has been made from the same recipe since 1974 and is widely considered the original.

Vita Cola is a remarkable East German success story. Developed in 1958 at the Chemische Fabrik Miltitz under the GDR's second five-year plan, it features a distinctive blend of citrus oils, vanilla, cola nut extract, caffeine and vitamin C. After near-disappearance following reunification, the brand was revived by Thüringer Waldquell in Schmalkalden, Thuringia, in 1994. Today, Vita Cola outsells Pepsi in eastern Germany, and in Thuringia it holds a larger market share than Coca-Cola — making Thuringia one of the few places on earth where a regional cola leads the market. A record 89 million litres were sold in 2018.

Fritz-Kola was founded in 2003 by two Hamburg university students, Lorenz Hampl and Mirco Wiegert. Their simple concept — more caffeine, less sugar, real cola flavour — struck a chord with a young, urban audience. The distinctive bottle labels featuring the founders' faces became a recognizable part of German street culture, and Fritz-Kola is now distributed across the EU.

Bionade was created in the 1990s by a Bavarian brewer who wanted a fermented, alcohol-free soft drink with only natural ingredients — water, malt, sugar and fruit essences — inspired by the Reinheitsgebot (German beer purity law). It became an icon of the German organic beverage movement.

For juice lovers, German Apfelschorle (sparkling apple juice mixed with carbonated water) is the country's unofficial national drink — consumed in larger volumes than cola in many regions.

FAQ

What is Spezi?

Spezi is a German cola-orange blend that originated in Bavaria. The name has become a generic term, but the original brand is Paulaner Spezi, made in Munich since 1974. Mezzo Mix is Coca-Cola's version, available since 1973. Both are essentially cola mixed with orange soda — a combination almost unknown outside German-speaking countries.

Why is Vita Cola significant?

Vita Cola was the GDR's answer to Coca-Cola, developed in 1958 with a unique recipe containing citrus oils and vitamin C. After reunification nearly killed the brand, Thüringer Waldquell revived it in 1994. In Thuringia, Vita Cola outsells Coca-Cola — one of the few regions globally where a local cola brand leads the market.

What is Apfelschorle?

Apfelschorle is sparkling apple juice mixed with carbonated mineral water, typically in a 60/40 or 50/50 ratio. It is Germany's most popular non-alcoholic drink and a staple at every German table. Unlike American apple juice, it is always served sparkling and less sweet.

Do German soft drinks ship safely to the USA?

Yes. We use reinforced packaging designed for glass bottles and cans. Beverages ship from our warehouse in Erfurt, Germany, with tracking. Delivery to the USA is typically duty-free for orders within our shipping thresholds.