If you thought the soda wars were over, they’re not. Just days after Poppi dropped its Shirley Temple, Olipop followed with one of its own, and the timing feels anything but accidental.
Then came the wink, tucked into the brand’s Instagram announcement: “Real ones know: the only thing that’s the same is the name 😉”
This isn’t just a new flavor hitting shelves , it’s Olipop’s Shirley Temple stepping into a very specific moment and making a clear point: The Shirley Temple is back, and they think they’re doing it better.
Decoding the “Shirley” Shade
When a brand says “the only thing the same is the name,” they’re pointing you straight to the nutrition label. In the world of functional soda, there’s a growing rift between aesthetic and formulation.
While both brands are tapping into our collective childhood memories, they’re taking very different paths to get there:
- The Poppi Approach: A crisp, light “glow up” built on an apple cider vinegar base. It’s refreshing, aesthetic-forward, and packs 3g of fiber.
- The Olipop Approach: A “modern twist” that reads like a craft cocktail recipe, tart cherry juice, white grape, and citrus. The real “shade,” however, is in the stats. Olipop packs 6g of prebiotic fiber in its Shirley Temple.
The Bottom Line: Olipop is essentially saying, “We see your mocktail, and we’ll raise you 3 grams of fiber.”
Why the Comments are Screaming
To really understand why this launch hit the way it did, you have to look past the announcement itself and into the comments.
After spending time scrolling through more than 700 comments on Olipop’s post, a few clear patterns emerge, and they say a lot more than “people like cherry soda.”
1. The “Pregnancy Hero” Movement For many, a Shirley Temple is the only “fancy” drink that feels like a celebration rather than a compromise when alcohol is off the table.
“I NEED to find it near me 😭 , sincerely a very pregnant soon-to-be mom who is now CRAVING THIS.”
2. Childhood, Reclaimed Then there’s the nostalgia factor, and it runs deep. People aren’t just excited to try the drink; they’re sharing stories. Childhood dinners. Special occasions. Even weddings.
“I love Shirley Temples so much it was literally my signature drink at my wedding!”
3. The Fiber Loyalists There is a dedicated segment of the “Oli-army” that won’t touch a soda unless it’s doing heavy lifting for their gut. For them, the 6g of fiber isn’t a perk, it’s the reason they’re buying the case.
Head-to-Head: The 2026 Shirley Temple Battle
| Feature | Poppi Shirley Temple | Olipop Shirley Temple |
| The Vibe | “She is the moment” | “The taste that takes you back” |
| Flavor Profile | Crisp cherry + citrus | Tart cherry, white grape, lemon/lime |
| Fiber Count | 3g | 6g |
| Marketing Hook | TikTok aesthetics | Hollywood nostalgia |
| The Base | Apple cider vinegar | Botanical blend |
Same name. Two very different philosophies.
The Sold-Out Effect
Like its competitor before it, Olipop’s Shirley Temple is already running into a supply-and-demand problem. Shoppers are reporting trips to multiple stores, Target, Whole Foods, Kroger, only to find empty shelves where the cans should be.
That scarcity has turned a soda into something people are actively hunting for. And that urgency is doing more for brand loyalty than any promo code ever could.
The Last Sip: Why This Rivalry is Just Getting Started
This isn’t really about cherry soda. It’s about ownership.
Poppi brought the hype and got there first. Olipop is betting on nostalgia, higher fiber, and a more thoughtful take on a classic to win over the long haul.
The shot has been fired.
Now it’s up to shoppers to decide which Shirley Temple earns a permanent spot in their fridge.
Curious what else is trending in the drinks world? Visit our Beverages hub.
