McDonald's soda tastes better than others: Here's the crazy reason why

McDonald’s straw impacts your taste buds: Here’s the crazy reason why
© Darya Sannikova
McDonald’s straw impacts your taste buds: Here’s the crazy reason why
More under this ad

The scientific reason behind why McDonald’s sodas tastes better has just been revealed and apparently, the secret lies in their straws.

If you always had a nagging feeling that soda at McDonald’s just somehow tastes better, you are not the only one. For years there has been an unofficial consensus among fans that soda served by McDonald's just happens to taste better than anywhere else. And turns out, there is an actual scientific reason for this.

Discover our latest podcast

As reported by Reader’s Digest, among other reasons, one of the main things that affects the flavour of McDonald’s soda is the restaurant's straws.

More under this ad
More under this ad

Yes much like in the case McDonald’s McFlurry where the company has a very specific reason for the strange design of the spoon, in case of sodas too, McDonald’s has some very crazy food science behind how they serve their customers drinks.

thumbnail
Fans believe that soda served by McDonald's just happens to taste better than anywhere else Philippe Lissac
More under this ad
More under this ad

McDonald’s soda taste is affected by its straws

McDonald’s standard straws that it uses with all their sodas is wider than the typical straw used by other companies.

The width of the straw leads to every sip of soda covering more surface area on your tongue, which hits all your tastebuds. This in turn, makes the soda taste more flavourful.

thumbnail
McDonald's straws are wider than regular straws  Alexandro David
More under this ad
More under this ad

Other reasons why McDonald’s soda tastes better

There are also a few additional reasons for the superior taste of McDonald’s soda. While most restaurants get their soda syrups delivered in plastic bags, McDonald’s soda syrups arrive in stainless steel tanks, which helps in keeping it fresh.

Once in the restaurant, both the syrup and water and pre-chilled before being put in the soda fountain and the company ensures that the drinks are served to customers as cold as possible. This process improves carbonation and the sodas remains fizzy for longer than at other places. Fizzy sodas always taste better than sodas that lost carbonation.

More under this ad
More under this ad

Sources used:

Reader’s Digest: ‘This Is Why Coke Tastes Better at McDonald’s Than Anywhere Else’

More under this ad