Real Ingredients.
Real Bite.

Kitchen logic, not lab logic. We use raw New Zealand honey, whole fruit, and organic Apple Cider Vinegar to create a soda that tastes like real food.

Raw New Zealand honey + whole fruit + organic Apple Cider Vinegar. No syrup base. No artificial sweeteners.
Shop All Flavours
✓ No sweetener aftertaste
✓ Real fruit body
✓ Crisp finish
🇳🇿 New Zealand Made

The Three Pillars

🍯

Raw Honey

"Floral sweetness + mouthfeel (no stevia aftertaste)."

The Source: A mix of Manuka, Kanuka, Rewarewa and Clover, sourced from South Island native bush.

We use it raw to preserve its natural enzymes and floral nuance.

Type: Raw & Unfiltered Origin: New Zealand Cert: Glyphosate Residue Free
🍑

Whole Fruit

"Real fruit body (cloudy on purpose)."

The Source: High-UV New Zealand Orchards.

We puree the whole fruit to keep the fiber and the feeling of real food. If it's in the can, it grew on a tree.

Form: Whole Puree Origin: New Zealand Quality: High Anthocyanin
🍎

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

"Crisp, dry finish (not kombucha)."

The Source: Nelson, New Zealand.

Authentic organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Raw, unfiltered, and containing "The Mother" for a complex, tangy snap.

Type: Organic & Raw Origin: New Zealand Strength: Full Strength (5.9%+)

See The Difference

Most sodas are clear because they are syrups. Sidekick is cloudy because it's food.

Cloudy Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
The Balance
Why cloudy? It’s raw, unfiltered organic Apple Cider Vinegar with "The Mother".
Raw Multifloral Honey Texture
The Body
Why textured? Thick, raw honey retains pollen and enzymes.

The Sweet Spot

Sidekick sits in the perfect middle ground: sweet enough to crave, smart enough to drink daily.

Old Soda
~40g Sugar (Too Much)
Sidekick
~11g Sugar (Just Right)

*Values per 250mL can. Sugar content varies slightly by flavour (10g - 12g). See nutrition panel for details.

The Quality Protocol

We partner with New Zealand’s top producers to ensure every drop meets the highest tier of purity.

Supplier certifications shown below. Finished product details are available on the can label.

Honey Standards
🚫
Glyphosate Free Tested & Certified
🛡️
Antibiotic Free Tested & Certified
🌱
Net Carbon Zero Toitū Certified (ISO 14064-1)
🧬
Unadulterated C4 Sugar Tested
View Additional Purity Standards (GMO, Phthalates, etc.)
  • GMO Free: 100% New Zealand Origin Standard.
  • Phthalates Free: No synthetic plasticizers.
  • Irradiation Free: 100% natural process.
  • Nanoparticle Free: No nano-tech used.
  • Residual Solvent Free: Chemical free processing.
Apple Cider Vinegar Standards
🌿
Certified Organic BioGro Certified
🌫️
Raw & Unfiltered With "The Mother"
💪
Full Strength 5.9-6.5% Acidity (Seasonal)

Common Questions

Does it taste like vinegar? +
Not at all. Think of it like a shrub or cocktail—the Apple Cider Vinegar provides a crisp, dry finish that balances the sweetness, much like lemon juice. It has a "bite," not a burn.
What if I don't like a flavour? +
We stand by our taste. If you don't love it, contact us and we'll make it right.
Is it like Kombucha? +
Not really. While we use fermentation ingredients (Apple Cider Vinegar), Sidekick isn't fermented in the can. It tastes more like a classic soda with a "grown-up" dry finish, without the yeasty funk.
How fizzy is it? +
We aim for a "Champagne sparkle"—fine bubbles that lift the fruit aromatics without the aggressive bloat of mass-market sodas.
Is it very sweet? +
It's semi-sweet. The honey provides a floral sweetness, but the vinegar acts like lemon juice, cutting right through it for a clean palate.
Can I use it as a mixer? +
Absolutely. It stands alone, but bartenders love it. It pairs exceptionally well with Gin, Vodka, or Whiskey.
How do you make your Apple Cider Vinegar? +
It’s a two-step process. First, we expose crushed organic apples from Appleby (Waimea Plains) to yeast, which turns the natural sugars into alcohol. Next, we add bacteria to ferment the alcohol into acetic acid—providing the tart bite.
Why use Honey instead of Stevia/Monk Fruit? +
Taste and body. Artificial and "natural" zero-calorie sweeteners often leave a metallic aftertaste. Honey provides mouthfeel and satisfaction that chemicals can't mimic.
Is it Gluten-Free? +
Yes, all our ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
Is it Paleo friendly? +
Yes. Since we use no refined sugars, grains, or dairy, Sidekick fits well into a Paleo lifestyle.
How many calories are in a can? +
Roughly 40-50 calories per 250mL can, depending on the fruit flavor. That's about 1/3rd of a standard soda.
Is the packaging recyclable? +
Infinite. Aluminium cans are one of the most recyclable materials on earth. Please recycle.

No Secrets. Just Soda.

Experience the taste of real ingredients.

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Transparency Notice: Sidekick Soda is a food product committed to ingredient quality. All certifications (SQF, BioGro, etc.) refer to the sourcing specifications of our raw ingredient suppliers. Always refer to the product label for definitive nutrition and allergen information.