Soda lovers are spending money -- and calories -- to get the real sugary deal.
Tony Font, the owner of the Soda Gallery in Dallas' Bishop Arts District, said lots of his customers are checking the labels -- but not for calories or fat grams.
"I have a lot of customers that will come in and only buy products sweetened with real sugar," he said.
Soda lovers such as Tina Moore turn up their noses at soft drinks made with artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup. She said doesn't like the way they "leave a taste in your mouth."
"It tastes way different when its real sugar," Moore said.
Font agrees.
"Personally, I think that the ones made with real sugar taste brighter and cleaner," he said. "It's a fresher taste."
Dublin Dr Pepper and the entire line of Jones soda are popular among the sugar purists.
And soda makers are paying attention.
"More of the manufacturers are putting right on their label, really big, that it's made with real sugar," Font said.
Pepsi even introduced two throwback versions made with pure cane sugar. The products were produced for a limited time this spring.
Fans of the soda say it's still available in some stores, but you may have to hunt for it.
