Swamp Pop Bubbles Up

A new line of soft drinks that has popped up on Louisiana store shelves are the creation of John Petersen and Collin Cormier of Lafayette: Swamp Pop Sugarcane Soda.

“It really just started with the name. Then we said, ‘Has anybody done this? Because it seems like a logical tie-in. Wait, nobody’s done this?’ So that’s where the exploring began,” said co-founder John Petersen.

Appropriately, these made-in-Louisiana sodas are saturated with iconic Louisiana flavors. “There are so many flavors that are indigenous to Louisiana that have never been explored this way as soft drinks. We remember being kids picking Satsuma and figs, growing strawberries and cucumbers,” said Petersen.

Those memories find expression in flavors like Swamp Pop’s juicy Satsuma Fizz; Noble Cane Cola’s bold hints of plump figs; Praline Cream Soda’s liquid caramel (which we hear makes an amazing float); and the zip of Jean Lafitte’s Ginger Ale (with a cucumber twist). 

Sweetened with pure sugarcane syrup, Swamp Pop sodas are long on flavor and short on artificial additives. Nor do these soft drinks suffer from the recreational addition of a little alcohol. The Satsuma 75—a Satsuma Fizz made extra fizzy with the addition of champagne and a dash of gin—sounds especially tasty.

These local flavors have found their way onto local grocery store shelves. Pick up a six-pack at Calandro’s, Rouses, and eateries across the state. Find a full list of outlets at drinkswamppop.com.