Beverages comprising rare sugars and sweetness enhancers are provided herein, wherein the sweetness enhancers are present at or below the sweetness recognition threshold concentration. Also provided are methods for improving the sweetness of a beverage comprising rare sugars by adding a sweetness enhancer in a concentration at or below its sweetness recognition threshold. Beverages comprising natural high potency sweeteners and rare sugars with sugar-like characteristics are also provided, wherein the natural high potency sweetener and rare sugars are present in particular weight ratios.