Sprite is about to drop a new flavor.
The company announced on May 19 that it is launching a new limited-edition summer flavor. “Sprite + Tea” is directly inspired by consumer consumption and the viral trend of consumers steeping tea bags in cold Sprite for a few minutes before drinking it.
“It truly originated from social activity that went viral of consumers actually putting tea bags into Sprite and essentially steeping the tea” to create this concoction of bubbles, citrus and tea,” Kate Schaufelberger, brand director of Sprite North America, told USA TODAY. “We tried to get under it – of what people were really searching for.”
She said the new product creates “an elevated Sprite consumption experience.”
Schaufelberger said the company hopes consumers receive it positively and that the brand will continue to listen to audience feedback.
“This came from them as an original seed of an idea, and now we are coming back to them to some degree, to see what they think of it, and hopefully it pays off or exceeds their expectations,” Schaufelberger said, adding the team hopes Sprite + Tea will become a year-over-year seasonal offering like the holiday fan-favorite Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry.
The brand director also revealed the new product is already getting strong industry recognition and just won a Fabi Award given by the National Restaurant Association Show to celebrate new and creative products.
The concept actually started out as an intern research project, according to A.P. Chaney, senior creative director of sparkling flavors in North America at Sprite.
“When it blew up on TikTok with millions of views, it was a gut check that we were on the right track,” Chaney said in a statement.
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What does Sprite + Tea taste like?
Sprite says, “The category-crossing offering blends the crisp, lemon-lime refreshment of Sprite with the classically refreshing taste and flavor of tea.”
The new Sprite, which Schaufelberger described as the “perfect summer beverage,” includes “tea flavor that pays homage to a classic iced tea taste” and tea essence that adds “aroma and consumption experience that’s very different than any Sprite the company has put out before.”
“When you first sip it, it hits you like a Sprite,” Schaufelberger said. “It has that known Sprite taste and carbonation. But in the middle is this new, unique tea experience.”
The brand said the new flavor underwent several rounds of consumer testing to “fine-tune the formula for the amber-colored sparkling beverage.”
How to get new Sprite + Tea
The new Sprite + Tea is available in both the regular and zero-sugar varieties at retailers nationwide starting May 19 until October.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sprite drops new limited-edition flavor: Here’s when you try it
