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Back in March, we wrote about Sierra Mist Natural and speculated on the future of the product, based on trademark filings by PepsiCo. John Sicher at Beverage Digest noted today via Twitter that "PepsiCo's new Sierra Mist Natural, with sugar instead of HFCS, will start sale at some national retailers week of Aug. 29, say sources." Well, we now have some photos!

Sierra Mist Natural spotted in Pittsburgh

BevReview fan Gregory Koval noted that he already had found Sierra Mist Natural in Pittsburgh, PA. He was kind enough to take some photos and grant us permission to publish them. He mentioned that "I had been on the lookout for it from reading your site!" Greg purchased two 12-packs from a local Giant Eagle store and mentioned that the pricepoint was the same as standard Sierra Mist, in contrast to the elevated pricing of this beverage's real sugar sibling namesake, Pepsi Natural.

12-pack packagingT

What's inside? Greg provided the following list of ingredients:

Sierra Mist Natural
Carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, natural flavor, potassium citrate

The drink notes that it's caffeine free and "made with real sugar." I guess "Real Sugar" needed another friend besides Pepsi Throwback, Mountain Dew Throwback, and Dr Pepper "Made with Real Sugar".

"Made with Real Sugar"

But what did it taste like? In his words: "Taste is nice and crisp, much less "artificial" then regular Sierra Mist.  If you remember how the first Mountain Dew Throwback compared to regular Mountain Dew? Clearly defined texture/flavor difference? Like that. Well worth picking up!"

See the difference in logo style?

It should be noted that the logo design is substantially different from the most recent redesign of Sierra Mist, looking somewhat odd when placed next to each other on the shelves. Sierra Mist Natural looks almost like a bunch of default fonts were left on accidentally when the label was being made.

Comparison: New Sierra Mist logo vs. Sierra Mist Natural

We must say, however, that the look/feel of Sierra Mist Natural is pretty dead-on with what was discovered via the US Patent and Trademark Office. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up for you to decide.
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The Adina Holistics line offers "fruit infused herbal refreshment," according to their marketing materials. What does that mean in English? Think glass-bottled fruit drinks in the vein of old school SoBe before Pepsi got their hands on them. In fact, the company is currently run by the founder of SoBe, John Bello. Recently, we got the chance to try Adina Holistics Jade Green Tea with Tulsi.

Now, the official spin on this product line is that it was "inspired by the vision to create a world that 'Drinks No Evil'." Apparently, the definition of this is natural and/or orangic ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup, fair trade certification, and even gluten free.

The Holistics line differentiates itself by including herbal elements that apparently perform some sort of new age-y goodness to your body, such as "restore balance, harmony, and wellness" and provide a "normalizing influence." Personally, I don't buy into all that. I just want to know what this stuff tastes like.

Adina Holistics Jade Green Tea comes in a 14 oz. glass bottle with a substantial screw off cap. The color of the drink it yellow/greenish, very similar to other green tea products currently on the market, such as the offerings from Lipton Brisk. Branding is very clean and attractive, with a monkey-like character (apparently Adina's logo) holding a prominent position under a surprisingly small brand name. The phrase "Holistics" is much larger, complimented by the description as a "herbal elixir."

Upon cracking the bottle open, you are greeted by a very sweet, pleasant scent that is unmistakably green tea in nature. It's not harsh, or bitter as you may assume many tea products are. This continues on to the taste which is dominated by a honey flavor complimented by the tea itself. At first, the drink is a bit on the watery side, but then the flavor comes through as you process the taste in your mouth. There's a pleasant aftertaste that again harkens back to the honey flavor. Overall, we really like this flavor!

What's inside? A whole bunch of stuff with the word "organic" attached to it:

Adina Holistics Jade Green Tea with Tulsi
Organic brewed tea (water, organic green tea extract), organic sugar, natural flavor, citric acid, ascorbic acid, organic honey, orangic eleutherococcus senticosus root extratives, organic ashwagandha (withania somnifera) root extratives, beta carotene (source of Vitamin A), organic reishi mushroom stem extratives, orangic american ginseng root extratives, retinol palmitate (source of Vitamin A), organic tulsi leaf extratives

There are two servings per 14 oz. bottle, but we'll provide nutritional information for the whole thing. If you drink all this stuff down, it will cost you 110 calories, 26 g of carbs (all of which are sugars), and 5 mg of sodium.

On the whole, we're impressed with the overall look, feel, taste, and experience of Adina Holistics Jade Green Tea with Tulsi. Even those who may frown upon different tea flavors should give this product a try. The sweet flavor combined with the honey and light tea experience make it quite refreshing!

Official Website: AdinaWorld.com

Connecticut-based Harney & Sons exhibited their tea products at the 2010 National Restaurant Association show in Chicago. I chatted with a member of their team and explored their ready-to-drink bottled tea offerings, which leads to this review of Harney & Sons Organic Peach Black Tea.

Harney Tea has a reputation mostly in the "traditional" tea sense, i.e. loose teas you brew to appreciate. Their bottled tea lineup is substantially smaller, however it shouldn't be overlooked.

Harney & Sons Organic Peach Black Tea comes in a smooth, 16 oz. glass bottle covered in a "wrap" with a orange and yellow pattern that harkens back to Victorian-style wallpaper. A crest overlays this design with the name of the product and notes that this is "Invigorating Black Tea" and is both "Fresh" and "Ripe". Inside the twist-off cap I had to laugh at the printed statement: "Tea is good for you!"

The fragrance of tea and peach flows from the bottle upon opening the product, while the color is a light chocolate brown. As for the taste, it obviously tastes like tea, but it's light, with some of the harshness associated with tea softened by the peach flavor. You are greeted by a sweet taste initially that flattens out to a somewhat empty aftertaste.

I can't say that I'm totally in love with the flavor. More experienced tea connoisseurs probably would have their own opinion here, but I'm probably expecting a flavor that is sweeter and less on the black tea side of things. Then again, I'm probably not the target audience for this type of product! I will admit that the taste is very clean and crisp, which can probably be attributed to the use of cane sugar in the sweetening, what little there is. Black tea is often an acquired taste and I think that may be in play here.

Here's what's inside:

Harney & Sons Organic Peach Black Tea
Triple filtered water, contains less than 2% of organic cane sugar, organic honey, brewed from select organic black tea, natural flavor, ascorbic acid, citric acid, sodium citrate

The full 16 oz bottle of this tea contains 40 calories, 10 mg of sodium, and 10 g of carbs (of which 10 g are sugars). This tea is also certified USDA Organic.

If you enjoy bottled tea and especially black tea, then Harney & Sons Organic Peach Black Tea may be something to track down. The combination of sweet peach flavor and harsher black tea makes for an interesting battle in your mouth, but the clean taste refreshes no matter what!

We've previously looked at other flavors in Jones Soda's GABA lineup, including Jones GABA Fuji Apple Tea Juice and Jones GABA Nectarine Tea Juice. If you are interested in the history and background on this series of drinks, see our Jones GABA overview. Today we look at Jones GABA Grapefruit Tea Juice.

This drink comes packaged in a tall 12 oz. call with an attractive package design, emphasized by a white and red color scheme. As with the others in this GABA line, I'm impressed by the look. There's quite a bit of text on the package, but it portrays the look/feel of a nutrient-oriented beverage.

The drink itself is light yellow in color, similar to a light tea or ginger ale. There's a faint grapefruit scent that emanates from the beverage. Overall, the feeling is airy and fresh.

As for the taste, it's watered-down in overall experience, and doesn't really taste like grapefruit. It's sweet and based in tea, but with a hint of citrus. Definitely would lean more on the juice side of the "tea/juice" tasting experience here. It's somewhat hard to describe, but it's pleasant. The flavors aren't overpowering and provide a nice compliment to food.

Jones GABA Grapefruit Tea Juice
Filtered Water, Inverted Cane Sugar, White Grape Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (PharmaGABA™), Caramel Color, FTC Natural White Tea From Brewed Tea, Tea Polyphenols

A 12 oz. can of Jones GABA Grapefruit contains 80 calories, 25 mg of sodium, and 19 g of sugars. The back of the can also notes that this drink contains 12% juice, as is also Fair Trade Certified.

With a light citrus, tea-infused flavor, Jones GABA Grapefruit Tea Juice provides pleasant refreshment for a non-carbonated drink. Throw in the GABA with its promise for improved "focus and clarity" and you've got a nice combination!

BevReview fan Ed Rankin recently uploaded a photo to our Facebook Page regarding a new drink he found. It appears to be related to the Sunkist Solar Fusion lineup… but this drink is called Sunkist Citrus Fusion. Thanks to a conversation I had with Ed regarding his finding, we were able to put together this review.

While we've covered Solar Fusion pretty extensively here, I can't say that we've heard anything about Sunkist Citrus Fusion. Ed notes that he found the beverage outside of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. He snapped the above photo at a gas station.

By looking at the label design, you can see that it's very much in-line with the Sunkist Solar Fusion style, especially with the stylized "S" behind the name of the drink. The callout at the top of the drink notes that this is a "Citrus Lime Flavored Soda", which would explain the green color scheme. We see the mention of "B Vitamins" and "Caffeine" as well.

Interestingly, a PDF we found online featuring a "Label Information Note" dated 3/1/2010 had entries for both HFCS and sugar-sweetened versions, which leads us to believe plans for this drink range beyond the U.S. A quick search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows trademark filings on the name "Citrus Fusion" dating January 2007 by Snapple Beverage Corp (The Sunkist beverage brand is now owned by an entity that contains Snapple, Dr Pepper Snapple Group). A more recent January 2009 filing by Sunkist also claims the name. (Interestingly, Everfresh Beverages, Inc. has an abandoned trademark filing for a "non-alcoholic fruit-based juice drink" dating from August 1995.)

Ingredients:

Sunkist Citrus Fusion
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), caffeine, natural flavors, ascorbic acid and calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), niacinamide (Vitamin B3), calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Yellow 5, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Blue 1, cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

The ingredient list is very similar to Solar Fusion, with a 20 oz. plastic bottle containing 300 calories, 115 mg of sodium, and 81 g of carbs (of which, 78g are sugars). The same percentage of nutrients were also found in Sunkist Citrus Fusion, with just 25% of your recommended daily value each of Niacin, Vitamin B6, B12, and Pantothenic Acid.

Just like Sunkist Solar Fusion, Sunkist Citrus Fusion contains 4.1 mg/oz of caffeine department. In comparison, Pepsi contains 3.2 mg/oz while Coke has 2.9 mg/oz. In the fruit/citrus pop category where Citrus Fusion probably will be compared, Mountain Dew has 4.5 mg/oz., Mello Yello has 4.3 mg/oz., and standard orange Sunkist contains 3.4 mg/oz.

Ed he noted that the drink reminded him of "liquid green Skittles candy." It was very drinkable, more on the sweet side vs. sour. He liked the fact that it was a lime drink, which brought memories of Mountain Dew Distortion to mind. He actually thought it compared favorably to that limited-edition DEWmocracy drink. There was a strong lime flavor present, but it wasn't authentic, probably more syrupy in nature.

Overall, it appears that Sunkist Citrus Fusion is part of a new franchise of "Fusion" drinks from Sunkist, kicked off first by Sunkist Solar Fusion. While that original version was mandarin orange-infused, this entry seems to be aimed at the lime-lovin' crowd. Are these drinks being targeted at the likes of Mountain Dew? Well, you'll have to find them yourself and decide!

Personal Trainer & Nutrition Specialist Karen Tanner Byrd, BevReview's Health & Wellness Reviewer, takes a look at drinks associated with fitness and healthy eating

Earlier this year a new beverage was designed for active individuals looking to hydrate while also giving their bodies the added protein it needed to help repair and build the muscles from a hard workout. Pro H20 is a high protein water designed to hydrate and supply protein without added fat and sugar. I recently had the opportunity to give it a "test run" and share a little of my thoughts.

Pro H2O is a sucralose-sweetened beverage that is enhanced with whey protein. Each 16.9 oz bottle has only 90 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2 grams of carbohydrate, and 20 grams of protein, which makes it ideal source of protein for those looking to keep calories down. The bottle is similar to other flavored waters on the market and the coloring is unique. It is fairly clear to cloudy white (both flavors).

How did it taste? I tried both Pro H20 Black Cherry and Pro H20 Kiwi Strawberry flavors, which were refreshing and good. It honestly tasted like similar artificially-sweetened drinks but with a different aftertaste that indicated the addition of whey protein. If you have experienced other protein drinks, you know what I am describing. It is not ideal, but it is often what results from adding whey protein. The best way to describe that sensation is that it quickly quenches and then immediately gives you a thirsty feeling again. Hopefully that is an area that will continue to improve the longer Pro H20 is on the market.

Why a protein water? Protein is essential if you are working out because it supports lean muscle tissue. Lean muscle tissue = higher metabolism. Who doesn't want that? If you don't give your body adequate protein, especially after a workout, your body WILL get what it needs even if you don't supply it. It will basically digest your muscles to get that protein. That, my friend, is a VERY expensive and inefficient way of getting protein. The developers of Pro H20 figured that you need to hydrate after a workout, why not also get the added protein that you need at the same time.

From a health perspective, I tend to lean away from artificially-sweetened beverages because I feel that they lead me to crave more sweet things during the rest of the day. I also tend to lean more towards natural products. But, if you migrate towards sucralose-sweetened beverages and are a seeking additional low-calorie protein in your diet, I think you should give it a try.

If I was choosing a recovery drink from Pro Foods, I would lean more towards their Pro Ade Orange sports drink beverage because it is sweetened with sugar (NOT high fructose corn syrup) instead of sucralose. Per bottle 16.9 oz bottle, Pro Ade has 220 calories, 0 grams of fat, 36 grams of carbohydrate, and 22 grams of sugar. I also didn't notice as much aftertaste in the Pro Ade. The calories are more than double that of Pro H20. But, if you have burned off adequate calories in a workout to truly deserve a recovery drink, then I wouldn't worry about the calories too much. Your body needs it!

Wondering if you had a hard enough workout to need a recovery drink? If you have to ask, then it wasn't hard enough!

Official Website: Pro-Foods.com

Well, if you missed out on Heritage Dr Pepper when it was available for a limited time earlier this year, then you are in luck… because Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" is coming.

6 collectible cans of Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar"
(Source: Beverage Industry magazine)

This release is for a limited time to celebrate Dr Pepper's 125th anniversary over the summer (specifically, "through September" or "while supplies last"). As such, they'll have 6 different can designs and a special bottle look. Soda enthusiast forums such as Salute to Soda have been talking about this since April and the news hit mainstream with a recent Associated Press story. The May 2010 issue of Beverage Industry magazine also hinted at the release when covering the history of Dr Pepper, calling the sugar-sweetened product Dr Pepper Heritage.

Bottle: Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar"
(Source: AP)

The folks over at BevNet's forums report that this new Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" will be available in markets where Coke has the bottling rights to Dr Pepper, namely the bottlers of Coca-Cola Enterprises (or CCE).

12-pack package design for Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar"
(Source: AP)

Specifically, it's being produced in bottling plants that can handle "liquid sucrose", i.e. refined sugar which can be a generic description of either cane sugar, beet sugar, or a mixture. Based on what was used in Pepsi Throwback, Mountain Dew Throwback, and Heritage Dr Pepper, our guess would be that beet sugar or cane/beet combo is being used in this new Dr Pepper — it's just cheaper to make that way. As such, this drink most likely will not be Kosher. This also makes the drink substantially different from Dublin Dr Pepper, which is bottled in Dublin, TX, and exclusively uses Imperial Pure Cane Sugar (this is typically considered the best Dr Pepper you can find).

Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" can design
(Source: AP)

The default to Coke-owned bottling sources isn't much different from the release of Heritage Dr Pepper, which was available in locations where Pepsi bottled Dr Pepper (and frankly, made it somewhat harder to find). It's also not confirmed at this time if other bottlers will be involved in the distribution of Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar".

Will it taste the same as Heritage Dr Pepper? We'll have to taste it to find out. Hopefully, the 125th Anniversary edition of Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" will be easier to find for everyone to enjoy.

Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" can design
(Source: AP)

Finally, you know one thing we are looking forward to with this release? Well, of course it's the inclusion of sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). I mean, c'mon, it just tastes better. But beyond that, it's actually the novelty of 6 "collectible" can designs! Here at BevReview, one of the first things that attracted us to the world of drinks was all the different cans that used to be featured "back in the day". I mean, do you remember Pepsi's "Cool Cans"? Nowadays, with the 20 oz. plastic bottle gaining dominance as the preferred way to sell and market drinks, you don't see a much in the way of unique can design, so we applaud the folks at Dr Pepper for making effort here with a tip of the hat to cans!

Here's the official press release from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group:

Dr Pepper Commemorates 125 Years With Collectible Cans Honoring Its Heritage
Limited Edition Cans Available Through September

PLANO, Texas, July 7 /PRNewswire/ — Dr Pepper, the oldest major soft drink in America, continues its 125th Anniversary celebration with the release of Dr Pepper made with real sugar in six collectible cans, inspired by the beloved brand's rich history. Consumers can enjoy the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper in this new packaging beginning in early July through early September.

Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" can design
(Source: AP)

The anniversary cans feature legacy artwork and popular advertising slogans such as "I'm a Pepper" and "10, 2 and 4." In addition, 12-pack cases highlight key moments from the brand's history from its origin at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, TX, in 1885, and its introduction at the 1904 World's Fair, to the widely popular "I'm a Pepper" advertisements first released in 1977.

"Dr Pepper has evolved for 125 years, thanks to its unique flavor and a fan base that continues to grow," said Dave Fleming, director of marketing for Dr Pepper. "We're honoring the brand's legacy and thanking our fans everywhere for their support by offering something special – commemorative cans depicting some of the most memorable moments in our history."

Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" can design
(Source: AP)

Dr Pepper kicked off its anniversary year on the symbolic date of January 25, 2010, when Dr Pepper ad icons David Naughton and Gene Simmons rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Continuing the celebration, the brand launched its Dr Pepper Cherry flavor during Super Bowl XLIV. The ad spot featured Gene Simmons as "Doctor Love" joined by Paul Stanley and their KISS band mates as well as tribute band MiniKISS.

Dr Pepper 125th Anniversary product is available in 12-oz cans with six collectible can designs and 20-oz bottles at retailers nationwide, until supplies last.

Source

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Wrapping up our look at the 4 Hispanic-themed flavors from Jones Soda, we cast our eyes upon Jones Soda Tutti Frutti, or in English, Jones Soda Fruit Punch. We've previously reviewed Jones Soda Mandarin Orange (Naranja Mandarina), Jones Soda Pineapple Cream (Crema de Piña), and Jones Soda Lime (Limón).

Jones Soda Fruit Punch

If you want to learn more about the "whats and whys" of this new line, I recommend reading our first review for more background information.

In short, this beverage tastes a lot like Hawaiian Punch, if that drink has the clean taste associated with the use of cane sugar. While originally available just on the West Coast, you can also find it via the online Jones Soda Store.

As expected, Jones Soda Fruit Punch is red in color and smells like fruit punch. Nothing too crazy there. It's quite sweet and tastes great chilled, but you have to be expecting a rather bold fruit punch flavor. It's not really hidden in this drink!

Jones Soda Fruit Punch
Carbonated water, inverted cane sugar, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate (as preservative), modified food starch, potassium sorbate (as preservative), Red 40, ester gum, Blue 1

12 oz. bottle packs 170 calories, 40 mg of sodium, and 42 g of sugars, and is caffeine free.

34.5 km?
Photo 10409 by Frank Barbarra of Encinitas, CA

Label design features the standard Jones Soda white/black label color scheme in place, with the flavor name written in red. This label is bilingual, with the Spanish title given prominence, while the flavor is translated into English below the photo. The nutrition facts, descriptive text, and ingredients are also presented in both languages on the back.

The photo on this bottle of Jones Soda Tutti Frutti is #10409 and was shot by Frank Barbarra of Encinitas, CA. Again touching on the Hispanic theme of this beverage series, this black/white image denotes a painted directional sign for "Califia" denoted in kilometers.

While not surprising in taste, Jones Soda Fruit Punch delivers a predictable-but-clean fruit punch experience sweetened with real sugar. Think of it as upscale Hawaiian Punch!

While we were at the 2010 National Restaurant Association show here in Chicago, we spent some time at the Numi Organic Tea booth, which featured loose, bagged, and bottled tea. Our interest was primarily in the bottled varieties offered by the brand, and after talking to show representative Hammad Atassi, he invited us to check out Numi Peach Nectar Puerh Green Tea.

Officially, Numi describes this beverage as "Lusciously Rich & Fruity." What does that mean? Well, if you keep reading the official spin, you'll find that "fresh, real peach and passion fruit (not oils or flavorings) frolic with a dash of agave. This scrumptious, juicy delight is brewed with white tea and puerh green tea." Got all that?

Numi was launched in 1999 in the U.S. to create a home for organic, Fair Trade Certified, premium tea blends. This is the type of tea you'd find in the likes of Whole Foods Market or other stores that offer natural/organic products. I'd file it under "real" bottled tea experiences, vs. what you'd find with more mainstream brands like Arizona, Lipton, Nestea, etc.

The bottle makes a big deal about "puerh", which the company explains is "an ancient healing tea that undergoes a unique fermentation process resulting in more antioxidants than green tea." Exactly what's inside? Here's the ingredient list:

Numi Peach Nectar Puerh Green Tea
Organic tea brew (purified water, organic white tea, organic osmanthus, organic green puerh tea, organic hibiscus), peach puree, organic agave, organic evaporated cane juice, organic passion fruit juice concentrate, citric acid

In case you haven't noticed, that's a lot of mentions of the word "organic", which sort of makes sense given that this product is USDA certified as such. A 12 oz. bottle contains 60 calories, 5 mg of sodium, 14 g of carbs (all of which are sugars) and 4% juice.

The color of the beverage is a cloudy, mustardy color, unless you forget to shake the drink — which you should, it's recommended! Upon opening the cap, it's hard to miss the strong tea smell, with just a hint of fruity scent. The flavor was rather surprising, to be honest. I think I expected more of a sweet peach flavor initially, but this drink is similar to Honest Tea in that it's only lightly sweetened. Rather, a bold, somewhat bitter tea flavor first greets you, followed by a subtle peach aftertaste. Quite the reverse from many of our tea experiences. Initially, this blend was a bit off-putting, but I have to say that the combination seems to grow on you. I'm not sure if that's because it is a rather unique flavor combination or if my mouth just likes abuse. Nevertheless, the blend is quite refreshing, especially with a nicely chilled bottle.

Speaking of the packaging, it's very attractive, showcased by a shapely glass container and screw-on cap. The label design is packed with earth tones common with the look of many organic products. The name is clearly presented, as the flavor is not only represented by text, but also with the image of a peach slice. Nutritional information, certifications, and other information round out the label content. Overall, it's nicely design, albeit a bit small to read at times.

If you are into natural, organic bottled teas, then Numi's lineup should not be missed as you seek out your favorite flavors. There is a crisp, authentic feel to the flavors, originating from the purity of the ingredients. The beverage is not overtly sweet, but the tastes do punch out boldly, especially with this Peach Nectar flavor. Definitely worth exploring if you get the chance!

Official Website: NumiTea.com

BevReview fan Mark Hiszem of Akron, OH, offers a guest review on this beverage found in an airport

When I first saw the black bottle of Sprite at the Cancun airport I was very curious as to what it was. Upon closer look the bottle was all in Spanish and the only thing that I could understand was that it was a Limited Edition and that it was all-natural. What was Sprite – Botella Edicion Limitada?

I had to buy it and see how it compared to the traditional Sprite. It cost 55 pesos ($4.60 USD) which is a little more expensive but it was in an airport where everything is expensive anyways.

The "Botella Edicion Limitada" Sprite is in a black bottle with a black label. "Sabor natural" is on the front of the bottle, meaning natural taste. I think that this is aiming at the trend of carbonated beverages going all-natural.

Ingredient List

The natural bottle of Sprite contains sugar as opposed to HFCS that is in traditional Sprite. With Pepsi Throwback and Mountain Dew Throwback being released earlier in the year I think that Coca-Cola felt like they had to release something with sugar also. I do not know how easy it is find natural Sprite in other countries.

Comparison of Sprite bottles

After pouring both the traditional and natural versions of Sprite it was clear that the traditional had much more carbonation. They both smelled very similar and were identical in color.

The natural Sprite had a lighter flavor and not a lingering taste it was refreshing. The traditional Sprite had more carbonation and a slightly stronger flavor. Overall the taste between the two was not significantly different.

I think that this product will only be out for a short amount of time. I do not think there is much of a market for a natural version of Sprite. There is not a significant taste difference and the only advantage is that is contains sugar instead of HFCS. After tasting both of them, I actually prefer the natural version. I like the flavor and the lesser amount of carbonation. If anyone else finds the natural Sprite please let me know what you think.