Celsius is pumping out new flavors faster than I can write about them. Between getting this review approved and actually writing it, I found two other new Celsius flavors on shelves. (Let me know in the comments if y’all want me to cover Mango Lemonade and Strawberry Passionfruit next.)
Today, we’ve got our hands on the two newest flavors in Celsius’ unique “Vibe” line. Retro Vibe is supposed to be a “Sparkling Sherbet Slush” while Playa Vibe is a “Sparkling Piña Colada.” I’ve already discussed how one of these flavors has exactly zero flavor-related words in its flavor; let’s crack them open to see if the vibe is right.
Pros: I mean, it’s sherbet-esque? While I can’t taste any specific fruits, it is at least reminiscent of the slurry at the bottom of the bowl after a scoop of sherbet. I don’t have many nice things to say about this one, but it is the better option of the two new Celsius flavors I tried.
Cons: I’m not sure who was in a bad mood over at Celsius when they were working on these new Vibe flavors, but they both have a distinct funk. I’ve had plenty of Celsius energy drinks that don’t have gym shoes as a key flavor note, so I’d love to know what went wrong here. Unless you’re a diehard Celsius fan, you can skip this one. (If you’re really desperate for a sherbet-flavored drink, PRIME just released a super solid Rainbow Sherbet hydration drink called Future Freeze.)
Pros: The flavor of this new Celsius technically reminds me of pineapple and coconut.
Cons: This flavor of this new Celsius also reminds me of expired pineapple and the husk of a coconut. Ew, yuck, bad, etc. I had high hopes for this one because of my long history with Piña Colada-flavored energy drinks. Unfortunately, this misses the mark in just about every way.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Rating:
2.5/10
Sporks
Where can I find these new Celsius flavors for myself?
Both of these new Vibe flavors are currently exclusive to specific retailers. The sherbet-ish Retro Vibe is only available at Target, while the vaguely-pineapple barely-coconut Playa Vibe is only at Walmart. I don’t recommend making a special trip to find them unless you’re a true energy drink completionist like me.
Griffin Parker is a writer, award-winning charity auctioneer, and "influencer in the beverage space" according to a few PR agencies. Please do not ask him about the cotton candy business he started right out of high school. When he's not contributing to Sporked or running the @SodaSeekers news pages, you can find Griffin espousing the virtues of Dayton-style pizza, Cincinnati-style chili, and Dolly Parton's Fabulously Fudgy Brownie Mix.
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