More often than not, I cover the newest American food and beverage news here on Sporked. It takes something very special to break that rule, but we’ve got something special here. Out of nowhere, Pepsi U.K.’s Instagram account posted a photo of two new zero-sugar Pepsi flavors exclusive to Tesco. While neither of these flavors are entirely new, both are worth talking about. Let’s take the Pepsi U.K. Challenge: talking about these for a whole article without accidentally spelling the word “flavour.”
What are these new foreign flavors?
Per the Instagram reveal, these new Pepsi Zero Sugar flavors are Cream Soda and Strawberries ‘n’ Cream. Here in the USA, we’re already familiar with the cream soda-flavored Pepsi Cola from their Soda Shop line. That said, Strawberries ‘n’ Cream is definitely eye-catching to modern Pepsi scholars such as myself. While I did dig up a whole history of strawberry Pepsi variants (below), this is the first appearance of this specific flavor concept in Pepsi’s global history of zero sugar-branded sodas.
Is strawberry a new territory for Pepsi?
Not quite, but it’ll take a true Pepsi fanatic to remember the last strawberry Pepsi that got a wide release here in the States. Pepsi’s first strawberry variant was tested for a whopping two months in 1991 before going away for good. The plainly-named Pepsi Strawberry was sold in the U.K. and France for a few months in 1994 before, again, saying adieu. Japan has sold a few strawberry Pepsi variants, including one specifically based on strawberry milk! The most recent strawberry Pepsi variant was actually sold right here in the United States: Diet Pepsi Jazz Strawberries and Cream launched in July 2006 before being discontinued three years later.
We almost had a much more recent example in a rumored strawberry flavor of the Nitro Pepsi line (may it rest in peace). Unfortunately, Pepsi canceled the release plans before I ever got to try what I’d sincerely consider the most interesting-sounding Pepsi in years.
Has Pepsi ever released a soda exclusively in the U.K. before?
Of course! Not counting the minute differences in formulas between countries, Pepsi released a new flavor exclusively in the U.K. just last year—and I reviewed it here on Sporked! Pepsi Electric Zero Sugar was described as having a “zesty, citrus taste” along with a vibrant blue color. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy that soda in the slightest; my hopes for Pepsi Electric being a revival of Pepsi Blue were extremely misguided.
Where can I find these new Pepsi flavors for myself?
Well, as stated, these Pepsi flavors are exclusive to Tesco stores until March 19. After that, they should be available wherever Pepsi products are sold in the United Kingdom. If you’re trying to track this down stateside, you’ll want to keep your eyes open for a reputable soda importer to get a pallet.
