Crystal Pepsi facts for kids
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20 ounces (570 g) in the US in 2016
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| Type | Clear cola |
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| Manufacturer | PepsiCo |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | April 13, 1992 (test markets) |
| Discontinued | 1994 (and re-releases) |
| Variants | Diet Crystal From Pepsi |
| Related products | Pepsi Blue, Tab Clear |
Crystal Pepsi was a special kind of cola soft drink made by PepsiCo. What made it unique was that it was clear, unlike regular dark colas. It was first sold in the United States and Canada from 1992 to 1994. Later, because many people online wanted it back, Pepsi brought it out again for short times in the mid-2010s. It was also sold for a little while in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Crystal Pepsi looked like regular Pepsi but without the caramel color. Some people thought this made it taste a bit less "acidic."
Contents
The Story of Crystal Pepsi
Why a Clear Drink?
In the 1980s and 1990s, there was a trend called the "clear craze." Many products, like soap, were marketed as clear to suggest they were pure. At the same time, soft drink sales were slowing down a bit. PepsiCo, the company that makes Pepsi, wanted to try new things. They were looking for ways to expand their drinks and reach more customers.
They noticed that people were becoming more interested in "New Age" drinks. These were often lighter and seen as healthier. PepsiCo wanted to create a new drink that fit this trend.
Creating Crystal Pepsi
PepsiCo did a lot of research. They found that people wanted a healthier version of cola. Cola was the most popular type of soft drink. Food scientists knew that a drink's color can change how you think it tastes. Lighter colors often make you think of lighter flavors.
Regular Pepsi gets its dark color from caramel. For Crystal Pepsi, they removed the caramel coloring. They used something called modified food starch to give the drink body instead. PepsiCo tried out 3,000 different recipes for the new clear drink. A 12-ounce serving of Crystal Pepsi had 134 calories, which was 20 fewer than regular Pepsi.
In November 1991, Pepsi-Cola officially announced they were working on a clear Pepsi.
Testing and Launch
On April 13, 1992, Crystal Pepsi was first sold in a few test cities. These included Dallas, Providence, Salt Lake City, and Colorado. People really liked it, and it sold very well. In Colorado, many customers also asked for a diet version. So, Diet Crystal Pepsi was launched there in October 1992.
Crystal Pepsi was then launched across the entire United States on December 14, 1992. In its first year, it made about $474 million in sales. Around the same time, Coca-Cola also released its own clear cola called Tab Clear.
Other companies also started making clear versions of their products. There was clear dish soap, clear liquid soap, and even clear mouthwash. A beer company also released a clear beer.
When Crystal Pepsi Ended
By late 1993, Crystal Pepsi was stopped. The last bottles were sent to stores in early 1994. A few months later, Pepsi tried a new version called Crystal From Pepsi. This one was a mix of citrus and cola flavors.
In 2005, a drink called Pepsi Clear was sold in Mexico for a short time. In 2008, PepsiCo even filed for trademarks for "Pepsi Clear" and "Diet Pepsi Clear."
How Crystal Pepsi Was Advertised
Crystal Pepsi was advertised as a "clear alternative" to regular colas. It did not have caffeine. Its main slogan was: "You've never seen a taste like this."
PepsiCo wanted people to know that Crystal Pepsi was a new product. They said it tasted different from regular Pepsi. They also wanted it to feel like a "New Age" drink: lighter, less sweet, clear, and caffeine-free. They hoped it would create a whole new type of drink.
The company spent a lot of money on advertising. They had a special ad during the US President's inauguration. They also spent $7 million on Super Bowl advertisements. A series of TV ads used the popular song "Right Now" by Van Halen. These ads first aired on January 31, 1993, during Super Bowl XXVII.
Yum! Brands chairman David C. Novak helped create the idea for Crystal Pepsi. He later said that it was a huge learning experience. He felt it was a great idea that wasn't carried out as well as it could have been.
See also
- List of Pepsi types
- List of defunct consumer brands
- New Coke
- Coca-Cola Clear
- Zima
