Does anyone remember Crystal Pepsi? If you were alive in the in the early 90′s you will certainly remember the failed soda Crystal Pepsi. So why was this soda a fail? Crystal Pepsi was a soda released from 1992 to 1993 by none other than Pepsi-Cola. They marketed it as a “clear cola”, that was also caffeine free…a strange alternative to regular colas. The slogan they used to market the cola was “You’ve never seen a taste like this.”
Hmmm….well, it was true, we HAD never seen a taste like that before. The thing with Crystal Pepsi is, it tasted different than Cola…It had a unique flavor all it’s own, so people didn’t really consider it a cola. In it’s first year, Crystal Pepsi did around $474,000,000 in sales……not bad at all! The same year, Coca Cola essentially copied what Pepsi was doing and released Tab Clear.
So was Crystal Pepsi a success? Yes, INITIALLY IT WAS, sales were ridiculous at first, but then they quickly fell, and it was pulled off the market. David C. Novak, the guy who came up with the concept for crystal Pepsi, in an interview said that he thinks Crystal Pepsi is the best idea he ever had, yet the worst executed. Further saying that if he had actually made the soda taste good, it would have been more of a success.
Crystal Pepsi is property of the Pepsi Cola company
My thoughts on the failed soda Crystal Pepsi
So there’s the quick version of the story of Crystal Pepsi, now here are my thoughts. I remember being a kid, and when Crystal Pepsi came out I flipped my lid…..I was completely ecstatic! Can you name me one kid who didn’t think the idea was awesome? A clear Pepsi?
I mean I know this soda failed commercially, but come on, it’s a really cool idea! I also remember actually liking the taste of the failed soda…from what I remember it was actually kind of refreshing. I actually drank the stuff quite a bit. It wasn’t perfect though, but it was good.
I feel that yes, it was poorly executed, marketing-wise. If they would have done things differently, maybe got inside people’s heads more with the marketing aspect…..kept it in the limelight longer, perhaps Crystal Pepsi would still be around, who knows? All in all, the Crystal Pepsi makes my all time list of really cool sodas!
Share this post:
Can you believe I never drank it?
That’s kinda hard to believe Babe! It was really popular when it first came out.
We used to drink it all the time in Germany. It was super big over there when I lived there. It was really cool to wonder how they got it clear. I don”t remember any commercials for it. But I do remember the vending machines full of it. And it was only $0.25 too…. wish prices were back to that for a can of soda
Oh really? Wow..I had no idea it was big over there, or that they even knew about! Yea I always wondered how they got it clear too…pretty crazy stuff. Yea, it was all over the place for a year or 2…….I don’t remember it being only a quarter, but that sounds frickin sweet. If soda was that cheap nowadays I’d be drinkin it like mad lol. Thanks for the comment Rebecca!
Soda nowadays does not taste the same because of high fructose corn syrup and the sugar free alternatives are not that much better. So, I do not think there was much going for the clear concept to begin with…
I agree that MOST soda doesn’t taste the same as it used to, there are exceptions though. The natural sugar “throwback” sodas are a great example of that. I have to respectfully disagree as far as the clear concept, I think that has nothing to do with sugar and I think it was an awesome idea. Thank you for your comment!
They simple didn’t add caramel color, the ingredient that gives colas their shade of brown. Caffeine is also added separately. While caffeine is tasteless, caramel color is not, hence the unique taste of Crystal Pepsi. Had they spent more time in the lab and figured out a way to synthesize the flavor of caramel color in some colorless concoction, that would have solidified Crystal Pepsi as a permanent product in the PepsiCo line. Too bad they didn’t spend more time and money on R&D. Of course, one would have to wonder about the nutritional and health impact of such a synthetic chemical…
I have to disagree, I feel that Crystal Pepsi wasn’t SUPPOSED to taste like other “colored” colas, that’s what made it unique. I think it was awesome, and if they would have been smarter with the marketing it would have been a success. I really appreciate your comment!
I have been searching for a can now for over 10 years. Used to love it.
Yea it’s awesome stuff, and it sounds like it’s pretty hard to find…that sucks.
I thought that was the greatest stuff ever and really wish they would bring back out
Personally this was the only soda I was allowed to drink by my health concious parents. No dyes, no caffeine, perfect from our perspective. Now I think this soda would go over so well with the health crazed population. I think a revamp would go well, especially if they marketed it as Pepsi Natural and even use cane sugar. This would be a major hit, if anyone takes my idea i want 10%. The natural soda market has potential. This pepsi half or whatever that just came out, still has dyes, aspartame, and caffeine, hardly a health nut drink, and they are marketing to weight concious people. Totally wrong, dont these people do research?
Yea I know! Natural is the way to go, and they could totally win with this if they brought it back and had the right marketing strategy. Thanks for your comment!
people are more informed now days about what is healthy and what is not, something with dyes, aspartame, caffeine, and high fructose corn syrup all together in one is not healthy…this is what the new pepsi that just came out is marketing to health concious people, GET REAL…
RIGHT…they’ll lie to u really bad to get u to buy stuff, but the truth is, no soda is healthy, but at least real sugar is a lot more healty than all the other crap lol
I totally loved this soda!! I don’t drink soda and I know that if they were to bring this back, I would drink it like crazy! I have hoped for over a decade now for them to rerease it! I can still taste the flavor on my taste buds every time I talk about it. To me it was the best soda out there and I believe there hasn’t been one like it. Please Pepsi be smart and bring back the good stuff and stop releasing this nasty stuff you call soda now. Anyone know how to reach the company. I always wanted to write them this letter!
I know it was so good! I’m glad someone else feels the same. They really do need to bring it back…but instead all they care about is money and tryin to do what the “masses” want. Oh well maybe someday they’ll wise up!
About this pepsi clear and how I came about it this page, my mother and I was sitting and talking. I asked her iff she remembered the drink and she said yeah. I miss that soda and have had random conversations about it,
and I have found out that a lot of people remember it. I miss Pepsi Clear and Fruitopia. I heard it,s only sold in Canada. It’s not sold anywhere. What near me, but I wish it was.
Yea I know what you mean, it comes up for me now and then too. Fruitopia is another drink that they should have kept makin, it was really good too. Thanks for your comment!
I loved it and I do agree about all the added crap but I wish they would bring it back and also make it with splenda because I can’t have all that sugar now lol but hey ya never know
Yea I think that’s a good idea. Have a regular version and a low sugar version. Thanks for your comment!
I drank that stuff back in my early college years. Great stuff. As others have said, made for a great soda alternative to cola but not fruity. Someone should totally try to recreate a version of this that is “natural” and healthy and authentic.
Must have been a lot of fun lol. I agree, I’d love to see them bring it back in a healthier version, great idea!
Wow ! I reallllly miss those days. And pepsy crystal was the best cola EVER made!
I miss them too. Yep it was really special, too bad they stopped making it.
Heya exceptional blog! Does running a blog similar to this take a great deal
of work? I’ve very little knowledge of programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyways, if you have any suggestions or tips for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic however I simply wanted to ask. Thank you!
I’m glad you liked it
I haven’t thought about a part 2, but maybe!