Coca-Cola has pulled the plug on its latest “permanent” flavor, Coca-Cola Spiced, six months after introducing the variation. The spicy flavor was introduced in North America in February, marking the first time the company has permanently launched a new flavor in more than three years since Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla was added to the lineup in early 2020.
The drink was marketed as “a carefully curated blend of refreshing raspberry pops and warm spicy flavors with the classic taste of Coca-Cola” in an effort to attract younger consumers with more adventurous palates. However, critics of the flavor, which comes in both regular and Zero Sugar, argued that the “spice” was minimal and was dominated by artificial raspberry flavoring.
Coca-Cola said in a statement that it's “always looking at what our customers like and adjusting their tastes accordingly.” In fact, Coca-Cola Spiced was introduced as a permanent addition after research found “an increase in consumers' desire to try a spicy beverage” and that more than five million raspberries were selected in Freestyle drink machines in 2022. The company often uses touchscreen soda fountains to measure new flavors.
“As part of this strategy, we plan to phase out Coca-Cola Spiced to introduce an exciting new flavor in 2025,” a company spokesperson said. CNN.
Sue Lynne Cha, Coca-Cola’s vice president of marketing for North America, previously noted that consumers are “looking for bolder flavors and more complex flavor profiles.” She added: “This is a trend that we’re starting to see in food and also in beverages, and we thought this was a unique space for us.”
In the meantime, for those looking to satisfy their quirky Coca-Cola cravings ahead of next year's new flavor launch, the company is offering a number of limited-edition options, including Y3000, Dreamworld, and K-Wave, alongside the new Oreo collaboration that debuted last month.