Crystal Pepsi

**Current Status:** | Current Flavor: Canada
Discontinued: United States, Spain, Germany

**Crystal Pepsi** was a Pepsi cola flavor first test-marketed in five cities of the United States in early 1992, such as Denver, CO, Sacramento, CA, Dallas, TX, Providence, RI, and Grand Rapids, MI. After its test-market release, it proved to be successful, fully released in December 1992 nationwide. By early 1994, it got discontinued due to low sales. In 2015, there was high demand to bring it back, which eventually re-release Crystal Pepsi for a limited time in waves.

## **Description**

Crystal Pepsi was a clear cola designed to taste closely to compare Pepsi-Cola Made with Real Sugar. Its original release had a diet variant, while the 2022 release had a zero sugar variant.

## **History**

### **Original Release**

On April 13th, 1992, PepsiCo first began to test market Crystal Pepsi in five cities of the United States, such as Denver, CO, Sacramento, CA, Dallas, TX, Providence, RI, and Grand Rapids, MI. After its test marking short phase, it received a positive response. Pleased with the results, PepsiCo began to sell the cola nationwide in December of that year.

Around the same time when Crystal Pepsi was first released, Coca-Cola followed suit by releasing Tab Clear on December 14th, 1992, as an intentional "kamikaze" effort to create an unpopular beverage that positioned as an analog of Crystal Pepsi to "kill both in the process."

In early 1994, PepsiCo discontinued Crystal Pepsi due to low sales, these low sales likely from Coca Cola’s kamikaze efforts.

### **2015 Sweepstakes Giveaway**

After the demand of bringing Coca-Cola's citrus soda, Surge back in September 2014, people led to speculation in the public and amongst media about the return and demand of Crystal Pepsi back from early-to-late 2015.

After months of popular demand, on December 9th, 2015, PepsiCo announced that Crystal Pepsi would be returning for a limited time. However, only to get obtained in a sweepstakes giveaway online Pepsi Pass loyalty customer program for a chance to win between December 10th and 11th. Winners selected during the following week would receive the beverage in time for Christmas.

### **2016 - 2018 Limited-Time Releases**

After the sweepstakes giveaway, PepsiCo decided to re-release Crystal Pepsi frequently again in retail stores in several waves for small limited-times throughout the years.

### **2022 Twitter Sweepstakes Giveaway**

On January 4th, 2022, the official Pepsi Twitter page announced a sweepstakes giveaway telling people to "#ShowUsYour90s" for a chance to be one of 300 people to receive Crystal Pepsi for its 30th anniversary.

### **2022 Limited-Time Release**

In August 2021, it was leaked on a social media website, Reddit, that Crystal Pepsi and a Zero Sugar variant would be proceeding on getting released in Mid-2022. The release was later revealed to be canceled for the United States, while it still saw a release in Canada.

## **Related Variants**

### **Diet**

In 1992, Diet Crystal Pepsi was released alongside its regular variant but discontinued at the same time as the original Crystal Pepsi flavor remained discontinued. Even after the high demand in 2015, Diet Crystal Pepsi has never seen the light of day since 1994, 28 years from now.

### **Zero Sugar**

In 2022, a Zero Sugar variant would be proceeding on getting released in Mid-2022.

### **Crystal From Pepsi**

During the same time when Crystal Pepsi got discontinued in early 1994, a reformulation of Crystal Pepsi called "Crystal From Pepsi" was released. It was a citrus-cola hybrid and was discontinued several months after its introduction.

## **International Release**

### **Canada**

In December 1992, following the American release of Crystal Pepsi, it was first released in Canada and followed the same demise in early 1994.

In 2015 with the demand of bringing it back, PepsiCo in Canada eventually stepped in, releasing it in 2016, 2017, and 2019 in retail stores in several waves for small limited-times throughout the years, same as the U.S.

On June 13th, 2022, after 3 years off the shelves, pepsicanada confirmed via Instagram that Crystal Pepsi would be returning to retail stores (for its 30 year anniversary) across Canada very soon. As of June 22, 2022, Crystal Pepsi is currently on shelves across various retail stores in Canada.

### **Spain**

In 1994, Crystal Pepsi was eventually released in Spain but fell short as it discontinued in the same year.

### **Germany**

In 1996, Crystal Pepsi was later released in Germany but discontinued in the same year, similar to Spain.

### **Mexico**

In 2005, a new clear Pepsi was sold in Mexico as Pepsi Clear for a limited time. On August 22nd, 2008, PepsiCo filed for trademarks titled "Pepsi Clear" and "Diet Pepsi Clear."

## **Trivia**

* Crystal Pepsi was one of the few sodas that came back from high demand (in some cases) in recent years.
	+ Some decently notable discontinued sodas that came back are Surge in 2014, Pepsi Fire in 2017, Pepsi Lime in 2019, 7 Up Pomegranate in 2021, Dr Pepper Berries & Cream and Dr Pepper Dark Berry in 2022.
* Crystal Pepsi was released as a caffeine-free, clear cola in the US and Canada in 1992.
* It was named "Crystal" because it was bottled without the caramel coloring that gives regular Pepsi its brown color.
* The product was successful initially, but had trouble sustaining its popularity and was discontinued in 1994.
* Crystal Pepsi made a brief return in the late 2010s due to nostalgic demand.
* The drink was created by David Novak, who went on to become the CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018.
* In 2016, the company held a sweepstakes to give away 13,000 six-packs of Crystal Pepsi as part of a promotional campaign.
* In the 2019 Netflix series Stranger Things, Crystal Pepsi is prominently featured as a beverage of choice by the main characters.
* The commercial advertisement for Crystal Pepsi featured Van Halen's song "Right Now".