© Provided by Eat This, Not That! Pepsi, Pepsi MangoPepsi has a fun history of innovation that dates back decades. Every ’90s kid remembers Crystal Pepsi, which tasted like your average old Pepsi—except it was crystal clear. The soda maker hasn’t dropped a new permanent flavor since 2016, but the long wait is officially over this week with the release of Pepsi Mango.
Pepsi Mango, which combines “bright citrus and rich caramel notes of an ice-cold Pepsi,” first debuted as a limited release back in 2019. Pepsi’s decision to make this beverage part of its permanent line-up is a smart one, because consumers already spend $8.9 billion a year on mango-flavored drinks, according to AdWeek. (RELATED: 108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked By How Toxic They Are)
If you’re mad about mango, Pepsi notes that its new soda cans have a “splash” of real fruit juice. A 12-ounce can contains 150 calories, 41 grams of sugar, and 95 milligrams of sodium. The drink also comes in a zero-calorie version.
For Pepsi, there’s something else that’s meaningful about mango: It’s decidedly not coffee, a flavor which longtime rival Coke released earlier this year with the release of Coca-Cola with Coffee. Pepsi had plans to launch Pepsi Café last spring before ultimately hitting the brakes.
With Pepsi Mango, the company appears to be targeting an international audience—perhaps those who love travel, the tropics, and that sense of anticipation that comes with tasting something new. “Mango is one of the most popular fruits in the world, and it serves as the perfect complement to Pepsi, creating an irresistible combination that our fans can enjoy everywhere throughout the year,” Todd Kaplan, vice president of marketing, said.
