As I’ve espoused many times over the years now, on this very platform and in the world at large, I love flavored soda. Why settle for Coke when you can add cherry and vanilla? Dr Pepper is fine, but when you add strawberries and cream, it’s even finer.
I have, however, not found this to be the case with Sprite. First, I should probably note that I am an irregular consumer of Sprite. I don’t dislike it, I just don’t often choose it when there is soda to be chosen. I have to be in a decidedly Sprite-y mood.
And when it comes to flavored Sprite, my experiences have ranged from unremarkable (the Chill Strawberry Kiwi kind) to unenjoyable (I know people love it, but the Winter Spice Cranberry is too sour), to downright unpleasant (the original Sprite Chill—cherry lime—tastes like bad breath to me; I don’t know how else to describe it). So it was with no small measure of trepidation that I approached this bottle of new Sprite Chill: Mango Citrus.
Twisting the cap, I was met with a strong mango scent — so far, so good. The first sip is very Sprite-forward, but immediately after, you get a nice blast of mango with just the teeniest hint of citrus (I’m wondering if this was the “Chill”? I seem to recall the “Chill” being almost minty on the Cherry Lime version, but it has been a while.)
The flavoring was subdued, and if I could make a change, it would be to incorporate a little more mango flavor. (The citrus level was fine, and I think if it were any more amplified, you’d lose even more of the mango, which is the true star.) It reminded me of the mango flavoring that was in Pepsi Mango, which, until I tried this Sprite, I’d honestly forgotten about. And that’s sad, because Pepsi Mango was really, really great.
My only beef is that I can only find the full sugar version, even though I know Sprite makes a zero sugar variety. That’ll keep me from buying this full sugar version again, honestly. But if you’re a sugared drink connoisseur, it’s absolutely worth checking out.
Purchased Price: $2.79
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (20 oz) 240 calories, 0 grams of fat, 100 milligrams of sodium, 64 grams of carbohydrates, 64 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.
