Tag: Coca-Cola

REVIEW: Coca-Cola Limited Edition Dreamworld

Marvo 36 Comments

Coca Cola Limited Edition Dreamworld Bottle

Coca-Cola thinks dreams taste like mango. And after pondering about it for longer than any sane person should, it makes sense that Coca-Cola’s Limited Edition Dreamworld is a tropical fruit-flavored cola.

For a lot of people, if you ask them what their dream vacation is, it would probably be a trip to a tropical destination where they can lounge on a beach under the sun, like Hawaii or the Caribbean, especially during the winter months. Price is Right contestants jumping up and down when a tropical island trip ends up being a prize can’t be wrong. And what fruit is considered “tropical”? Mangoes, my friend. So maybe by drinking Coca-Cola Dreamworld, you can imagine yourself sitting on a beach towel, getting your vitamin D via sunshine, and watching and listening to the waves gently crash onto the beach.

Too simplistic of an explanation? Okay. How about this one?

In this day and age of social media and the pressure to present ourselves as awesome and living the best life when in reality it is not awesome, the mango is the best representation of the dream world we wish to put up on social media, a bright, sweet fruit that looks good in photos.

I don’t know if either explanation is even close to being correct. But what I do know is that Coca-Cola Dreamworld is terrific, and it’s the best tasting of the Coca-Cola Creations flavors so far. Once I found out via my first sip that it was mango flavored, my eyes lit up like a Price is Right contestant who just found out they could win a new car because I don’t know if I’ve said this anywhere on this site, but I love mango.

Coca Cola Limited Edition Dreamworld Zero Sugar Bottles

My taste buds also thought they noticed some orange (another tropical fruit) and papaya (another tropical fruit), but it’s definitely mango flavored. Although, the level of fruitiness is noticeably lower than what I tasted with last year’s Pepsi Mango. There’s also a Zero Sugar version, which is also great (although not as good as Zero Sugar Starlight), but I prefer the full sugar one.

To me, dreams are flavorless abysses in your mind that contain fragments of one’s memories and experiences pieced together to create incoherent flipbooks of images that have no meaning. So I’m glad Coca-Cola took a brighter route and decided that dreams taste like mangoes because the fruit makes me happy, and so does Coca-Cola Dreamworld.

Purchased Price: $2.40
Size: 20 oz bottles
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Regular), 7 out of 10 (Zero Sugar)
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle) Regular – 240 calories, 0 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of sodium, 65 grams of carbohydrates, 65 grams of sugar (including 65 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 57 milligrams of caffeine. Zero Sugar – 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 60 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 57 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: The Artist Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola

Holly 5 Comments

Marshmacoke1

Coca-Cola has been around for 136 years, which is no easy feat. Those years haven’t always been smooth (New Coke enters the chat), but they have generally adapted to the market’s taste changes. It’s no mystery that younger folks are drinking less traditional soda than previous generations. Taste shifts coupled with the sheer amount of choices available have made soda companies readjust their approach, and the new Coca-Cola Creations division aims to bring younger people back to the brand.

Coca-Cola Creations was launched in early 2022 with its first flavor: Starlight. Not long after, we got a second entry into the Creations Canon with BYTE. The third release is different from the other two in many ways. The Artist Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola tells you right on the can what to expect: Watermelon Strawberry Flavored Coke.

Even though the previous flavors were left a mystery, I think they wanted to avoid people misreading the can and thinking it was marshmallow-flavored. The joke’s on them because I did that anyway. While scanning the almost all-white can, my brain absolutely assumed it was marshmallow flavored. I would also imagine this was because I read Marshmello as marshmallow.

Marshmacoke2

A well-known electronic music artist/producer, Marshmello is easily identified by his signature helmet that looks like a Lego head painted white with black “X” eyes and a smile. I am painfully out of the loop with popular music but know a few songs he’s collaborated with. All this to say, he’s popular with younger people, so teaming up with him for a limited edition Coke seems like the right move.

From the skinny white can, came a strong sweet berry smell that was so familiar to me, but I couldn’t place it. Pouring it into a cup, I was shocked to see the color of regular Coca-Cola. Based on the flavor description, I thought the color might be lighter or reddish. My first taste brought a crashing wave of recognition. The flavor was very strawberry/berry up front, with the smallest tang of classic Coke on the back end. The taste is, to me, very reminiscent of Pepsi Blue.

Marshmacoke3

Unlike Pepsi Blue, the sweetness is pulled back with this drink. I think that is because Coke is not as sweet as Pepsi to me. While I absolutely loved Pepsi Blue, I wish this wasn’t quite as similar. The lack of discernible watermelon was disappointing, and the strawberry overpowered any other flavor that might have been present. I’m curious how the Zero Sugar version compares taste-wise and if the watermelon might be more present.

The Artist Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola is an interesting offering that I think will do well with its target audience. It has a “drink of the summer” vibe that I don’t feel we’ve seen yet this year. I enjoyed it overall but wished the watermelon flavor was more present. I was looking forward to a new and unique flavor but ended up with the answer to a question I hadn’t asked: What if Coke made Pepsi Blue?

Purchased Price: $2.19
Size: 12 oz can
Purchased at: Wawa
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 140 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 39 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Coca-Cola Limited Edition Byte

Marvo 9 Comments

Limited Edition Coca Cola Byte Can

Limited Edition Coca-Cola Creations Zero Sugar Byte, which I will refer to as Coca-Cola Byte for the rest of this review because my fingers threaten to go on strike if forced to type the full name over and over again, can only be purchased online from Coca-Cola’s online store for $14.77 plus shipping. For that amount, you get two cans of the cola, a pixel-shaped box, a sticker, access to an AR game, and maybe the regret of spending $14.77 plus shipping on a soda that kind of bites.

Limited Edition Coca Cola Byte Box

Coca-Cola describes Byte as “pixel-flavored,” but with many sips, I wondered if this is what raspberry-flavored cardboard tastes like. It’s a flavor that makes my face scrunch up slightly. Granted, it’s the initial sip that does that, and if I take more right after, they have a mediocre berry-ish flavor that doesn’t cause my face to appear as if it’s collapsing upon itself.

But if I give my taste buds a chance to reset themselves and take another sip, that weird berry taste comes back. Of course, I could solve the issue by chugging all 12 ounces, but for the amount I paid for just two cans, I’d like to be able to enjoy them for longer than a few seconds.

Limited Edition Coca Cola Byte Glass

I expected Coca-Cola Byte to be at least decent because of how it smells and how much I liked the first Coca-Cola Creations variety, Starlight. Not even being a Zero Sugar version deterred me from thinking otherwise because, with Starlight, I ended up liking the Zero Sugar version more than the full sugar one.

Also, according to the comments for my review of it, I might be the only person on the planet who likes the regular Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, so I’m familiar with and okay with the artificial sweeteners. But I feel that it’s the aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and Sucralose that make things taste weird because Coca-Cola has proven it can make a decent raspberry-flavored cola sweetened with sugar.

Coca-Cola Byte is as imperfect as a pixelated photo, and its flavor is odd enough that I’m not sure if I’ll even open the second can. Maybe I’ll sell it on eBay to get some of my $14.77 plus shipping back. Heck, I’ll also throw in the sticker, box, and my regret.

Purchased Price: $14.77 plus shipping
Size: 12 oz cans
Purchased at: Coca-Cola’s online store
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 0 calories, 0 grams of fat, 55 milligrams of sodium, 0 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of sugar, and 34 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Coca-Cola with Coffee Mocha

Dustin

Coca Cola with Coffee Mocha Can

Coca-Cola with Coffee is a drink I’ve only had a few times, but it’s always been enjoyable. I tried the standard and vanilla versions, with my preference leaning towards the smooth character of the latter. Coke recently launched Coca-Cola with Coffee Mocha, and I was immediately interested. Chocolate seemed promising as a flavor that could integrate well with the combination. I eagerly sought out a few cans of the beverage.

I popped open the drink and gave it a deep whiff. The aroma of Coca-Cola was the first to register and was quite dominant. Faint undertones of coffee came through after, but I could not detect even a trace of chocolate.

Coca Cola with Coffee Mocha Top

I poured it into a glass, and it briefly fizzled. Most of the bubbles began to dissipate quickly. It reminded me of a soda that’s been previously opened and lost most of its carbonation.

I tasted the cola coffee drink and was met with a surprisingly complex presentation. Coca-Cola is the first flavor that I noticed, but it gave way to a mild background of chocolate. The chocolate taste was slightly artificial, not unlike a Tootsie Roll, but I still found it pleasant. The coffee came in next and was significantly more prominent than the chocolate. As I swallowed, I got more cola notes, bringing the flavor profile full-circle. The three flavors are quite complementary to each other. It’s a pleasant and smooth yet remarkably dense combination.

Coca Cola with Coffee Mocha Glass

The aftertaste, however, is not appealing to my palate. It lingered on my tongue and reminded me of a mix of diet cola and old coffee. It even felt like it left a film behind, which I typically associate with diet soda. It’s not necessarily an offensive sensation, and it’s not unique to this version of Coca-Cola with Coffee, as the other flavors do the same thing to me.

As anticipated, Coca-Cola with Coffee Mocha is a tasty and multifaceted beverage experience, but is slightly held back by its aftertaste. If you enjoy the other flavors, you’ll likely appreciate this, but don’t expect a top-tier chocolatey experience.

Purchased Price: $2.49
Size: 12 fl. oz. can
Purchased at: Fry’s
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 70 calories, 0 grams of fat, 40 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 18 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Coca-Cola Limited Edition Starlight

Jenna 43 Comments

Coca Cola Limited Edition Starlight Box

“The taste of limitless possibilities.” “The flavors of unknown stars.” “Tastes like magic.” While Coca-Cola Starlight’s promotional materials are pretty elaborate when it comes to capturing the soda’s galactic aesthetic, they’re surprisingly lax about, well, what it actually tastes like. Fortunately, I’m prepared to take one small step for reviewer, one giant leap for junk food fankind!

Coca Cola Limited Edition Starlight Can

Pouring the drink from its adorably tiny, star-speckled can (it’s also available in the typical 20 oz bottle) into a clear glass showed that it’s as red as Mars. Okay, maybe more of a burgundy, but it’s certainly more colorful than your average Coke. I sampled the full-sugar version, though you can also get Starlight as sugar-free. It had the general taste you’d expect of Coke, simultaneously sweet and bitingly carbonated. However, there’s another note that, much like a UFO, wasn’t possible for me to immediately identify.

Coca Cola Limited Edition Starlight Glass

At first, I wanted to describe it as fruity, but upon further probing, I think that was just the influence of the berry-like hue. Starlight’s unique flavor — which was especially prominent in the aftertaste and even in the soda’s scent — is actually closer to that of a graham cracker. Coca-Cola also notes that a “subtle cooling sensation” is one of this drink’s features. When pressed, I could indeed vaguely identify a chilly feeling similar to when you drink water directly after brushing your teeth with mint toothpaste. But honestly, I didn’t really notice it until I looked for it, so I guess the “subtle” part is right!

Starlight’s theme is a bit unusual for a brand that usually determines flavors by slapping the name of a fruit in front of “Coca-Cola.” But I can make out a train of thought somewhere along the lines of “Space -> stars -> stargazing -> camping -> s’mores -> graham cracker, ergo space flavor = graham cracker.”

It may not be the most intuitive fit, but if you’re willing to think outside the box a little, it works pretty well, and I think the same can be said for Starlight’s taste. While I could still see this offering fitting in well with classic fruity faves like Cherry Vanilla in a Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine, I, for one, praise our Coca-Cola overlords for making a new flavor that defies such simple characterization.

Starlight is also not just tasty but trendy, already rocking collaborations with singer Ava Max and fashion brand Staple. I felt about a million light-years old trying to figure out how to scan my can with my phone camera to pull up an augmented reality concert from a holographic Ms. Max, but the concept had me starry-eyed. Because Starlight’s release coincides with the launch of the new Coca-Cola Creations, a “global innovation platform” that will spotlight an array of Coca-Cola-branded products and experiences both physical and digital, we can expect more innovative flavors and applications to come.

Sadly, like many other stars, Starlight’s time in the limelight is fleeting, as it’s limited edition. Ultimately, I think the combination of curious concept, creative marketing crossovers, and, of course, uniquely yummy taste means it’s well worth jetting off for.

Purchased Price: $7.29
Size: 7.5 oz cans/10 pack
Purchased at: Stop & Shop
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 90 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of total carbohydrates, 24 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of fiber, and 0 grams of protein.