Crystal Pepsi

Associated With

Pepsi - creator or operator

Defining Feature

A transparent cola sold under the Pepsi brand

Status

Reintroduced - Returned in limited US and Canadian releases in 2015–2016 and remained a recognised limited-time Pepsi flavour in 2023

Overview

Crystal Pepsi made cola completely clear, creating a drink that looked unlike the dark cola people knew.

PepsiCo associates Crystal Pepsi with the 1990s, although the exact day of its original launch is not established.

Pepsi later brought it back through a limited US sweepstakes in 2015 and retail releases in Canada and the United States during 2016. These were limited returns rather than continuous availability.

Why It Mattered

Crystal Pepsi was built around a memorable visual contradiction: it looked clear but remained a cola. Pepsi later included it in its 2023 anniversary programme among its celebrated limited-time flavours.

Original Clear-Cola Identity

• PepsiCo associates Crystal Pepsi with the 1990s and describes it as a clear cola.
• The exact day of the original launch is not established.

United States and Canadian Returns

• A limited US sweepstakes offered Crystal Pepsi in December 2015.
• Retail bottles returned on 11 July 2016 in Canada and 8 August 2016 in the United States.
• The 2016 retail returns used 20-ounce bottles.

Later Brand Recognition

• Pepsi’s 2023 anniversary programme included Crystal Pepsi among its celebrated limited-time flavours.
• The documented returns were episodic rather than continuous.

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