Sprite drops refreshing take on tea with new LTO – Sprite + Tea

Sprite continues its string of successful limited-time-only (LTO) innovations this summer with the launch of Sprite + Tea.

The category-crossing offering blends the crisp, lemon-lime refreshment of Sprite with the classically refreshing flavour of tea. Regular and zero-sugar varieties of Sprite + Tea hit shelves across the United States and Canada and will remain in market through October.

Sprite + Tea is a uniquely strategic, insights-driven innovation inspired by the viral trend of consumers steeping tea bags in Sprite.

“We’re always listening to our consumers, but this particular phenomenon motivated us to explore how we could offer our own refreshing take on tea,” said Kate Schaufelberger, Brand Director, Sprite North America. “Sprite fans love variety, not just in flavour but in the ways we bring refreshment to life through unique multisensorial experiences that stay true to the essence of the brand.”

Coca-Cola North America’s R&D team completed several rounds of consumer testing to fine-tune the formula for the amber-coloured sparkling beverage, striking a smooth and refreshing balance of the complementary flavours.

“The Sprite + Tea concept started out as an intern research project, which is really fun and interesting,” adds A.P. Chaney, Senior Creative Director, Sparkling Flavours North America. “When it blew up on TikTok with millions of views, it was a gut check that we were on the right track. Because you never go wrong when you listen to consumers and tap into what they’re doing by becoming part of their everyday.”

Chaney compared the Sprite + Tea origin story to another hybrid offering, Sprite Lymonade, which was driven by fans mixing their beloved brand with lemonade.

Packaging for the LTO fuses the Sprite logo and signature green with gold and amber accents, dynamic splash graphics and a youthful font atypical of ready-to-drink tea brands.

Sprite + Tea hits the market on the heels of last summer’s hit LTO, Sprite Chill, which became the No. 1 selling sparkling soft drink innovation at Coca Cola in 2024, earning a sustaining spot in the Sprite portfolio lineup.

Flavour innovations are a growth driver for Sprite, which is now the No. 3 sparkling soft drink brand in North America. LTOs present a fun creative challenge for the Sprite team due to limited time in market and the need to communicate multiple messages.