Variants
Starlight
 Bottle of Coca-Cola Starlight | |
| Type | Cola |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | February 21, 2022 |
| Discontinued | August 1, 2022 |
| Color | Red |
| Variants | Coca-Cola Starlight Zero Sugar |
| Related products | Coca-Cola |
Coca-Cola Starlight was a limited-edition variant of Coca-Cola. Introduced in 2022 as the first in the Coca-Cola Creations line, it was produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers. The beverage features a red color and a unique taste "inspired by space". In the United Kingdom, where it was a Zero Sugar variant, it was known as Coca-Cola Intergalactic. [3] In South Korea, it was known as Coca-Cola Stardust. In Thailand, it was known as Coca-Cola Starshine.
History
The Coca-Cola Company announced the release of Coca-Cola Starlight on February 17, 2022. In a press statement, the company revealed the beverage has a "reddish hue" and that "Its taste includes additional notes reminiscent of stargazing around a campfire, as well as a cooling sensation that evokes the feeling of a cold journey to space." Oana Vlad, senior director for global brand strategy at the company, stated that the drink was inspired by Coca-Cola's partnership with NASA. [4] Coca-Cola Starlight was launched alongside Coca-Cola Creations, an innovation platform of The Coca-Cola Company focused on selling limited-edition flavors of Coca-Cola. It landed in North American stores on February 21, 2022, and is also sold in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar format. [4] [5] It was discontinued on August 1, 2022 [6] and succeeded by Coca-Cola Dreamworld later that month.[ citation needed ]
Flavor
Prior to the release of Coca-Cola Starlight, there were speculations as to its flavor. Among them were raspberry (originating from a 2009 study that the center of the galaxy may taste like raspberries) and s'mores. [7] [8]
Many have described the taste as similar to that of fruit, vanilla or cotton candy. Junk food review site Candy Hunting stated it "tastes like strawberry, marshmallow, and/or cotton candy". [9] Aly Walansky of Food Network wrote it tastes "kind of like minty cotton candy sprinkled with vanilla". [10]
Byte
Coca-Cola Byte was launched in April 2022 and was described as "metaverse inspired". [11]
Marshmello
Coca-Cola Marshmello was launched in June 2022 in collaboration with artist Marshmello. [12] It had "strawberry and watermelon flavors". [13]
Dreamworld
Coca-Cola Dreamworld was launched in August 2022 and was described as tapping into "Gen Z’s passion for the infinite potential of the mind by exploring what a dream tastes like." [14]
Soul Blast
Coca-Cola Soul Blast was launched exclusively in Japan, China, Taiwan in October 2022 alongside Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. It had an "action flavor." [15]
Move
Coca-Cola Move was the Creations brand's first launch of 2023 in February, in collaboration with Spanish singer Rosalía. It had a "transformation" flavor. [16]
Ultimate
Coca-Cola Ultimate was launched on June 10th, 2023, in collaboration with League of Legends developer Riot Games. [17] It was sold in Turkey, China, the United States, and Egypt, and had an "+XP" flavor.
Y3000
Coca-Cola Y3000 was launched in September 2023 and was co-created with artificial intelligence. [18] It is sold in the USA, Argentina, Australia, [19] China, [20] Kazakhstan, Georgia, South Africa, and Turkey.
Happy Tears
Coca-Cola Happy Tears was launched on February 17th, 2024 as a TikTok Shop exclusive in the USA and Great Britain to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day. The soft drink's flavor was described by the company as a combination of the "timeless Coke taste infused with a salty splash of minerals for taste and a sweet pinch of peach".
K-Wave
Coca-Cola K-Wave was launched on February 20th, 2024 as an exclusive available on the company's online store. The "Fruity Fantasy flavored" soft drink comes in a specialty box that holds four 12-ounce cans of the drink, as well as a 3D sticker sheet and an invitation for exclusive streaming access to the upcoming Coca-Cola K-Wave concert set to be held in Incheon, Korea on June 2nd, 2024.
