Coca-Cola Lime

Last updated

Coca-Cola Lime
Coca-Cola lime.jpg
1.5 L bottle sold in Turkey (2015)
Product type Lime-flavored cola
Owner The Coca-Cola Company
CountryWorldwide
Introduced2004 (Diet)
2005 (regular)
2019 (Zero Sugar)
Related brands Coca-Cola Lemon
Diet Coke with Citrus Zest

Coca-Cola Lime is a soft drink produced by The Coca-Cola Company. It is a version of the original Coca-Cola containing lime flavoring. There also exist non-sugar variations based on Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Lime was the fourth flavor to be launched by the company in their line of cola products after the launches of Cherry, Lemon and Vanilla. [1] Besides being sold in cans and bottles, Coca-Cola Lime can also be created in Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.

Contents

Diet/Light version

The diet version of the drink, based on Diet Coke/Coca-Cola Light, was the first to be released. "Diet Coke with Lime" (known in some markets as "Coca-Cola Light Lime") was announced in January 2004 in the United States. [2] [3] In the US it was sold until it was removed from supermarkets in 2018 [4] when Diet Coke underwent a major overhaul. [5] It was effectively replaced with Diet Coke Ginger Lime, a variant with added ginger flavoring, which itself was sold canned until 2020[ citation needed ] but continues to be available on Coca-Cola Freestyle. [6] It is reported that Diet Coke Lime will return for a limited release in late 2025. [7] The diet version of Lime has also previously been sold in Canada.[ citation needed ]

The drink was released in Great Britain in March 2005, [8] and as Coca-Cola Light Lime in the Netherlands in May 2005. [9] It also launched that year in Sweden, [10] and soon also in France, [11] Belgium and Fiji.[ citation needed ] In February 2007 it was withdrawn from the British market alongside Diet Coke With Lemon, in favour of Diet Coke with Citrus Zest, a variant that blended lemon and lime flavors. [12] That same year it was also discontinued in the Danish market. [13]

In February 2020, the drink returned to Britain as Diet Coke Sublime Lime, [14] and it also returned that year to Denmark as Coca-Cola Light Taste Lime. [15]

Regular version

Logo as seen on Coca-Cola fountains Cocacola withlime logo.png
Logo as seen on Coca-Cola fountains

The version based on classic Coca-Cola was released as Coca-Cola with Lime in the United States and Canada in the first quarter of 2005. [16] [17] The decision to market the product was based on popular feedback from consumers. An advertisement of Coca-Cola with Lime first appeared on television during the March 7, 2005 broadcast of American Idol . The advert used Harry Nilsson's hit song Coconut in an edited and slightly altered form with the mondegreen "You put the lime in the Coke, you nut." [18]

A bottle of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Lime Taste in Czechia (2024) Cocacolazerolime-cz (2).jpg
A bottle of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Lime Taste in Czechia (2024)

Coca-Cola with Lime was released as a limited edition in Australia, at the same time as its American debut, in 2005. [19] However, it proved quite unpopular with some larger retailers such as Woolworths and Coles, who bought in bulk, having to reduce the price considerably (50c for a 1.25 L bottle compared to around A$2 for all other varieties) in order to clear the product out. Despite a marketing push, it was a failure and discontinued by early 2006. [20] Singapore became the third region after North America and Australia to receive the drink, in 2005. [21] In 2021, it was back in the country for a limited time at 7-Eleven stores. [22]

Coca-Cola with Lime had limited releases in a number of European countries. It saw a limited edition release in Great Britain in the summer of 2006, after the success of Coca-Cola with Lemon the year prior, and was available in green bottles. However, it was not made permanent at the time. [23] [24] The drink launched in Turkey in 2014, exclusive at Migros stores. [25]

Lime had also began distribution in Poland in April 2017, [26] and then in Romania returned to market in April 2024, a few years after discontinuation. [27] Coca-Cola Lime returned to the British market in January 2025 after seventeen years, alongside its Zero Sugar counterpart. [28] In 2025, the drink was introduced in Serbia and Montenegro, [29]

Zero Sugar version

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Lime, which is based on the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar formulation, has also been produced. It has been released in 2021 in Turkey, [30] 2022 in territories including Sweden, [31] Portugal, [32] and in 2025 in Britain. [33]

In 2024, Coca-Cola Lime Zero Sugar launched in Australia and Thailand. [34]

References

  1. "Coke launches lime variant". BakeryAndSnacks.com. January 16, 2004. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  2. "Coca-Cola set to launch Diet Coke lime flavour spin-off". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  3. Pearson, Robert. "Diet Coke With Lime Commercial 2004". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  4. "You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers: Diet Coke Relaunch FAQ". The Coca-Cola Company. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  5. Wahba, Phil. "Diet Coke Gets a Redesign for the LaCroix Generation". Fortune. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  6. "100 Choices". Coca-Cola Freestyle. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  7. "Diet Coke Lime Is Officially Coming Back in 2025: Here's When and Where to Find It | Sporked". June 19, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  8. "Lime Coke dashes to launch". The Grocer. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  9. "Een lichte zomer". www.vmt.nl (in Dutch). June 17, 2005. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  10. "Coca-Cola light® lime". Mynewsdesk (in Swedish). August 22, 2005. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  11. "Coca-Cola BlaK, le nouveau soda anti-coup de pompe". L'Express (in French). December 3, 2006. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  12. "CCE adds zest to drinks to refresh key brands". The Grocer. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  13. "Kæmpeflops: De blev trukket tilbage - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). January 13, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  14. "Diet Coke gets a zesty new flavour". Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  15. "Coca-Cola introducerer tre helt nye slags cola til Danmark" (in Danish). January 29, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  16. "Regular Coke now coming with lime". The Globe and Mail. January 8, 2005. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  17. "The 2005 Soft Drink | Beverage Industry". www.bevindustry.com. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  18. Only, Subscription (February 28, 2005). "Coke Goes Lime Green on Broadway, TV" . Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  19. Shoebridge, Neil (April 4, 2005). "Coke's latest tastes take a sour turn". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  20. Shoebridge, Neil (March 9, 2006). "The essence of success". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  21. "Coke Lime latches onto Singaporean tradition | News". Campaign Asia. November 4, 2005. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  22. MoneyDigest (August 10, 2021). "Coca-Cola with Lime is now back for a limited time at 7-Eleven stores". MoneyDigest.sg. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  23. Week, Marketing (October 19, 2006). "Coca-Cola tries Orange limited edition despite retailer doubts". Marketing Week. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  24. Writer, Staff (September 27, 2007). "Top 25 Soft drinks 2007". Talking Retail. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  25. "Coca-Cola | Merak Ettim | Yeni çıkardığınız "Coca cola lime" nerede bulabilirim hangi marketlerde satışa başladı?". merakettim.coca-colaturkiye.com (in Turkish). Coca-Cola Turkiye. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  26. "Produkcja: Coca-Cola wprowadza na rynek nowość" [Production: Coca-Cola introduces a new product to the market]. HandelExtra (in Polish). Coca-Cola Poland Services. April 20, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  27. "Coca-Cola cu gust de Lămâie și Coca-Cola cu gust de Lămâie Verde". www.coca-cola.com (in Romanian). Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  28. "Coca-Cola Lime flavour returns after 17-year absence".
  29. "The Strength of Our 24/7 Portfolio Lies in Quality Choices". Coca-Cola HBC Serbia and Montenegro.
  30. "COCA-COLA İÇECEK 2021 ENTEGRE FAALİYET RAPORU" (PDF). Coca-Cola İçecek (in Turkish).
  31. "Äntligen! Coca-Cola lanserar två nya smaker". Mynewsdesk (in Swedish). Coca-Cola Europacific. January 14, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  32. "Coca-Cola Zero Lima chegou a Portugal e desta vez veio para ficar". Coca-Cola Europacific (in European Portuguese). July 28, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  33. "Real taste with a zing of zesty Lime: Coca-Cola introduces new Lime flavour". Coca-Cola Europacific. January 7, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  34. Hong, Tan Heng (March 17, 2024). "'Coca-Cola' Reignites the 'Best Coke Ever?' Debate at 'Coke' Zero Tastival in Thailand, featuring the Magic Maker 'PP-Krit'". Mini Me Insights. Retrieved September 9, 2025.