Crystal Light

Last updated
Crystal Light
Crystal light logo.png
Crystal Light lemonade.jpg
Glass of Crystal light lemonade
Product type Drink mix
Owner Kraft Heinz
CountryU.S.
Introduced1982;42 years ago (1982)
Website crystallight.com

Crystal Light is an American brand of powdered and artificially sweetened beverage mixes produced by Kraft Heinz. It was introduced in 1982 to a test market and released to the public in April 1984. General Foods, a now defunct company, were the original sellers of the product, but now it is sold by Kraft Foods. It is available in a wide variety of flavors, such as lemonade, sweet tea, and fruit punch.

Contents

History

Test marketing and introduction

Crystal Light was sold in test markets beginning in 1982. [1] [2] [3] As of mid-1983, it was being sold in 11 test areas. [4] It was introduced throughout the United States in April 1984. [5] General Foods sold $150 million of Crystal Light during the product's first year on national markets, representing 20% of all powdered drink mixes and 2/3 of all sugar-free drink mixes in the United States. [6]

Advertisements

A 1985 commercial featuring Linda Evans showed her doing aerobics in a women's gym and drinking Crystal Light. [7] Another undated commercial used a similar format, showing Evans exercising and drinking Crystal Light in a women's gym. [8] Her final commercial, airing in 1987 or 1988, featuring her stuck in traffic in a limousine and performing a variety of difficult stunts, ultimately ending up on a boat drinking Crystal Light. [9] Many of her print advertisements for the brand featured her in workout attire.

A 1986 commercial featuring Priscilla Presley showed her practicing karate in a dojo while drinking Crystal Light. [10]

A 1987 commercial featuring Raquel Welch showed her singing and dancing in a blue jumpsuit and, once finished with her performance, shunning a can of Diet Coke in favor of Crystal Light. [11]

Ingredients

Crystal Light is sweetened with a combination of aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and/or sugar depending on the specific product line and flavor. [12] First packaged in multi-serve canisters, Crystal Light launched single-serve "On The Go" packets in 2004. In 2009, Crystal Light redesigned its multi-serve packaging. On a finished case goods basis, the new design uses 250 tons less packaging than the original. [13] In 2010, Crystal Light launched Pure Fitness, a "naturally-sweetened" low-calorie fitness drink mix [14] which is sweetened with sugar and Truvia, a sweetener derived from the stevia plant. It is currently sold in "On The Go" packets. [15] In 2011, Crystal Light Pure Fitness was renamed Crystal Light Pure, and three additional flavors were introduced. [15] In April 2012, several Crystal Light varieties were added to the line of sodamix syrups for SodaStream home soda makers. [16]

Kraft Heinz, the parent company of Crystal Light, offers a product locator on its website to help locate flavors in a desired location. Crystal Light is sold in the U.S. and Canada.

Calories per serving have varied throughout the years; non-zero calorie flavors were once as low as 4 calories in 1990 and now, they may be as high as 15 in 2018, depending on flavor. [17] However, it's not certain if the change is due to the use of new ingredients or if serving sizes have increased.

Some Crystal Light products, notably those designated as Crystal Light Energy, also contain an appreciable amount of added caffeine. The company has even experimented with displaying a prominent "with caffeine" tag below the product name on packaging. "Crystal Light products with Energy positioning contain added caffeine," according to Kraft Heinz. "Crystal Light Energy Wild Strawberry contains 60 mg caffeine per 8 fl oz serving". In fact, all Crystal Light Energy flavors contain this same amount of caffeine. [18] Certain other Crystal Light flavors have long included caffeine as an ingredient. The label of Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea, for instance, says that the flavor contains "25mg caffeine per serving," or about as much an eight-ounce (240 mL) cup of black tea.

Products

All product information is based on information and products offered by Crystal Light's official website, as of January 2019. [19]

Classics

  • Berry Sangria (0 cal)
  • Black Cherry Lime (0 cal)
  • Blackberry Lemonade (0 cal)
  • Blueberry Raspberry (0 cal)
  • Cherry Pomegranate (15 cal)
  • Concord Grape (15 cal)
  • Fruit Punch (15 cal)
  • Lemonade (15 cal)
  • Mango Passionfruit (0 cal)
  • Orange (15 cal)
  • Pink Lemonade (15 cal)
  • Pomegranate Lemonade (0 cal)
  • Raspberry Ice (15 cal)
  • Raspberry Lemonade (15 cal)
  • Strawberry Kiwi (15 cal)
  • Strawberry Lemonade (0 cal)
  • Strawberry Orange Banana (15 cal)
  • Strawberry Watermelon (15 cal)
  • Sweet Tea
  • Tropical Coconut (0 cal)

[20]

Pure

  • Grape (5 cal)
  • Lemon (5 cal)
  • Lemon Iced Tea (5 cal)
  • Mixed Berry Energy (15 cal)
  • Peach Iced Tea (5 cal)
  • Raspberry Lemonade (5 cal)
  • Strawberry Kiwi (5 cal)
  • Strawberry Lemonade Energy (15 cal)
  • Tangerine Mango (5 cal)
  • Tropical Blend (5 cal)
  • Tropical Citrus Energy (15 cal)

[21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jolt Cola</span> Carbonated soft drink

Jolt Cola was a carbonated soft drink produced by The Jolt Company, Inc.. The cola drink was created in 1985 by C. J. Rapp as a highly caffeinated beverage. It was targeted towards students and young professionals, stressing its use as a stimulant in a similar manner as energy drinks. Its slogan reads "All the sugar and twice the caffeine!"

Jones Soda Co. is a Canadian-American beverage company based in Seattle, Washington, United States. It bottles and distributes soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and candy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minute Maid</span> American beverage company

Minute Maid is a product line of beverages, usually associated with lemonade or orange juice, but which now extends to soft drinks of different kinds, including Hi-C. Minute Maid is sold under the Cappy brand in Central Europe and under the brand "Моя Семья" in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Minute Maid was the first company to market frozen orange juice concentrate, allowing it to be distributed throughout the United States and served year-round. The Minute Maid Company is owned by The Coca-Cola Company, the world's largest marketer of fruit juices and drinks. The firm opened its headquarters in Sugar Land Town Square in Sugar Land, Texas, United States, on February 16, 2009; previously it was headquartered in the 2000 St. James Place building in Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V8 (drink)</span> Brand of vegetable juice

V8 Vegetable Juice, sometimes simply referred to as V8, is a trademarked name for a number of beverage products sold worldwide that are made from eight vegetables, or a mixture of vegetables and fruits. Since 1948, the brand has been owned by the Campbell Soup Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawaiian Punch</span> Fruit punch brand

Hawaiian Punch is an American brand of fruit punch currently manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper, originally invented in 1934 by A.W. Leo, Tom Yeats, and Ralph Harrison as a topping for ice cream. It was started from an original syrup flavor called Leo's Hawaiian Punch, containing orange, pineapple, passion fruit, guava and papaya, and is currently offering 14 different flavors since 2020. The drink is currently made with 3% fruit juice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Country Time</span> Lemon-flavored drink mix

Country Time is a brand of non-carbonated lemon-flavored drink mix and soft drink. The powdered mix is produced by Kraft Foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airheads (candy)</span> Brand of confectionery

Airheads is an American brand of the taffy candy owned by the Italian-Dutch company Perfetti Van Melle. They were created on August 7, 1985, by Steve Bruner. Airheads are available nationwide in the United States and Canada where the candy is available in 16 different flavors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparks (drink)</span> Alcoholic beverage

Sparks was an alcoholic beverage that debuted in the US market in 2002. The original formulation contained caffeine, one of the first alcoholic beverages to do so. Its other original active ingredients included taurine, ginseng and guarana, common to energy drinks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slice (drink)</span> Fruit flavored soft drink

Slice was a line of fruit-flavored soft drinks originally manufactured by PepsiCo and introduced in 1984 but discontinued by PepsiCo in North America in the late 2000s. Slice was reintroduced in the United States and Canada as a brand of Organic food by "New Slice Ventures LLC", which acquired the trademark rights in those countries.

Energy Brands, also doing business as Glacéau, is a privately owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company based in Whitestone, Queens, New York, that manufactures and distributes various lines of drinks marketed as enhanced water. Founded in May 1996 by J. Darius Bikoff with an electrolyte enhanced line of water called Smartwater, Energy Brands initially distributed its products to health food stores and independent retailers in the New York area. Adding Fruitwater and Vitaminwater to its line in 1998 and 2000, respectively, the company expanded to nationwide distribution in the early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster Beverage</span> American beverage company

Monster Beverage Corporation is an American beverage company that manufactures energy drinks including Monster Energy, Relentless and Burn. The company was originally founded as Hansen's in 1935 in Southern California, originally selling juice products. The company renamed itself as Monster Beverage in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Sky Beverage Company</span> Beverage company

Blue Sky Beverage Company was a beverage company that produced soft drinks and energy drinks. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Monster Beverage Corporation. The company was established in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1980, where it remained until it was purchased by Monster in 2000. Coca-Cola North America took ownership of Blue Sky Sodas, Hansen’s Juice Products, Hansen’s Natural Sodas, Hubert’s Lemonade, Peace Tea and other non-energy drink brands as part of Coke’s partnership with Monster Beverage Corp on Jun 12, 2015. Blue Sky Beverage Company now operates out of Corona, California. The southwestern look and feel of the artwork on the soda cans is reminiscent of the company's roots in New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joose</span> Flavored malt beverage

Joose is a flavored malt beverage introduced by United Brands Co. in 2005. Joose is the first premium malt beverage at 9.9% ABV in a 24 oz can. It is also sold at 12% ABV and 14% ABV in a 23.5 oz can.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace Iced Tea</span>

Peace Iced Tea is a brand of assorted iced tea beverages produced by the Coca-Cola Company. It was originally produced by the Monster Beverage Company. The product launched on December 21, 2007. Peace Tea contains no artificial flavors or coloring, although it does contain an artificial sweetener, sucralose. The only flavor not to include sucralose was the Unsweetened Tea, but it was discontinued in early 2012. Peace tea is served in 23 oz cans in the United States, and 695 mL cans in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MiO</span>

MiO is a liquid beverage mix owned by Kraft Heinz, which intends it as an additive to flavor water, carbonated water, and other beverages. In 2019, MiO launched a line of powdered beverage mixes in addition to its liquid offerings.

Runa LLC is a privately held organic Amazonian beverage company that processes and sells guayusa. The company is based in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Quito and Archidona, Ecuador. It was founded in 2008 by two Brown University graduates, Daniel MacCombie and Tyler Gage. The company operates the world's only guayusa processing facility, which is located in Archidona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zevia</span> American food company

Zevia is a Los Angeles based company that produces soft drinks, organic tea, energy drinks, and mixers sweetened with stevia. All Zevia products are zero-calorie, sugar-free, gluten free, vegan, certified kosher, and certified by The Non-GMO Project. In June 2021, Zevia filed to go public with an IPO.

References

  1. Lazarus, George (May 7, 1982). "GF, Wyler betting sugar free worth cost". Chicago Tribune. p. 88.
  2. Dean, Susan L. (July 7, 1982). "Sugar substitute holds promise". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 34. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  3. Processed Prepared Food. Vol. 151. Gorman Publishing Company. 1982.
  4. Cook, Winifred I. (1983-05-31). "Aspartame is being used". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  5. Beverage World Periscope. Vol. 3. Beverage World Periscope. 1984. p. 29.
  6. Austin, Joanne (November 1985). "The Crystal Light persuasion". Madison Avenue. 27 (11): 20.
  7. "1985 Crystal Light commercial featuring Linda Evans". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  8. "Undated Crystal Light commercial featuring Linda Evans". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  9. "Late 1980s Crystal Light commercial featuring Linda Evans". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  10. "1986 Crystal Light Commercial featuring Priscilla Presley". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  11. "1987 Crystal Light commercial featuring Raquel Welch". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  12. The packaging of Crystal Light, ingredients list.
  13. "New Crystal Light Container". Greenerpackage.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  14. "Kraft Introduces Stevia Sweetened Fitness Drink". Beveragedaily.com. 12 April 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  15. 1 2 "Crystal Light - Refreshing Flavors, Pure Flavors and Enhanced Flavors". Kraftbrands.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  16. "Kraft and SodaStream in deal for Kool-Aid". Chicago Tribune . Reuters. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  17. "1990 Crystal Light commercial". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  18. See the Kraft Heinz comment at CaffeineInformer.com: https://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-content/crystal-light-energy#:~:text=Flavors%20of%20Crystal%20Light&text=All%20flavors%20of%20Crystal%20Light,serving%20per%208%20fl%20oz.
  19. "Crystal Light". www.crystallight.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  20. "Crystal Light". www.crystallight.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  21. "Crystal Light". www.crystallight.com. Retrieved 2019-01-16.