In recent years, milk tea brands have sparked countless flavor experiments, blending tea with unexpected elements to capture new fans. Now, Sprite steps into the ring with its own limited-edition creation inspired by a viral milk tea hack — Sprite + Tea.
This new beverage, available nationwide in cans and bottles, reimagines the popular homemade trend of steeping tea bags in soda, but with a polished, ready-to-drink formula designed for wider appeal.
The original viral sensation involved adding two Lipton tea bags to a bottle of Sprite, steeped upside down for 20 minutes, and finished with a squeeze of lemon.
Though it racked up nearly 20 million views, many found the DIY concoction underwhelming—flat soda and weak tea rarely satisfy milk tea aficionados accustomed to robust flavors and creamy textures.
Sprite + Tea aims to solve this by balancing the crispness of the classic lemon-lime soda with a carefully selected tea blend. The Sprite team worked closely with tea experts and tested multiple recipes to create a drink that honors both the soda’s bright character and the nuanced flavors of tea, much like milk tea brands strive to perfect their own blends.
Kate Schaufelberger, Sprite North America’s brand director, explains, “We wanted to maintain Sprite’s iconic taste while delivering a meaningful tea presence. Finding the right tea flavor was complex, but it was key to making this innovation feel authentic.”
Unlike many bottled teas, which can taste metallic or artificial, Sprite + Tea delivers a fresh, clean sip. The tea aroma is noticeable but subtle, blending smoothly with the soda’s bubbles without overpowering them. The result is a refreshing hybrid that hints at the milk tea world’s love for layered flavors — minus the milk.
Though it lacks caffeine and the health benefits of traditional brewed tea, Sprite + Tea taps into the ongoing fascination with tea-based beverages, offering a novel choice for milk tea enthusiasts and soda lovers alike. As a limited release available through October, it’s a splash of summer innovation worth trying before it disappears.
Whether you’re a dedicated milk tea fan or just curious about this fizzy twist, Sprite + Tea represents a bold step in bringing tea-inspired refreshment to new audiences — merging viral milk tea trends with the timeless appeal of a classic soda.
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