The new Sprite + Tea concept, known as Spritea, was recently launched in China and Hong Kong, bringing Sprite into the carbonated tea segment with a taste reminiscent of iced lemon tea. Originally conceived as a way to turn a viral TikTok drink into reality, Sprite + Tea, a lemon-lime and black tea flavored soda, first debuted in the US — and the result is surprisingly delicious.
Sprite + Tea taps into the rising popularity of RTD tea in Western markets, while its carbonated texture aligns with consumer interest in fizzier versions of familiar beverages. At the same time, Sprite + Tea resonates in traditional RTD tea markets such as China and Hong Kong.
According to the conversation between Bain’s Joanna Lu and Shakir Moin, President, Marketing, Coca‑Cola North America, the concept of Sprite + Tea was first launched in China in 2010 but failed because its clear liquid clashed with the cultural code of tea — consumers expect brown or amber hues that signal authenticity and health. More than a decade later, TikTok in North America revived interest with the ritual of dropping tea bags into Sprite. The reflection was clear: in the West, tea is visually coded as dark brown/black and represents refreshment, while in Asia, tea colour signals health. By correcting this visual cue and giving Sprite Tea a tea‑like colour, Coca‑Cola now has a stronger chance to succeed.
Beyond using tea in carbonated soft drinks, how else might beverage brands leverage tea as a base ingredient?
