The Coca-Cola Company released a new flavor of Fanta, a zero-sugar dragon fruit flavor at the beginning of February. While the drink might be sweeter than one might expect when purchasing it, its tangy and fruity taste is an experience worth trying at least once. Photo fair use of The Coca-Cola Company, graphic by Ireland McCage
The new Fanta Dragon Fruit Zero Sugar drink’s bright pink color foreshadows its sugary sweetness that only hardcore dragon fruit fans can appreciate.
The classic drink brand Fanta, which is part of The Coca-Cola Company, has decided to hop on the latest food trend by releasing a new zero-sugar dragon fruit flavor in the United States in February.
Dragonfruit, also known as pitaya, is a cactus fruit grown in South and Central America. While the fruit can be almost flavorless when unripe, Fanta aimed to capture the ripe taste, which is a light, mild sweetness, comparable to a watermelon or strawberry.
While Fanta achieved the sweet aspect, it missed the mark on both light and mild.
Before even having a taste, the first thing any customer will notice is the neon pink coloring of the drink. While is it admirable that Fanta wanted to recreate the vibrant color of the fruit the drink is based on, its almost toxic look could put off more cautious drinkers.
The zero sugar and 100% natural flavors could attract people looking to drink healthy, but the bright coloring will make the drink a hard sale to that demographic.
The ingredients list for the Fanta Dragon Fruit zero-sugar drink, which was released at the beginning of February, is featured in front of a pink background. The drink, inspired by a cactus fruit grown in South and Central America, is only suitable for those brave enough to get past its bright color and harsh sweetness. Graphic by Ireland McCage
A notable characteristic of this beverage is the lack of fizz that is commonly present in carbonated soft drinks.
Fans of Sprite and Coca-Cola will immediately notice a difference between those drinks and this one with how it bubbles on the tongue. While not flat, the Fanta Dragon Fruit Zero-Sugar drink has significantly less of an impact on the mouth compared to similar beverages on the market, which would appeal to people who dislike the feeling of heavily-carbonated drinks.
Fanta Dragon Fruit Zero-Sugar is available at a variety of stores and gas stations in the Athens area. People can also find it in the vending machines by the Miller Jordan Junior Memorial Food Court at Clarke Central High School for $1.50.
For the adventures and Fanta-lovers out there, this drink is most certainly worth a try at least once. For everyone else though, they might need to proceed with caution.
