I am not very "chill" about products that claim to have a cooling effect. I've had Blueberry Ice Cream Oreos, which were absolutely disgusting, and Freeze-Pop themed Ring-Pops that were equally gross. I know that "mentholated" isn't the correct term for whatever that cooling flavor/sensation is, but I find it medicinal and unenjoyable. That said, I was not excited for this soda. I picked it up because I was buying a bunch of different summer sodas at the same time and it felt silly to leave this one out when it was right there in the same case. So, here we are.
I really dig the retro branding that Sprite has been using lately. It hasn't convinced me to buy more Sprite (I associate Sprite with childhood so it feels like a "kid" soda to me), but I like seeing it on the shelves.
I thought this was a limited edition flavor for summer, but the packaging doesn't state that anywhere. Is this a new year-round product? Or do we not label things as "Limited Edition," anymore?
Sprite Chill is a cherry lime flavored soda with a "unique cooling effect." It's likely achieved through artificial sweeteners or something. (I'm no food scientist.) When opened, it smells light and sweet, and surprisingly more lemonade-like than I remember original Sprite being. (It's been years since I've had normal Sprite.)
Taking a sip, it's the best-tasting product with a cooling-gimmick I've had so far, but that could be because the cooling effect is pretty weak.
The first thing I noticed was the carbonation, this was very bright and bubbly on the tongue. You know how most people prefer fountain sodas because they think the carbonation has more kick? This is giving "fountain soda." Aside from the bubbles, there is a citrus-forward cherry lime flavor, that leans artificial, like Skittles and other fruity candies, but it's recognizable. The cherry flavoring actually leans towards maraschino, with hints of almond, which I really like, and the lime is mild and sherbet-y.
As far as the cooling effect, after swallowing, it creeps in slowly. I can feel a cool sensation, kind of like I had been drinking an Icee, on the very back of my tongue and on the roof of my mouth. The longer I let that feeling linger, the more apparent the fake-sugar-like the aftertaste becomes. It reminds me of Sweet n Low. My grandparents' artificial sweetener of choice. (Which I never liked.) Which would make sense, since that also has a cooling effect.
The gimmick lives up to it's promise, without ruining the overall product, so I like that, but I don't love it. I'm more of a brown cola drinker (Pepsi specifically) so it's likely a preference issue. If you love Sprite and lemon-lime sodas, I am sure you'll love this. For me, it's just okay. I'm glad I gave it a shot, but I'm a little nervous (given my allergic reaction to large doses of artificial sweeteners) to finish the rest of the bottle in one sitting.
Looking at the label, it doesn't mention what sweeteners are used for the effect, but I rather not take any chances.
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