If you missed it last time, now’s your chance.
In the age of the internet—and social media in particular—it’s more and more common to see brands taking inspiration from the trends we love online. From Trader Joe’s Lasagna Soup to McDonald’s “Friends” Meal, companies are learning how to cleverly capitalize on viral moments.
Last year, Sprite joined the mix, and took a popular beverage-blending trend and turned it into a brand-new soda. Now, that flavor is officially coming back.
Sprite + Tea Is Coming Back This Year
What started as a soda hack known by some is now returning to store shelves in the U.S. and Canada.
In 2024, we heard whispers of a tea-flavored Sprite surfacing from the National Association of Convenience Stores show, but it was unclear if the rumors held any truth. Then, in 2025, we got Sprite + Tea.
The idea originated from a viral trend where fans mixed a tea bag with Sprite to create what some dubbed “the most refreshing drink on the internet.” The trend took off in the summer of 2023, requiring only a bottle of Sprite, a tea bag, and about 20 minutes of steeping time to deliver a unique, delicious beverage. Think of it as a flavorful, fizzy twist on an Arnold Palmer.
“The addition of the tea, it just takes the Sprite to a whole ‘nother level,” one fan on TikTok explained.
Sprite clearly saw the potential and ran with it, and introduced Sprite + Tea as a fully-fledged product. The drink was described as a “refreshing blend of Sprite’s iconic lemon-lime taste and crisp iced tea flavors.” It also marked a first for the brand—rather than simply adding a new flavor to the existing soda, it blended it with a totally distinct drink.
But, despite its roots in a popular trend, the reception for Sprite + Tea on social media was mixed. Some soda fans who weren’t in the know about the trend just didn’t get it. “Out of all the flavors they could’ve put out, they do this,” one commenter wrote, while a few called it outright “gross.”
Still, some were intrigued and excited to give it a try. “This is either going to be fantastic or awful,” one fan speculated, while another shared, “I’m willing to take the gamble on this—sounds weird but oddly enticing.”
We were enticed, too. We tried a bottle of Sprite + Tea last year—and here’s our honest review.
Our Honest Review of Sprite + Tea
The first thing that strikes you about Sprite + Tea is the color. It’s an amber, caramel-colored mixture that evokes ginger ale and almost tricks your brain into thinking it’s going to have a gingery taste to match. But that’s far from the taste that hits your tongue.
Sprite + Tea is bubbly and sweet at first, with all the lemon-lime notes you’d expect in a Sprite. But then the tea flavor sets in—and stays. Combined with the sweet soda, it’s like drinking a glass of carbonated, strong Southern sweet tea. In fact, the black tea flavor is so strong, we thought we might get a caffeine buzz after taking a few sips, and were shocked to learn Sprite + Tea is caffeine-free.
Ultimately, it was as divisive with our tasters as it was with social media fans. If you’re a fan of sweet tea—emphasis on the sweet—you will probably like this. But for others, especially those who don’t love the idea of carbonated tea, it might be a bit off-putting.
According to Sprite, Sprite + Tea is officially returning to the U.S. and Canada this year. Opinions are divided, so you’ll have to decide for yourself if the flavor is a hit or miss. But honestly? Between trying to replicate the viral version at home and picking up a ready-made bottle, we’re more than happy to leave it to the experts.
