Back in May, Pepsi’s global PR accounts announced “Pepsi Electric,” a new zero-sugar blue Pepsi to be released exclusively in the United Kingdom. I loved Pepsi Blue, so anything that looks remotely similar has got my attention. As always, I covered the new release on my funny little Instagram page, confident that I’d never get my hands on it without paying an exorbitant amount on import fees and shipping. So, imagine my surprise when I walk into my local f.y.e. and find at least a dozen of these mysterious foreign sodas available for sale! Sure, they were still wildly overpriced—but no shipping! So, for you good people, I tried the new Pepsi described as “boasting a zesty, citrus taste” in “a striking blue liquid.” (Technically, that might also apply to Dawn dish soap…)
- Pepsi Electric Zero Sugar
-
Pros: This blue Pepsi looks even cooler than Crystal Pepsi. The label is giving TRON: Legacy and even the shape of the bottle looks more futuristic than any Pepsi sold in the U.S. Upon opening the soda, you’re hit with a very strong citrus and raspberry aroma. It smells so red that it’s hard to believe it’s blue. I know blue raspberry is a myth, but if you blindfolded me and had me smell this, I would swear up and down this is the most red raspberry soda ever made. If this tasted how it smells, this new Pepsi flavor would be such a winner.
Cons: Alright, it’s important to remember a few things working against this soda before I totally rip it to shreds. First, this was imported from the U.K., so the carbonation isn’t what it’s supposed to be anymore. (It’s a tragedy what shaking around on an international boat or plane ride will do for your bubbly little soda.) Also, I’m not an expert in foreign soda packaging, but the date printed on this bottle is November 2024. I’m going to assume that’s a “best by” and not a full-on expiration date, since sodas don’t really expire. That still meant I was drinking this literally a day before this soda formally became old. But here’s the deal: This is really bad. When they say “zesty citrus,” they don’t mean lemonade, they mean lemon peels. This is not the blue Pepsi I was looking for. Judging by the negative reviews floating around on British outlets, it doesn’t seem like this was received too well over there either.
Credit: Liv Averett / The SGFR Store
