Some of my favorite childhood memories include playing outside in the summer with my siblings. We would run around, jump on the trampoline, play soccer and go on walks. Essentially anything active we loved, but the best days were after all that running when we would get a cold treat like ice cream or popsicles.
One of my favorite treats to this day is an orange creamsicle because it reminds me of those hot summer days with my siblings.
Coca-Cola just released its new flavor — Orange Cream — which seems to be advertised as a refreshing taste of nostalgia.
“Coca-Cola Orange Cream intends to reconnect consumers with a beloved flavor tradition while pushing the boundaries of taste,” said Sue Lynne Cha, vice president of marketing at Coca-Cola.
When I first saw Orange Cream Coke in stores, I was very excited to give it a try. When I looked on Coca-Cola’s website to see a description of the drink, many childhood memories resurfaced and I could already taste the nostalgia of a cold orange creamsicle on a hot summer day.
All this anticipation quickly came crashing down after I gave the drink a try. It tasted almost identical to a regular Coca-Cola. While Coca-Cola did a fantastic job marketing the new flavor to appear as a fresh summer drink, the drink itself is very mediocre and boring. The new flavor does not taste bad or have a weird aftertaste, it simply just does not fit the description it was given by Coca-Cola. Do not be fooled by all the advertisements and promotions, it is not worth it.
Coca-Cola believes that this new flavor will give consumers a feeling of familiarity while also having a new pleasant taste. Let’s see what Guilford students had to say about the new drink.
Saeed Saavedra was excited to try the new flavor, but he found Orange Cream Coke disappointing in terms of flavor. He could not taste the orange at all, stating that it tasted almost identical to regular Coke.
“If you pour a regular Coke and this one in two cups and had me try it, I would not be able to tell the difference,” said Saavedra.
Julian Dancy had similar opinions about the product. Dancy found that the hints of orange and cream almost get lost in the regular Coca-Cola flavor. He is not typically a fan of cream sodas but admitted that the slight hint of orange was a good addition to Coca-Cola.
Nelson Brown was critical of the Orange Cream flavor, describing it as very underwhelming. Brown agreed with Dancy and Saavedra that it does not feel like a new flavor, it is more of a tiny hint of orange. It is safe to say Brown was not a fan.
“I would not buy this again,” said Brown.
While Guilford students and I found the drink disappointing, many popular food magazines and newspapers such as “Taste of Home” had creators who had very positive overall impressions of Orange Cream Coca-Cola. There is also a zero sugar version available if you want to see for yourself if the drink is good but you are looking for a fewer calorie option.
