You may have heard that Pepsi has pulled the plug on Sierra Mist and replaced it with Starry. Obviously, I had to try it.
What Does Starry Soda Taste Like?
Starry brings a lot of that familiar lemon-lime flavor that we are used to with Sierra Mist, but a less sticky sweet overtone and a little more sharpness. I would say it is slightly better than Sierra Mist, but not by any great margin.
Why Did Pepsi Drop Sierra Mist?
PepsiCo has announced that it is discontinuing its Sierra Mist line of beverages as part of its effort to streamline its portfolio and focus on its more successful brands. The company stated that consumers are increasingly seeking healthier and more premium drink options, and it plans to redirect resources towards those categories. The move will allow Pepsi to focus on brands that have higher growth potential and align with changing consumer preferences.
Starry is a new soda from PepsiCo that is marketed as a premium, flavored sparkling water beverage. It is made with real fruit juice, contains no artificial sweeteners, and is naturally sweetened. Starry is also packaged in a sleek, aluminum can that is designed to stand out on store shelves and appeal to consumers who are looking for healthier drink options and a more elevated drinking experience. The brand is part of PepsiCo’s ongoing effort to expand its portfolio and appeal to changing consumer preferences for healthier, more premium drink options.
PepsiCo is marketing its new Starry drink towards a younger audience—specifically, Gen-Z with its internet slang-inspired slogan: “Starry Hits Different.”
Starry and Sprite are both carbonated beverages, but they differ in several ways:
- Ingredients: Starry is made with real fruit juice and contains no artificial sweeteners, while Sprite is made with artificial flavors and sweeteners.
- Healthiness: Starry is marketed as a healthier alternative, being naturally sweetened and containing no artificial ingredients, while Sprite contains artificial ingredients and is often viewed as less healthy.
- Flavor Profile: Starry is available in various fruit flavors, while Sprite has a lemon-lime taste.
- Packaging: Starry is packaged in an aluminum can, designed to stand out and appeal to consumers looking for premium drink options, while Sprite is typically packaged in plastic bottles or cans.
- Price: Starry is positioned as a premium product, and its price may reflect this, while Sprite is typically more affordable.
What Are The Ingredients in Starry Soda
According to Pepsi, the ingredients in Starry soda are:
Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Potassium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor).
Final Review of Starry Soda
Starry is a decent tasting lemon-lime soda, but I can’t say that it is significantly different in flavor form Sprite. Most of the difference is in the ingredients, branding, and image. The biggest difference I can taste in Starry is that it is a bit more sharp than Sierra Mist and a touch less cloyingly sweet.
As far as I can see, this rebrand is less about flavor/uniqueness and all about targeting a “healthier” image with their soda. I’m not really sure that the majority of people drinking soda really care that much on if their soda has real vs artificial flavors.
Will Starry be able to dethrone Sprite or 7-Up? I highly doubt it. I suspect that this lemon-lime soda will get lost in a sea of look-alike sodas.
