If you grew up in the 2000s, you probably saw it on store shelves, in commercials, or perhaps even drank it—Blue Pepsi, the enigmatic, neon-blue soda that seemed to have been plucked directly from the pages of a science fiction novel.
What Was Blue Pepsi?
Pepsi Blue was introduced in 2002 by PepsiCo as an experiment. Rather than the traditional caramel-colored cola, this beverage was electric blue in color and tasted sweet, like berry-cotton candy. It wasn’t a typical Pepsi—this one was attempting to be cooler, younger, and edgier.
It was all new:
🔵 New taste
🔵 New color
🔵 New attitude
Pepsi targeted the youth market and was looking to come up with something unique, both in taste and design.
Why Was It Discontinued?
Pepsi Blue made its exit within two years despite the hype.
What went wrong is as follows:
🔵Taste wasn’t universal – It was either too sweet or tasted artificial to many.
🔵Health issues – It contained a dye called Blue 1, which created a furor and was controversial in certain nations.
🔵Sales declined – Once the initial hype wore off, not enough consumers continued purchasing it.
🔵By 2004, Pepsi quietly removed it from all but a few markets.
A Cult Favorite
Despite being a commercial failure, Pepsi Blue still found a cult following. Fans continue to discuss it online, exchange vintage bottles, and hope it will return. Pepsi even re-released it for a short time in some nations—testifying that nostalgia never actually dies.
Fun Fact:
In the Philippines and USA, Pepsi Blue made a short comeback in 2021—but only for a limited period.
The Benefit Zone 