Strawberry Nesquik powdered flavored milk mix was first introduced by Nestlé in the late 1980s as a strawberry flavored version of their popular chocolate Nesquik powder. It quickly became popular, especially among kids, as an easy way to flavor milk with a sweet strawberry taste. However, over the past decade or so, there have been questions about whether strawberry Nesquik is still being produced and sold. This article will provide a definitive answer on the current status of strawberry Nesquik and look at the history of this iconic strawberry milk flavoring.
The origins and heyday of strawberry Nesquik
Nesquik, originally called Nestlé Quik, first came on the market in the 1950s as an instant chocolate milk mix. It was a huge success and became one of Nestlé’s most recognizable brands. Building on this success, in the late 1980s Nestlé decided to branch out and release a strawberry flavor as well.
Strawberry Nesquik came in a pink box featuring a cartoon bunny mascot. The powder itself was pink in color and when mixed with milk, turned it a light pink shade. The taste was sweet, similar to strawberry syrup popular on ice cream. It quickly became popular, especially with kids who enjoyed the fun, pink color and sweet flavor. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, strawberry Nesquik was a pantry staple in many households with children.
The decline of strawberry Nesquik
In the early 2000s, strawberry Nesquik began to appear less frequently on store shelves. There were less displays and promotions for the unique strawberry flavor and more focus shifted back to chocolate and other Nesquik products. There are a few reasons for this decline in popularity:
- Health consciousness – As concerns about excess sugar gained more attention in the 2000s, sugary powdered drink mixes like Nesquik fell out of favor. The unique strawberry flavor, which was sweeter than chocolate, may have been viewed as too indulgent.
- Less novelty – When it was first introduced, the pink strawberry Nesquik was seen as fun and unique. But over time it lost its novelty, especially compared to chocolate which was more traditional.
- Availability – For unclear reasons, Nestlé appeared to pull back distribution and promotion of strawberry Nesquik, making it harder for consumers to find on store shelves.
By the late 2000s to early 2010s, strawberry Nesquik had largely disappeared from the market. Many assumed it had been discontinued altogether as years went by without a sign of the once-popular strawberry milk mix.
Does strawberry Nesquik still exist today?
After nearly a decade absence, in the past few years there have been some limited spottings of strawberry Nesquik on shelves again. So it appears the product was not totally discontinued, but Nestlé significantly scaled back production and distribution, likely due to lagging sales.
Here is the current status on availability of strawberry Nesquik:
- Limited seasonal production – Strawberry Nesquik today appears to only be produced and sold for limited times around Valentine’s Day and other peak strawberry consumption occasions. It is no longer in year-round production.
- Limited locations – Strawberry Nesquik does not appear to be sold nationwide anymore. It pops up sporadically at certain retailers, usually mass merchandisers like Walmart or Target. Availability varies by region.
- No online sales – Strawberry Nesquik is not available for purchase through Nestlé’s online store or on Amazon. This limited distribution makes it hard to locate.
- No advertising – Nestlé does little to no advertising or promotion for strawberry Nesquik anymore, contributing to lack of awareness that it still exists.
So in summary – yes, strawberry Nesquik still exists today but it is a shadow of its former self. It is produced only seasonally in limited quantities and can be hard to find in stores. But nostalgic fans who come across it do have the opportunity to enjoy this blast from the past strawberry milk flavor again.
Will strawberry Nesquik make a comeback?
Nestlé has given no indication that they plan to revive strawberry Nesquik to its previous popularity and distribution, but hope remains. Here are some pros and cons on the prospects of a strawberry Nesquik comeback:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Nostalgia – Older millennials have fond memories drinking strawberry Nesquik as kids and may buy it for their own children if it was readily available again. | Health trends – Sugary mixes like Nesquik don’t align with current nutrition preferences for less processed foods and drinks. |
| Strawberry flavor popularity – Strawberry milk and strawberry flavoring remains popular. Starbucks even launched a Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino in 2022. | Chocolate dominance – Chocolate remains the far and away most popular Nesquik flavor. Nestlé may be hesitant to take attention away from their chocolate products. |
| Retro appeal – Restoring retro brands can draw interest and buzz. Coke resurrected failed New Coke for a limited time in summer 2019 to much fanfare. | Lack of awareness – With little marketing for years, many younger consumers are unaware strawberry Nesquik ever existed, limiting demand. |
While strawberry Nesquik retains nostalgic appeal for some, the health halo around sugary mixes like Nesquik has been hard to overcome. Nestlé may be unwilling to invest in marketing and distribution without clear evidence of demand. But if they took a risk, put some promotional dollars behind it, and made strawberry Nesquik easily findable again, they just may be able to resurrect this iconic strawberry flavor.
How does strawberry Nesquik taste today?
Those who have been lucky enough to spot strawberry Nesquik on store shelves and taste it again after many years report that the flavor remains largely the same as they remember. The powder still turns milk a light pink color and has a sweet, synthetic strawberry flavor reminiscent of strawberry syrup.
Some minor differences have been noted:
- Slightly less sweet – Some say today’s strawberry Nesquik formula tastes slightly less sugary sweet than in the past.
- More mild strawberry flavor – The strawberry flavor itself comes across more muted and less intense to some tasters.
- Grainier texture – The powder consistency appears a little less smooth, with a slightly grainier mouthfeel.
But overall, those who loved strawberry Nesquik as kids say drinking it again takes them right back decades to their childhood. While Nestlé may have tweaked the recipe over the years, the quintessential sweet strawberry milk flavor still shines through for a nostalgic treat.
Where to find strawberry Nesquik today
Strawberry Nesquik won’t be found year-round on the shelf at your local supermarket anymore. But it does make limited-run appearances at select stores. Here are some tips to help find this elusive pink powdered milk flavoring:
- Check around Valentine’s Day – Strawberry Nesquik seems to get distribution around Valentine’s Day when strawberry flavors are popular. Ask at your grocery store in January/early February if they will get any in stock.
- Try Walmart or Target – Large mass merchandisers seem to be the most likely to get inventory. Walmart and Target locations may have it sporadically.
- Call Nestlé – You can try contacting Nestlé’s customer service. They may be able to provide info on specific retailers receiving inventory.
- Search secondhand sites – Check eBay, Mercari or Facebook Marketplace for people reselling boxes of Strawberry Nesquik they’ve come across.
- Use product locator sites – Websites like https://www.vintagerecipes.net/nestle/nesquik/ allow you to search what stores near you report having it in stock.
With persistence and luck, you may be able to track down strawberry Nesquik. It takes some work, but can be worth it for the sweet strawberry flavor nostalgia.
How to make your own strawberry milk mix
If you strike out finding strawberry Nesquik in stores, you can recreate a similar flavor at home. Here are some easy ways to whip up homemade strawberry milk:
Strawberry Syrup Method
The easiest way is to make strawberry simple syrup by simmering fresh or frozen strawberries with sugar and water on the stove, then straining out the solids. Cool and store the syrup in the fridge. To make strawberry milk, simply stir a few tablespoons of the syrup into cold milk until you reach the desired sweetness and strawberry flavor.
Strawberry Powder Method
For a powder, puree fresh or frozen strawberries, then dehydrate them in an oven on very low heat for several hours. When completely dried, grind into a fine powder using a food processor or blender. To recreate strawberry Nesquik, use 2 tablespoons powder per 8oz of milk. Mix the powder thoroughly into milk until dissolved.
Premade Strawberry Mix
Some premade powdered strawberry milk drink mixes are sold at health food stores or online if you want convenience. Brands like Whole Earth make strawberry flavor powder from natural ingredients.
While not exactly like the original, homemade strawberry milk lets you enjoy the flavor whenever you want.
Conclusion
Strawberry Nesquik has been off most people’s radars for years, but this sweet powdered strawberry milk drink from the ’80s and ’90s still makes limited appearances today. Though it will likely never regain its former popularity, its nostalgia factor brings joy to those who stumble across it. Diehard fans report the taste remains largely the same – a sugary sweet, synthetic strawberry flavor that brings back childhood memories. Though tracking it down requires effort, strawberry Nesquik can offer a pleasant blast from the past.
