Maple syrup Pepsi has garnered a lot of attention and curiosity lately. Many people have heard about this unusual soda flavor and wonder – is maple syrup Pepsi real? Or is it just an internet myth or joke?
Quick answer: Yes, maple syrup Pepsi is a real product that has been released by PepsiCo in limited quantities and markets. It is not widely available but has been produced as a specialty seasonal flavor.
Maple syrup Pepsi was first launched by Pepsi in Canada in the summer of 2021. It was a limited edition flavor offered for about 8 weeks leading up to Canada Day on July 1st. The launch was considered a “patriotic” move by Pepsi to celebrate Canada’s maple syrup heritage and capitalize on the popularity of maple flavors.
Since the initial launch, there have been limited subsequent releases of maple syrup Pepsi in Canada and the United States. It is generally considered a seasonal fall/winter flavor tied to the maple harvesting period. But tracking down where and when you can find maple syrup Pepsi can prove challenging given its limited availability.
The maple syrup flavored cola drink does contain real maple syrup as an ingredient. It is made with a blend of cola, maple syrup from Quebec, and “maple flavoring.” Reviews of the taste have been mixed – some love the sweet maple taste combined with Pepsi’s cola zing, others think the flavors clash.
So while tricky to locate at times, maple syrup Pepsi is absolutely a real product you can try if you get your hands on a bottle during its short seasonal windows of availability. Read on for more details on the background, taste, availability, and reviews of this uniquely Canadian-inspired soda.
When and where was maple syrup Pepsi first released?
As mentioned, the first-ever release of maple syrup Pepsi was in Canada in the summer of 2021. Specifically, it was first sold at Canadian grocery retailers on June 14, 2021.
The launch was timed as a limited edition product to celebrate Canada Day on July 1st and capitalize on Canada’s strong maple syrup culture and heritage. The bottle even featured an image of a maple leaf on it.
Pepsi marketed it as a “patriotic” summer flavor release to compete with rival Coca-Cola’s long-running seasonal favorite, Coke with Coffee, in the critical summer soda sales period in Canada.
Maple syrup Pepsi was sold for about 8 weeks in the lead-up to Canada Day exclusively at select Canadian retailers including Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro, Walmart, and other major grocers.
The initial launch was considered successful enough that Pepsi brought maple syrup Pepsi back for a wider subsequent release in Canada from October to December 2021 to align with maple syrup harvest season.
In early 2022, maple syrup Pepsi made its debut in the United States for the first time. It had a limited run from February to May 2022 at retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
So while Canada birthed maple syrup Pepsi, American soda drinkers have now gotten a taste of this unique flavor too. But again, the US release was quite restricted in terms of geography, stores, and timeframe.
What does maple syrup Pepsi taste like?
So what does Pepsi taste like when you add real maple syrup into the classic cola formula?
Reviews are somewhat mixed on the exact taste profile. But most describe it as delivering a sweet maple aroma and start, akin to maple syrup or pancake batter. The maple taste upfront then transitions into the usual Pepsi cola flavors on the backend.
Pepsi itself has described maple syrup Pepsi as having “the delicious, familiar taste of Pepsi cola perfectly blended with the rich, authentic taste of real maple syrup from Quebec.”
Some key taste notes reported by maple syrup Pepsi drinkers:
– Sweet and syrupy, yet still identifiably like cola
– Maple aroma in particular stands out
– Maple flavor is prominent on the tongue at the start
– Finishes with cola notes on the palette after the maple fades
– More subtle and less overpowering maple flavor than expected
– The maple element makes it taste almost like a liquid, carbonated pancake or waffle
– Smooth, drinkable, and relatively balanced despite the unusual pairing
– Not quite as sweet as regular Pepsi due to the maple
– Still has that Pepsi fizziness, which interacts uniquely with the maple taste
So the maple is clearly noticeable, but not in an overpowering way. The cola remains familiar too. Some call it a nice pairing while others think the two flavors clash. Personal taste preferences may determine who finds it tasty versus too strange.
What is maple syrup Pepsi made of?
Like all Pepsi products, the exact formula is a closely guarded trade secret. But Pepsi has revealed some of the core ingredients that give maple syrup Pepsi its signature taste:
– Carbonated water
– High fructose corn syrup
– Caramel color
– Phosphoric acid
– Natural flavors
– Caffeine
– Sodium benzoate (preservative)
– Real maple syrup from Quebec, Canada
– Maple flavoring
So it contains the same base ingredients as normal Pepsi, with the key additions being real maple syrup and extra maple flavoring.
The real maple syrup used in the product is sourced from Quebec, Canada, which is the largest producer of maple syrup in the world. Quebec alone produces roughly 70% of the global maple syrup supply.
Pepsi has partnered with Quebec-based maple syrup supplier L.B. Maple Treat to obtain the maple syrup used in maple syrup Pepsi. The exact amount of real maple syrup included is unknown, but it is clearly enhanced with extra “maple flavoring” as well to amplify the maple taste.
So despite being a relatively artificial-tasting soda, maple syrup Pepsi does contain at least some amount of actual maple syrup straight from Canada’s source. The extra flavoring likely helps bridge the gap between the small quantity of real maple syrup used and the strong syrupy taste consumers expect.
How does the maple flavor impact the nutrition facts?
In terms of nutrition, maple syrup Pepsi is very similar to regular Pepsi. The addition of maple syrup only slightly alters the nutrition profile.
Per 12 fluid ounces, maple syrup Pepsi contains:
– 240 calories (identical to regular Pepsi)
– 70 mg sodium (identical to regular Pepsi)
– 65 mg caffeine (identical to regular Pepsi)
– 65 g of sugar (4 g less than regular Pepsi)
– Slightly more calcium and vitamin A due to the real maple syrup
So it is virtually the same as regular Pepsi in calories, caffeine, sodium, etc. The only major difference is it has 4 grams less sugar per serving compared to standard Pepsi.
This reduction in sugar content is likely due to the inherent sugars already present in the real maple syrup used. The maple syrup provides some natural sugar that can substitute for a small portion of the high fructose corn syrup or other added sugars used in normal Pepsi.
The additional nutrients from the real maple syrup also give maple syrup Pepsi marginally higher levels of calcium and vitamin A compared to regular Pepsi. But the differences are minor enough as to be largely inconsequential from a nutritional standpoint.
Overall, consumers shouldn’t view maple syrup Pepsi as any healthier than regular Pepsi when it comes to calories, sugar, and other nutritional factors. The maple syrup does bring small beneficial changes, but not nearly enough to make a significant impact. Taste remains the primary differentiation here rather than nutritional benefits.
Where can you currently purchase maple syrup Pepsi?
Unfortunately, tracking down maple syrup Pepsi can be challenging given its status as a specialty seasonal item with limited availability. Here are some tips on where you may be able to find it:
In Canada:
– Best availability is during its release window from October-December coinciding with maple season
– Check major grocery chains like Loblaw, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart, etc
– Often sold in mini multipacks alongside regular Pepsi
– Recently spotted at certain Loblaw, Walmart and Metro locations in Ontario and Quebec
In the United States:
– Was last sold from February-May 2022 at Walmart, Target, Amazon and some other retailers
– No confirmed US sales in 2022 yet, but possibly returning in fall/winter 2022 based on past timing
– Check Walmart and Target locations with extensive soda aisles when it gets closer to maple syrup harvest season
Online:
– Amazon and Walmart may sporadically get stock online but sell out quickly
– Specialty soda retailers like Rocket Fizz sometimes carry limited quantities
– eBay often has listings for maple syrup Pepsi but expect to pay inflated prices
Canada likely remains the best source given the cultural/heritage connection. But with some effort, you may be able to track some down in the US as well. Call soda retailers in your area to ask if they have any maple syrup Pepsi in stock or know when more may be coming.
What are reviews and reactions to the taste?
Reviews of how maple syrup Pepsi actually tastes have been generally mixed, with some loving it while others feeling it doesn’t live up to expectations:
Positive reviews:
– Sweet maple aroma and start, balanced Pepsi finish
– More subtle maple taste than anticipated, not overpowering
– Smooth, drinkable soda taste combining two favorites
– Perfect for enjoying during maple harvesting season
– Fun novelty drink to enjoy alongside classic Pepsi
Negative reviews:
– Maple and cola flavors clash, competing instead of complimenting
– Not enough maple flavoring comes through compared to scent
– Aftertaste is unpleasant and artificial tasting
– Too sweet even compared to regular Pepsi
– Fun as a novelty but not something you’d buy regularly
– Not different enough from regular Pepsi
So opinions appear split based on personal taste preferences. Some find it a pleasantly drinkable soda combining two comforting flavors. Others feel the maple and cola interact in an unpleasant or overly sweet way.
Most agree the aroma and upfront sip deliver more prominent maple flavor than the aftertaste. And the novelty seems to give it widespread appeal, even if many say they likely wouldn’t buy it regularly over normal Pepsi.
But maple syrup soda fans have embraced it as delivering a true syrupy maple cola taste that, while not for everyone, does seem to satisfy many with a sweet tooth and taste for classic Pepsi.
Is maple syrup Pepsi available year-round or seasonal?
Maple syrup Pepsi has so far been produced only as a limited-time seasonal item. It has not been added to Pepsi’s permanent year-round soda lineup at this time.
The limited seasonal releases have revolved around two key maple syrup-centric times of year:
1) Summer (June-July):
– Targets Canada Day celebrations
– Maple taste provides a seasonal flavor change from typical summer colas
2) Fall/Winter (October-December):
– Aligns with maple tree harvesting season
– Maple taste feels fitting for the fall where pumpkin, maple, and warm spices are popular
If maple syrup Pepsi continues as a seasonal item, these summer and fall/winter timeline would likely remain the key windows for availability.
There are no signs currently that Pepsi plans to add it to their permanent portfolio of flavors like regular Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, etc. But if strong sales and popularity continue, a year-round rollout could potentially happen down the line.
For now, think of maple syrup Pepsi as a drink to look for during specific times in Canada and the US tied to maple syrup culture when the flavor feels most relevant. Don’t expect to necessarily see it stocked alongside the normal Pepsi varieties in the cola aisle throughout the year.
Is the maple syrup flavor permanent for Pepsi?
The future of maple syrup Pepsi as an ongoing flavor for Pepsi also remains uncertain. Thus far, it has been produced only as a limited batch specialty flavor for short periods of time.
There are a few possibilities going forward:
– It continues as a popular seasonal limited release
– It gets added to Pepsi’s permanent portfolio of flavors
– Pepsi discontinues it altogether if sales underperform
Much likely depends on how maple syrup Pepsi continues to sell. If it remains popular each season it’s released, Pepsi will likely keep it going annually as a seasonal tradition.
But if interest starts to wane or the novelty wears off, Pepsi may retire the maple syrup flavor down the line. They’ve discontinued specialty flavors before that failed to keep audiences engaged long-term.
The best-case scenario for fans would be if maple syrup Pepsi eventually got promoted to a permanent year-round Pepsi variety. But so far Pepsi has given no indications this is imminent.
For now, it seems likely that maple syrup Pepsi will keep returning for short-term seasonal runs when maple syrup is top of mind. But there are no guarantees on how long that will last before Pepsi moves on to the next flavor innovation.
Conclusion
Maple syrup Pepsi has captured the curiosity and taste buds of soda aficionados in both Canada and the United States. The unique flavor combo of classic cola and authentic Quebec maple syrup is unusual yet surprisingly drinkable.
While not universally loved, it has built a cult following among fans enamored with its sweet maple aroma and taste. Finding it outside of limited seasonal releases remains challenging for now. But devoted maple syrup Pepsi seekers continue tracking it down to enjoy this syrupy-sweet cola as a novel treat.
Despite some skeptics of the unlikely pairing, the drink has demonstrated appeal as a festive seasonal flavor tied to Canada’s maple heritage. Only time will tell whether maple syrup Pepsi ultimately becomes a permanent fixture in Pepsi’s lineup. But in the meantime, it satisfies those craving a taste of pancakes, waffles, or maple trees in their classic cola experience.