In select Atlanta and Houston Starbucks, you can order Cane Sugar Cola. It’s being tested as part of the Fizzio lineup of drinks, which includes Root Beer, Lemon Ale, and Ginger Ale.
A reader in Houston sent me a couple of photos of his Cane Sugar Cola:
The Houston reader sent me his review of the new Cane Sugar Cola at Starbucks:
“The Cane cola was sweet, but not overly so. Like the other Fizzio beverages, a more natural-tasting soda with plenty of effervescence.”
You might be wondering what’s in this new test-product Starbucks Cane Sugar Cola? A barista in a test store told me that the packaging describes it as a “Naturally flavored” and that the first ingredients are water, sugar, and brown sugar. There is a small amount of caffeine in the Cane Sugar Cola, which comes in the Green Coffee Extract. This is the same Starbucks Green Coffee Extract which is found in the Refreshers beverages.
As with every test beverage, I always have to warn that Starbucks tests many more products and beverages than what makes it to a national launch. And rumor has it that the Cane Sugar Cola has low sales. 🙁
So what do you think? Sounds delicious!
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I love the cane cola, has a nice bite! We have not received any shipments as of late and rumor has it that it might be discontinued due to low sales 🙁
Nathan – Oh no! That’s important to know. I should update this blog post.
I am a Soda junkie… Any stores in Seattle doing the fizzio drinks?
Yummy! Sounds great to me too. I had never had Root Beer until I had our’s and although it’s not bad, I just don’t like it so much. I would much prefer to try to the Cane Sugar Cola. I hate to think where we might the extra box if it goes national but….we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
I hope it does go national and that it is very tasty. My new DT store sits right next to a McDonald’s and I feel guilty sometimes for picking up a Coke over there on my way home.
@Launce – The only way to get Fizzio Sodas in Seattle is to visit the non-public Starbucks deep inside the headquarters:
http://starbucksmelody.com/2014/08/12/whereintheworld-starbucks/
And to do that, you need a corporate headquarters partner to escort you in.
The Fizzio machines are also in the Teavana expanded stores that have food – like the Teavana in University Village. But you can only get carbonated tea. They don’t have the sodas at Teavana (I wish they did!)
Interesting about a possible Starbucks Cane Sugar Cola. I wonder who is making the base for this?
Pepsi just released their own craft cola called “Caleb’s Kola”. Limited distribution at Costcos on the East Coast. The drink is made with cane sugar, kola nut extract and a “special blend of spices.”
This is an emerging type of product, products using only real “natural” ingredients (what was once old is new again). However, there is a big debate going on within the Regulatory Agencies about just what is a “natural” product so I would expect much budget shifting, lobbying, and gnashing of teeth 😉 before anything is “legislated”.
Recently all forms of high fructose corn syrup have become more expensive than real sugar. However, companies charge a premium for “real” sugar while paying less for it. How opportune for the bottom line.
Is there a vision of an old fashioned soda fountain type of Starbucks over the horizon?
I enjoy ice coffee doubled fizzed.
@DadCooks – I didn’t know about “Caleb’s Kola.” Fascinating. Starbucks has long had a special relationship with Pepsi, so it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Pepsi has helped them out in someway with the recipe or producing it – I just don’t know.
I thought it was interesting that this is a test in Atlanta – the home of Coca Cola!
Having not gotten out to Portland to try a Fizzio I don’t know how much I would like this, but so far I’m generally fond of cola’s and all the more so fond of those with cane sugar and so would love to find a local Starbucks get this in.
@Kevin Fizzio is in the sunbelt Starbucks only now. Hope you get to try this someday.
I ran across a foodblog post recently about adding half and half and vanilla syrup to cola for a sort of a melted float drink and as soon as I saw it, I wondered about making one out of Starbucks’ Fizzio drinks. But I dismissed it because I live nowhere near where I can get a Fizzio and they didn’t have a cola flavor anyway. But now they do! And cane sugar cola at that! I love Mexican soda so it’s definitely something I would try but I guess since the sales are low, I’ll never get a chance… T_T
@Sherry – Thank you for the comment. That sounds really interesting – I wouldn’t have thought of putting half and half with soda. I’m still crossing my fingers for this to succeed!
I add a shot of espresso and half and half to the root beer Fizzio, and it’s awesome. I can imagine the cane sugar cola one will be even better. In fact, a number of years ago Seattle’s Best Cafe inside Borders had a series of cane sugar soda beverages (I think they were called “Redkane”) and my favorite was the Redkane Cola — I always ordered that with a shot of espresso and put half and half in it. (They also apparently had one that was already coffee flavored, but I preferred the cola with a boost of real coffee. ;))
Should also be testing the cola in New Bern, NC. Home of Pepsi. Developed by Caleb Bradham. Don’t know if there are any Starbucks in New Bern though.