Here’s Why It Actually Makes Perfect Sense 🍊
It’s not just a trend. It’s a takeover.
From Sanzo to Calpico, from De La Calle to Salud x Jarritos, the beverage aisle is suddenly citrus-curious. And not just any citrus. MANDARIN. So what gives? Why is Mandarin orange, that middle child of the citrus family, having its Beyoncé moment in 2025?
Let’s peel it back a little.
1. Nostalgia Is the New Innovation
Before it was a sparkling water, a tepache, or a modern soda, Mandarin was already a soda aisle star thanks to Pepsi’s introduction of Mandarin Orange Slice in the 1980s. With its black can, jagged red-orange graphics, and a flavor that was part candy, part citrus bomb, it was an icon to the kids of the era (even if it fizzled out by the ‘90s).
Fast forward to 2025, and that same flavor memory is getting a glow-up.
Today’s consumers are looking for something that reminds them of simpler times without the 42 grams of sugar and a Red 40 chaser. Modern brands like Sanzo, De La Calle, and Calpico are tapping into that nostalgia with a new, functional twist:
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Real fruit
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Lower sugar
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Global flavor stories
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Instagrammable cans
It’s a new chapter in an old story that Slice helped start.
2. Citrus Has a Health Halo and Mandarin Wears the Crown
Mandarin stands out in the citrus family like the chill cousin who brings both snacks and adaptogens to the party.
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Less acidic than orange
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More approachable than grapefruit
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Naturally sweet without tasting fake
And the data backs it up:
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Citrus flavors grew +14% YoY in new beverage launches globally (Innova Market Insights, 2024).
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Google searches for “Mandarin soda” hit a 5-year high in Q2 2025. (Google Trends)
Consumers are craving both flavor and functionality and Mandarin delivers both in one juicy punch.
3. Mandarin Bridges Cultures
Mandarin is more than just a trending flavor, it's a bridge between cultural divides.
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In Asian cultures, it symbolizes luck and prosperity (especially around Lunar New Year).
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In Latino cultures, it's tied to summer markets, aguas frescas, and the OG, Jarritos.
4. It’s Bright, Bold, and Extremely Shelf-Ready
Let’s not underestimate the power of color psychology and shelf appeal. Mandarin cans pop.
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Orange hues signal energy, warmth, and fun.
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It screams refreshment even when the can’s unopened.
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And with today’s elevated can design (see: Sanzo’s minimalist fruit badge or De La Calle’s dripping nostalgia), Mandarin cans are shelfies waiting to happen.
Remember the explosion graphics on that Slice can? Gen Z might not. But today’s vibrant, citrus-forward labels are carrying that torch with cleaner fonts and fewer jagged edges.
5. Timing Is Everything
Here’s the short list of just the first half of 2025:
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Sanzo launched Mandarin Sparkling Water in Q1
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De La Calle followed with Mandarin Refresco Tepache in Q2
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Calpico announced its Mandarin Orange on June 21
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Salud x Jarritos drop their Mandarin collab (along with three other flavors) on June 27
That’s not a coincidence. Smart marketers know how to ride the wave not the whitewash.
So… What Does This Mean for CPG Brands?
Mandarin is a signal:
✅ Consumers want refreshing, familiar, global flavors
✅ They’re seeking low-sugar options that don’t sacrifice taste
✅ They respond to vibrant branding that sparks memory and emotion
✅ They crave authenticity, not artificial nostalgia
And most importantly, they’re telling us (with their dollars and dopamine hits) that Mandarin is a mood.
Final Sip: It Was Prophecy
Slice tried to tell us in 1986. Mandarin wasn’t just a soda flavor...it was the future.
Fast-forward to 2025, and every brand worth their carbonation is launching some version of it. Because Mandarin is nostalgic. It’s inclusive. It’s healthy-ish. And it’s here to rule the cooler.
2025 isn’t just summer.
It’s the Summer of Mandarin.
And Slice walked so we could run.
Briefed and Written by Growthbuster. Edited by AI. Then polished and published by Growthbuster.
We help food and beverage brands stop blending in and start lifting off online and at the shelf.
🍊 Need help riding the Mandarin wave or spotting the next one? Let’s talk.
