They Call it Mello Yello

Rewind thirty years, the height of the Cola wars, Pepsi are trying to become the “next generation” but Coca-Cola are sticking to their guns. Pepsi launched a range of popular drinks beside its cola, perhaps most notably, Mountain Dew. To compete against that fluorescent foe, Coca-Cola launched Mello Yello in 1979.

In 1983 Mello Yello launched in Japan, coming in a bright yellow can, with the slogan:
“Smooth Taste, Smooth Times.”

At its essence, Mello Yello is citrus flavored soda and for a while, it basked in a fleeting popularity. But it soon fell out of favor in Japan, and disappeared from the convini shelves. But Coca-Cola are having another crack at the drink, relying on nostalgia and a few curious customers.

It is now available in a plastic bottle, but it still retains the same slogan and has a “Since 1983″ stamp. The logo is also all but identical, as is the taste, which is sickly sweet, but tasty nonetheless. Not the ideal drink for long summer days, but it is well worth a try.