Coca-Cola claims it's finally managed to crack the code for the perfect Coke, without any sugar.
Coke No Sugar has been five years in the making and is the drink company's third Coke without sugar, following Diet Coke and Coke Zero.
Coca-Cola was initially tight-lipped on the sweetener, telling Newshub the recipe was "top secret". Sandhya Pillay, general manager of Coca-Cola New Zealand, told The AM Show on Friday it uses the same sweetener as its Coke Zero and Diet Coke range - aspartame.
"We believe the new Coke No Sugar is closest we have ever come to the classic taste of Coca-Cola and the best tasting sugar-free cola we've made," Ms Pillay said.
"That's no small task when you consider the original taste is so well-known and has been around for over 130 years.
"Coca-Cola No Sugar is its own unique recipe with no ingredient which is brand new to the market."
The truth will be in the tasting, with none of the alternative Cokes so far coming close to the right taste, each clearly identifiable to the true Coke connoisseur.
But this time, Coca-Cola is so sure it's got it right, it's giving the drink away. Two-hundred thousand drinks will be handed out across New Zealand as part of the launch. Kiwis can also request a taste through the Coke website.
"We've never tried anything this ambitious in terms of giving people the chance to try our latest drink," Ms Pillay said.
"We want Coke No Sugar to be a consideration for Kiwis and giving them the chance to taste it for themselves is important to us."
A "new" Coca-Cola Zero Sugar was launched overseas, including in the UK, almost a year ago. Advertising for the drink claimed it was the closest taste to regular Coke that had been developed.
It's not yet known if this is the same flavour which is about to be rolled out in New Zealand, but Ms Pillay told Newshub we're the third country to get Coca-Cola No Sugar, following Mexico and Spain.
The new drink hits shelves on June 12.
Newshub.
