The Coca-Cola Company introduced Sprite internationally in 1961 as a lemon-lime soft drink.
Sprite developed from a lemon-lime drink that Coca-Cola had marketed in parts of Europe under the name Fanta Klare Zitrone. The Sprite name was then used for the company’s clear, caffeine-free lemon-lime beverage and expanded into additional markets.
Sprite is commonly compared with other citrus drinks in Coca-Cola’s portfolio, including Fresca and Mello Yello. However, those brands have different flavor profiles and histories. Sprite’s defining identity is its lemon-lime taste and clear appearance.
The brand later became especially associated with youth-oriented advertising, music, basketball, and hip-hop culture. Its international reach makes Sprite one of Coca-Cola’s best-known non-cola soft drinks.