Fresca was introduced by The Coca-Cola Company in 1966 as a grapefruit-flavored soft drink.
The name comes from the Spanish and Italian word for “fresh.” Fresca was marketed as a light, refreshing beverage and was originally positioned as a sugar-free soft drink. Its grapefruit profile distinguished it from Coca-Cola’s cola drinks and from lemon-lime products such as Sprite.
The formula and sweeteners used for Fresca have changed in different markets and periods. In the United States, product reformulations have included changes associated with the availability and use of artificial sweeteners.
Fresca is sometimes mistaken for a citrus soda with a lemon-lime flavor, but its characteristic profile is grapefruit. The brand has also been sold in multiple varieties and package formats, while retaining grapefruit as its defining flavor identity.