The Rise, Viral Craze, and Eventual Decline of Cotton Candy Clear American

The Origins of Cotton Candy Clear American

Cotton candy clear American is a unique flavored carbonated beverage that has recently exploded in popularity. As the name suggests, it aims to emulate the sweet, sugary taste of cotton candy, while maintaining the classic transparent appearance of popular clear sodas like Sprite or 7UP.

The origins of cotton candy flavored sodas can be traced back to Gibsonton, Florida in 2011. This was when the Carnival Crawl 5K run debuted a limited edition cotton candy flavored Mountain Dew as part of its bypassing circus theme. The glowing pink drink was a hit with runners and helped inspire other brands to test out similar flavors.

The Rise of Unique Soda Flavors

Throughout the 2010s, major soda companies began experimenting with ever more adventurous flavors in an effort to attract younger consumers. These included unexpected flavors like gingerbread, candy corn, and hot chocolate. So cotton candy soda was a natural extension of this trend towards sweeter, dessert-inspired flavors.

Smaller brands were also quick to pick up on the cotton candy craze. GC Clear was one of the first to produce a clear cotton candy soda in 2014. Its glowing pink beverage tapped into the nostalgia for both cotton candy and classic clear sodas like 7UP or Sprite.

The Launch of Clear American

Seeing the rising popularity of flavored sodas, the major soda manufacturer Clear American launched its own line of uniquely flavored carbonated waters in 2016. Their first two flavors were black cherry and pineapple coconut, but they saw an opportunity with cotton candy.

In 2017, Clear American released a cotton candy flavored seltzer water. True to their brand, it had the same transparent appearance as their other beverages. But with an unmistakable sweet cotton candy taste, it soon became their top selling variety. It was especially popular with teens and college students enamored by its playful flavor.

The Cotton Candy Clear American Sensation

Almost immediately after its launch, the cotton candy flavored Clear American sparked a viral sensation across American youth culture. Its nostalgic carnival flavor crossed over from just another novelty soda to a full-blown cultural phenomenon.

Social Media Craze

The cotton candy Clear American quickly took over social media feeds nationwide throughout 2017 and 2018. Bright pink drinks appeared in Instagram posts, Youtube videos, and Snapchat stories as people raced to try the hot new flavor.

Twitter and Instagram hashtags like #CottonCandyClear and #PinkDrink took off as teens started posting photos of themselves enjoying ice cold cotton candy Clear Americans. Part of the drinks' social media dominance came from the natural Insta-worthy pink glow.

Pop Culture Appearances

Like other viral food and drink crazes, it wasn't long until the cotton candy flavored clear soda started popping up on TV shows, movies, and in celebrity culture as well.

In 2017, the cotton candy Clear American made appearances in youth-oriented shows like Riverdale and American Vandal in an effort to seem relevant to teen viewers. Throughout 2018, stars like Kendall Jenner and Camila Cabello were spotted drinking the pink sodas, amplifying the hype.

YouTube stars and influencers also helped promote the drink, with Instagram-ready cotton candy Clear Americans suddenly omnipresent across social media feeds.

The Backlash and Decline

However, like most major food and drink fads, the cotton candy Clear American craze eventually faded. The initial viral hysteria and hype died down throughout late 2018 and 2019. Much of its early Gen Z target audience moved onto the next big trend.

Too Popular for its Own Good

In many ways, the cotton candy flavored clear soda was a victim of its own success. As media saturation increased and companies rushed out endless promotional partnerships to capitalize on the trend, it lost its indie cool factor.

Where early adopters enjoyed the drink as a novel experience, its later bandwagon mainstream popularity became something of a turnoff. Once their parents and aunts started drinking Clear Americans too, youth interest diminished. They craved something new and exclusive to their own culture.

Health Concerns

Health advocates also began raising awareness about the beverage's high sugar content, lack of nutritional value, and other issues. This sparked some moderate backlash, especially from older consumers.

In response, Clear American released more muted flavors alongside diet/zero sugar cotton candy variants. But for committed fans, the full sugar OG cotton candy drink remains the definitive Clear American experience.

Where To Buy Cotton Candy Clear American

Despite fading from its peak viral days, cotton candy flavored Clear American remains the brand's most popular flavor. It maintains a loyal, if reduced, fanbase to this day.

Online Stores

Like most major soda brands, Clear American is widely available online via retailers like Amazon and Walmart.com. Prime members can get free 1 to 2 day delivery on case quantities of the fruity fluffy flavored sodas.

Surge retailers that tap into beverage trends also typically carry cotton candy Clear Americans. Sites like Craft City Soda or Rocket Fizz continue pleasing niche soda lovers across the country.

Gas Stations and Convenience Stores

To reach impulse buyers, Clear American leveraged distribution deals with major gas station and convenience store chains. Today, you can still find chilled cotton candy clear sodas by the bottle or can at 7/11, Circle K, QuikTrip, and similar locations nationwide.

Checking the fountain soda section can also reveal examples of fast food places or movie theaters offering their own spin on the classic cotton candy flavor profile in beverage form.

Grocery and Supermarkets

Larger supermarket chains tend to dedicate at least some shelf space to trendy flavored soda alternatives like Clear Americans too. Alongside their stocks of classics like Coke and Mountain Dew, many now carry select flavors of cotton candy clear sodas as well.

So next time you're browsing the aisles of your local Albertsons, Kroger, Safeway, or other neighborhood grocery store, keep an eye out for those distinctive bright pink cotton candy Clear Americans.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.