'I Tried Dr Pepper's New Strawberries & Cream Soda, Which Tastes Just Like Childhood in a Can'

Jessica Wrubel

February 8, 2023 at 8:08 AM·5 min read

Dr Pepper's latest flavor is sweet, peppy, pink and here just in time for V-Day

Dr Pepper’s latest release—which comes in a cute pink can to boot—is here just in time for Valentine’s Day. The sexy reveal is already racking up likes on their TikTok page so we had to get our hands on Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream to see what it tastes like for ourselves.

This new (and permanent!) addition to the Dr Pepper lineup hits store shelves this month and is available in 12 oz. 12 packs and 20 oz. bottles, with the zero sugar version being offered in 12 oz. 12 packs.

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In a press release, Senior Vice President of Dr Pepper Brand Marketing John Alvarado says that the new soda is an “exciting evolution” for Dr Pepper’s brand portfolio, which includes Dr Pepper Cherry, Dr Pepper & Cream, Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla and all of the zero-sugar or diet versions of these.

"Our expert team of flavor scientists is constantly innovating to bring to life new varieties that will surprise and delight treat seekers and our existing dedicated fans," said Alvarado. “We can't wait for people to try this delicious new treat!"

The new flavor of Dr Pepper is the only strawberry and cream-flavored dark soda on the market today and below we share our honest review of the bubbly beverage.

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Are they bringing back Dr Pepper Berries & Cream?

Dr Pepper Berries & Cream, which debuted in 2006 and was re-introduced in February 2022 as a limited edition flavor, is no more. A company spokeswoman said they have no plans to bring the blueberry, raspberry and vanilla soda back into the market right now. Another flavor of Dr Pepper, Dark Berry and Dark Berry Zero Sugar, was introduced in the spring of 2022 for a limited time and had notes of black currant, blackberry and black cherry (you may remember the ads featuring Barry Manilow as their “PaidSpokesBarry.” But Dr Pepper is pivoting their focus to the new Strawberries & Cream flavor.

What are the different flavors of Dr Pepper?

The oldest soda around, Dr Pepper, was invented in 1885 in Waco, Texas by Charles Alderton, a pharmacist who was trying to capture the scent of a drugstore in a taste and bottle it up. Although the blend of 23 flavors is a closely guarded secret and locked inside a vault in Plano, Texas, internet sleuths speculate the blend is some combination of amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato and vanilla.

In addition to Dr Pepper Cherry, Dr Pepper & Cream, Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla, and all of the zero-sugar or diet versions of these available on store shelves, if you’re lucky enough to have experienced the Willy Wonka-like magic of a Freestyle machine, you know that Dr Pepper Strawberry and Dr Pepper Vanilla are available for pouring into your cup as well.

Related: Dr. Pepper Barbecue Sauce

What soda combinations make Dr Pepper?

In 2020, TikTok exploded with people making their own versions of Dr Pepper. Recipes abound and can get quite complicated, as with the homemade version by Glen and Friends Cooking on YouTube, or the classic, simplest recipe made with plain seltzer and black cherry-flavored MiO drops.

For a tipsy twist, check out the flaming Dr Pepper shot, which contains no actual Dr Pepper, but instead mirrors the soda with a combo of Bacardi 151, Coors Light and amaretto. The video is just as much fun to watch as it is to drink these shots:

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Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream is a nostalgic throwback for your tastebuds

Do you remember those strawberry hard candies with a soft center that your grandma used to have in a little glass dish? This soda, both at first sniff and at first sip, is very reminiscent of those. One TikTok creator likens the flavor to another nostalgic candy, Creme Savers from the ‘90s (which are back on store shelves as of last year, so we’ll see you in the candy aisle).

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The full sugar version has a more prominent cream flavor (especially at the tail end of a sip), with just the right sweetness from the strawberry. It’s well-rounded, with a nice blend between the creamy strawberry and the classic Dr Pepper flavor we all know and love.

The zero-sugar version is fizzier, has a more Dr Pepper-forward flavor, and you have to go on a bit of a hunt to find the strawberries and cream in there, so it’s a little milder overall. It definitely has a more segmented flavor profile than the full-sugar version, which blends together a lot better in your mouth while sipping it.

<p>Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel</p> — Courtesy of Jessica Wrubel

Our honest thoughts on Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream

The full sugar version is much better than the diet version, which again, is good, but you have to search for the strawberries and cream flavor a little more. It’s a decent soda to drink on its own and not necessary with a meal of any kind (unless that meal is dessert). If you’re going to indulge, do yourself a favor and get the regular version. Better yet, transform your can into a little more fun by making slushies or floats out of your sweet Dr P or fully embracing the cream aspect of it and jumping on the dirty soda train.

Related: 17 Slurpable Ice Cream Floats