Snapple has drawn plenty of chatter this year with a few bold moves. By reintroducing its signature glass bottles (making a limited return at select New York City shops) and by nudging its logo back to the 1990s look, the brand is nudging fans to reminisce about the classic era—specifically the era around 2008.
The retro mood is still riding high through the season with Snapple’s latest limited release: Two Hundred Fif-TEA Party Raspberry Tea & Lemonade. Like many beverage brands chasing a milestone, Snapple unveils a fresh flavor to toast America’s semiquincentennial. We grabbed an early six-pack from Walmart—unusual, perhaps, but convenient—so we could judge whether this tea-lemonade fusion deserves a salute.
- Snapple Two Hundred Fif-TEA Party Raspberry Tea & Lemonade Review
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Pros: I’m not keen on sparring with AriZona over market space, but I genuinely adore this berry-forward take on a patriotic Arnold Palmer. Snapple’s longtime motto—“made with the best stuff on earth”—feels borne out by this rich, sweet beverage. The Two Hundred Fif-TEA Party delivers an authentic blend of raspberry tea and lemonade (or tea with raspberry lemonade, depending on your preference)—and it truly is, because… it’s made with real tea, clarified lemon juice, and natural flavors, with no high-fructose corn syrup—just real ingredients.
I wish this drink could linger for the full year of America’s 250th celebration. Still, I understand why it’s a limited-time flavor; Snapple likely doesn’t want to spark a war with AriZona. You know why their chairman is named Don, right? (Yes, that’s his actual name.)
Cons: The cap nearly gave me a jolt at first. “Scan QR Code for a Fun Time Every Time”? Did they really substitute Snapple Facts with a QR code? Call me old-fashioned, but I’m weary of the QR-code takeover (especially in eateries). I still miss the days when you could remember a URL before you even opened the browser.
Ultimately, the fear was unfounded. The cap directs to a QR code on the bottle’s side, linking to a New York City summer experience giveaway that Snapple is running in tandem with this flavor. The bottle I tested included Snapple Fact #110: Frogs never drink.
