By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-19 19:29:12 | Updated at 2026-06-20 13:03:12
17 hours ago
There's a new drink dominating store shelves, fast-food menus and social media feeds this summer, and it's been around for more than 1,000 years.
Lemonade is having a major moment in the summer of 2026.
From trendy prebiotic sodas and non-alcoholic beers to energy drinks and drive-thru refreshers, brands are racing to put their own spin on the classic summer beverage as consumers increasingly reach for flavors that feel both nostalgic and familiar.
The latest company to jump on the trend is Poppi, the fast-growing soda brand valued at nearly $2 billion, which this week launched its first-ever canned lemonade.
'Citrus is having a moment,' said Kristina MacIntosh, Poppi's senior vice president of marketing. 'It's a timeless flavor that so many know and love.'
The launch comes after months of beverage companies chasing another nostalgia-driven craze: Shirley Temple-flavored drinks.
But as temperatures rise, lemonade appears to be emerging as summer's defining flavor. And it's not just soda companies getting in on the action.
Earlier this month, non-alcoholic beer brand Bero, co-founded by actor Tom Holland, launched a line of lemonade shandies made with 70 percent lemonade and 30 percent alcohol-free beer.
The latest company to jump on the trend is Poppi, the fast-growing soda brand valued at nearly $2 billion, which this week launched its first-ever canned lemonade. Pictured, model Elsa Hosk attends the Poppi's 2023 beach bash in Montauk
The company said the launch generated some of its strongest direct-to-consumer sales since it was founded.
Meanwhile, coffee giant Starbucks recently unveiled several new lemonade drinks, including mango dragonfruit lemonade, strawberry mango lemonade and a blended matcha lemonade.
Fast-food chains are also betting big on citrus.
McDonald's added blackberry, passionfruit and boba-infused lemonade refreshers earlier this year, while Wendy's expanded its lineup with watermelon, strawberry and pineapple mango lemonade flavors.
Even the energy drink aisle isn't immune.
Nutrabolt recently introduced a limited-edition pink lemonade flavor for its C4 Performance Energy brand, describing it as a drink 'designed to capture the flavor of summer.'
The surge in lemonade launches highlights a broader trend across the food and beverage industry, where brands are increasingly reviving familiar flavors to attract shoppers.
For many consumers, lemonade is closely tied to summer, whether that's childhood lemonade stands, backyard barbecues or long school holidays.
Earlier this month, non-alcoholic beer brand Bero, co-founded by actor Tom Holland, launched a line of lemonade shandies made with 70 percent lemonade and 30 percent alcohol-free beer
'Citrus is having a moment,' said Kristina MacIntosh, Poppi's senior vice president of marketing. 'It's a timeless flavor that so many know and love'
That built-in familiarity makes it an attractive option for companies looking to launch seasonal products without taking a major risk on an unfamiliar flavor.
At the same time, brands are updating the classic drink for modern tastes.
Lemonade is now appearing in everything from prebiotic sodas and energy drinks to alcohol-free beers and fast-food refreshers, helping companies tap into consumer demand for both nostalgia and novelty.
The drink's enduring popularity is nothing new.
Historians trace lemonade-like beverages back to 10th-century Cairo, while street vendors in Paris were selling lemonade centuries later as it spread across Europe.
More than 1,000 years on, the recipe remains remarkably simple. What has changed is the way companies market it.
This summer, lemonade is showing up in limited-edition releases, social-media-friendly beverages and premium drink ranges as brands compete for a share of consumers' seasonal spending.
Whether it's a canned soda, a fruit-infused refresher or a ready-to-drink cocktail, companies are betting that one of the world's oldest beverages still has plenty of appeal.
