The wait is over, sort of. Just in time for Dry January, Poppi’s Shirley Temple is already hitting shelves at Target and Sprouts, popping up across social feeds, and landing in influencers’ hands.
But as fans scramble to find cans at Target and Sprouts, a bigger question looms: Can a prebiotic soda truly replicate the world’s most famous mocktail?
Based on early reaction, this one feels different.
People Didn’t React, They Responded
Poppi launches new flavors fairly often, but the response to Shirley Temple has been unusually intense. Scroll through the brand’s announcement post and you’ll see less polite curiosity and more emotional urgency:
- “Not a want but a NEED”
- “She is the moment”
- “Best flavor yet”
- “I NEED HER IN MY SYSTEM”
This isn’t how people usually talk about functional drinks. Instead of debating gut health or sugar content, commenters are reacting to a memory, and that’s the first clue as to why this flavor is cutting through.
Shirley Temple Isn’t a Flavor, It’s a Shared Memory
For many people, Shirley Temple wasn’t just a drink. It was the drink.
Weddings. Bar mitzvahs. Ordering something “special” while the adults had cocktails. That shared memory shows up repeatedly in the comment sections, often summed up in one line:
“Who didn’t grow up on Shirley Temples?”
Poppi didn’t need to explain what this flavor was supposed to be, people already knew. The real test was whether the soda could live up to that expectation.
That’s where TikTok creator Melinda Strauss comes in. After picking it up at Target, she approached the drink as a self-described Shirley Temple connoisseur, and her verdict was immediate:
“I bought five… and I will be drinking all five.”
Why it worked:
- The scent was instantly recognizable
- The flavor stayed cherry-forward, not medicinal
- Nothing “healthy” distracted from the nostalgia
She briefly compares it to Cherry Coke, but lands on what matters most: it actually tastes like a Shirley Temple. That bridge between memory and reality explains why the excitement didn’t stop after the first sip.
Why This Hype May Actually Last
Looking across Instagram and TikTok, a few patterns suggest this isn’t just a one-month spike.
Nostalgia beats novelty.
People aren’t reacting to “a new flavor”, they’re reacting to recognition. When scent and taste trigger memory, repeat purchases follow.
Kid approval expands the audience.
Parents mention their kids “freaking out” over it without being prompted, turning a curiosity buy into a household staple.
Scarcity is amplifying demand.
Questions like “when is this coming to Canada?” or “where can I find it?” don’t slow momentum, they intensify it.
Pushback stays theoretical.
Debates about cherry versus pomegranate exist, but they don’t translate into “this tastes bad,” which is what actually kills a launch.
Together, that’s a sturdier foundation than influencer hype alone.
How It Compares to the Original
| Feature | Traditional Shirley Temple | Poppi Shirley Temple |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~150–260 kcal | 30 kcal |
| Total Sugar | ~35–50g | 5g |
| Added Sugar | High | 3g |
| Functional Element | None | 3g prebiotic fiber |
| Overall Vibe | Sugar rush → crash | Dry January–friendly |
Where to Find It Right Now
- Target: Live on Target.com and appearing in select stores (often in “New Arrivals” endcaps)
- Sprouts: Rolling out
- Online: Direct-to-consumer orders available, with potential Dry January shipping delays
Availability varies, a hallmark of early retail rollout phases.
Final Take
This isn’t a drink people are forcing themselves to like.
Poppi’s Shirley Temple hits because it tastes familiar, feels fun, and doesn’t come with a lecture. Fans are already treating it like a go-to, not a one-off, which is usually the sign that something’s sticking.
If you’re a Shirley Temple person, you’ll probably get it immediately. And if this keeps rolling out, it may end up being one of those flavors people associate with an entire year.
For more on what people are actually drinking right now, visit our Beverages hub.
