what is dream flavored coke?

On Wednesday, Coca-Cola announced its new soft drink, Coca-Cola Dreamworld, a soda meant to capture "technicolor tastes and surrealism of the subconscious" by inviting drinkers to "dream with open eyes," the beverage giant said.

"This dream-inspired product brings to life the playfulness and brightness of dreams — with each sip, the line between fantasy and reality blurs and fans will be able to unlock new tastes, emotions, and adventures," a Coca-Cola spokesperson told NBC News.

Dreamworld arrives as the fourth and final addition to the Coca-Cola Creations roster this year, a series of limited-edition flavors that the company has been releasing since February, with the debut of Coca-Cola Starlight. Since then, the company has released Coca-Cola Byte and Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola, the company's first drink created in collaboration with an artist.

Since Dreamworld’s flavor is based on a concept as opposed to a food, it is unclear from the labeling what the soda actually tastes like. And, it seems, that’s exactly what Coca-Cola intends.

The soda is marketed toward "Gen Z’s passion for the infinite potential of the mind," Alessandra Cascino, the creative and shopper program director at the Coca-Cola North America Operating Unit, said in the press release.

“Like the Coca-Cola Creations that came before it, Dreamworld plays with the unexpected and will no doubt provoke discovery and debate among consumers … which we welcome,” Cascino continued.

But Dreamworld's abstract flavor profile is not unprecedented in the Creations lineup. Though the flavor of the Marshmello co-created Coke beverage was described as a mix of strawberry and watermelon (both of which are flavors that are very real), Starlight's flavor was marketed as a taste of outer space, and Byte's flavor was reportedly gaming-inspired and described as "the first-ever Coca-Cola flavor born in the metaverse."

However, despite the conceptual descriptions for these sodas, many have attempted to pinpoint their exact flavors in terms of more traditional tastes. A writer for the Food Network said Starlight tasted like “minty cotton candy sprinkled with vanilla," and a BuzzFeed writer described Byte as "a bit like a Cherry Coke but much lighter."

CNET writer Katie Teague received a can of Dreamworld, and she wrote: "It had a fruity candy smell — like Skittles mixed with Coca-Cola — but it definitely didn’t taste the same way. I immediately got a citrus flavor from this soda, but I thought the overall flavor was similar to Marshmello’s limited-edition Coke."

The Creations series is also known for its multimedia elements. For example, Starlight's release came with an augmented reality concert from Ava Max, and Byte's release was accompanied by a series of multiplayer mini games developed in Fortnite Creative. Similarly, Dreamworld is accompanied by an augmented reality music experience in partnership with Tomorrowland, as well as "an exclusive Dreamworld-inspired digital fashion collection for the metaverse."

Devin Peterson, a professor of food science and technology at the Ohio State University, said given that the scientific community has continued to discover connections between aroma and emotion, more flavors intended to elicit emotional reactions could be expected to emerge in the food industry.

"I think that in general, more authentic, more natural, more realistic flavors are certainly part of what I see as the future," Peterson said. "But, I think what I would also say is more creativity, or more diversity, in experiences is certainly part of what I think the consumer seeks. And in that regard, I see this being part of the trend."

Dreams may not be the first thing on your mind when you indulge in a refreshing soda, but Coca-Cola has created a new Coke called Dreamworld anyway. It's hoping fans will want to experience the taste of dreams -- similar to how the soft drink company's Coke Byte tried to replicate the taste of "pixels" and Coke Starlight sought to remind drinkers of "space." Ready to give it a try? Coke Dreamworld's ineffable flavor can now be bought in stores.

Coke launched Coca-Cola Creations in February as a platform for a series of limited-edition flavors featuring "unique innovations and unexpected collaborations." Coca-Cola said that Coke Dreamworld "bottles up the technicolor tastes and surrealism of the subconscious." Dreamworld will be the fourth and last Coca-Cola Creations flavor released in 2022.

As with the other Coca-Cola Creations flavors, I decided to try this new version of Coke to see what dreams taste like. Learn all about Coke Dreamworld, including how it tastes and when you can try it yourself. For more, see what Coca-Cola's Marshmello Coke tastes like.

Coca-Cola said its new Dreamworld Coke tastes like dreams, so I put it to the test. I received a small aqua-colored can, which immediately made me think of cotton candy. Don't worry, that's not what this Coke tastes like.

It arrived warm, so I poured it over ice -- the soda is the same color as a regular Coke. It had a fruity candy smell -- like Skittles mixed with Coca-Cola -- but it definitely didn't taste the same way. I immediately got a citrus flavor from this soda, but I thought the overall flavor was similar to Marshmello's limited-edition Coke.

As with the previous Coca-Cola releases, I could taste the aspartame because I received the Zero Sugar version of Dreamworld. I'm curious to know how the regular version tastes and if the fruity, citrusy flavor is more noticeable.

So far, Coke Byte is still my favorite from the Coca-Cola Creations line.

As of Monday, Aug. 15, you should be able to find Coca-Cola Dreamworld in the US. There will be both regular and zero-sugar options available and will be sold by the bottle -- like Coca-Cola Starlight -- as well as in cans.

You should be able to find Coke Dreamworld in grocery stores and gas stations near you. With Starlight, I was able to find an end cap that hosted multiple bottles of the Coke flavor.

If you don't immediately see it, find out when the store gets new inventory or ask an employee when the new Coke will arrive.

Coca-Cola didn't say how long this new flavor would be available.

In collaboration with electronic dance music festival brand Tomorrowland, you can experience augmented reality music. To try it out, scan the QR code on your can or bottle to be taken to the digital hub.

Once you're there, you'll be transported into a full 3D virtual AR music experience where you'll see an avatar DJ spinning tracks. The QR code also unlocks games and other Easter eggs.