The company would not say how much money it committed to the development of Crystal Pepsi or to promoting the new soda.

It did say 90 people worked for 15 months, trying 3,000 versions before selecting the one that is bottled as Crystal Pepsi.

By the end of the year, it will decide whether to introduce Crystal Pepsi nationwide.

"Crystal Pepsi is aimed directly at Clearly Canadian and its ilk."

What do two experts make of Crystal Pepsi, the new clear cola?

Crystal Pepsi did not fare much better once the tasting commenced.

Crystal Pepsi, introduced nationally last week following test-marketing since April, is available in both regular and diet formulations.

Crystal Pepsi: Discontinued; clear version of cola; introduced in 1992 and sold until 1993.

For example, focus groups in the early 1990s said they liked Crystal Pepsi, a clear drink that tasted like cola.

Crystal Pepsi was sold for a longer time in Europe.