Lilt

For the University of Hawaii department, see Laboratory for Interactive Learning Technologies. For the song form, see Lilting.

Lilt was a brand of soft drink manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company and sold only in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Gibraltar.

Lilt

Type	Soft drink
Manufacturer	The Coca-Cola Company
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Introduced	1974
Discontinued	2023 (rebranded as Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit)
Ingredients	Carbonated water Pineapple and grapefruit fruit juices from concentrate Citric acid Sodium citrate Aspartame Acesulfame K Saccharin
Website	coca-cola.co.uk/brands/lilt (Great Britain) coca-cola.ie/brands/lilt (Ireland)

History

From the 1970s until its dissolution in 2023, Lilt was promoted with the advertising slogan "totally tropical taste."

This famous catchphrase was created by Ken Howlett, who entered a magazine competition and won second prize receiving a ghetto blaster. First prize was a trip to the Caribbean.^{[citation needed]}

Between 2008 and 2014, The Coca-Cola Company reduced the number of calories in the drink by 56% as part of its efforts to make healthier products in response to the British Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal.^[1] The amount of sugar was also reduced alongside the addition of artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K and saccharin).

One advertisement in the late 1980s featured the "Lilt Man", a parody of a milkman, delivering Lilt in a "Lilt float", with a song bearing the lyrics "Here comes the Lilt Man." In the late 1990s, it was heavily promoted with advertisements featuring two Jamaican women, Blanche Williams and Hazel Palmer, with one advert parodying a Levi's advert. They became known in the media as the "Lilt Ladies".^[2]

In February 2023, it was announced that the Lilt brand would be discontinued, with the drink being fully absorbed into the Fanta brand as 'Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit' in all markets.^[3][4] The rebranded drink became available from 14 February.^[5]

Contrary to claims made by various news outlets, Lilt has never been sold in the Seychelles.^[6][7]

Products

Name	Year launched	Notes
Lilt Pineapple and Grapefruit	1974	Original flavour. Became Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit in 2023.
Lilt Zero Pineapple and Grapefruit	1987	Sugar-free version of the original Lilt. Previously known as "Diet Lilt" (1987–2000s), "Lilt Light" (2000s–2005) and "Lilt Z" (2005–2006). Became Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit Zero Sugar in 2023.
Lilt Mango and Mandarin	1996	Mango and Mandarin flavoured variety. Discontinued in the early 2000s.
Lilt Banana and Peach	2003[8]	Banana and Peach flavoured variety. Discontinued in the mid-2000s.
Lilt Mango Flavour	2011[9]	Mango flavoured variety. Was exclusively sold in cans at most newsagents and independent convenience stores. Discontinued in 2015.