Pepsi Challenge

The challenge originally took the form of a single blind taste test. At malls, shopping centers, and other public locations, a Pepsi representative would set up a table with two white cups, one containing Pepsi and one containing Coca-Cola. Shoppers were encouraged to taste both colas and select which they preferred. The representative then revealed which soda the taster selected, Coke or Pepsi. The results of the test leaned toward a consensus that Pepsi was preferred by more Americans, which led people to claim that Pepsi was better than Coke. The Pepsi Challenge has been featured in much of Pepsi's TV advertising. The challenge launched in 1975, as part of the ongoing Cola wars between Pepsi and The Coca-Cola Company. In his book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (2005), Canadian author Malcolm Gladwell presents evidence that suggests Pepsi's success over Coca-Cola in the "Pepsi Challenge" is a result of the flawed nature of the "sip test" method. His research shows that tasters will generally prefer the sweeter of two beverages based on a single sip, even if they prefer a less sweet beverage over the course of an entire can.