If you're a frequent Panera Bread customer, you may soon see new drink options on the menu, but only in some cities.
The restaurant chain announced on Oct. 15 it is testing two new "premium specialty" beverage categories in select restaurants in three markets – Nashville, Mobile/Pensacola, and Baltimore.
The drinks, called Frescas and Energy Refreshers, will be made by Panera baristas and will feature an "infusion of real fruit for a premium beverage experience full of refreshing flavor," according to a news release. The 12-week test will run from Oct. 15 through Jan. 6 in approximately 65 Panera locations.
While the Frescas will be a caffeine-free beverage option, the Energy Refreshers will contain caffeine, Panera said in the news release.
Each beverage will have two flavor options, including:
- Cherry Lime Fresca: A delightful blend of cherry and lime flavors, infused with real dried tart cherries.
- Pomegranate Hibiscus Fresca: A refreshing, naturally-flavored non-caffeinated herbal tea with pomegranate juice, infused with real dragonfruit.
- Dragonfruit Sunset Energy Refresher: A refreshing, caffeinated blend of pineapple and tropical dragonfruit flavors, infused with real dragonfruit. These contain roughly 28 milligrams of caffeine in a 20 fl. oz. cup with ice, and 42 milligrams of caffeine in a 30 fl. oz. cup with ice.
- Passionfruit Paradise Energy Refresher: A fruity, caffeinated blend of passionfruit, guava and orange flavors, infused with fresh pineapple. These contain roughly 28 milligrams of caffeine in a 20 fl. oz. cup with ice, and 44 milligrams of caffeine in a 30 fl. oz. cup with ice.
“The beverage landscape is expanding fast and now more than ever guests are seeking flavorful, refreshing, and innovative beverage options as a reason to come into our bakery-cafes,” said Brooke Buchanan, chief corporate affairs officer at Panera Bread, in the news release.
The Frescas and Energy Refreshers are available for dine-in, delivery, Rapid Pick-Up, or drive-thru at participating test locations, Panera said.
New beverages come on the heels of Charged Lemonade lawsuits
In May 2024, Panera removed its line of Charged Lemonade drinks from its menu after being hit with several lawsuits.
The chain introduced the line of highly caffeinated beverages in 2022. Two lawsuits, filed in October and December 2023, alleged the drink's caffeine contents caused fatal cardiac arrests. A third lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleged the drink caused permanent heart issues.
After the initial lawsuit, Panera changed the labels on the Charged Lemonade products, saying in a statement the company had "enhanced our existing caffeine disclosure for these beverages" out of "an abundance of caution."
In January 2024, Panera removed the drinks from self-serve fountains.
The drinks were previously reported as having 260 milligrams of caffeine in a regular size drink and as much as 390 milligrams in a large drink.
The Food and Drug Administration says most adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, about equal to 4-5 cups of brewed coffee.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panera testing new caffeinated beverages after Charged Lemonade controversy
Reporting by Gabe Hauari and Mike Snider, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect