Coke Jumps on a Nostalgic Trend with New Coca-Cola Orange Cream Flavor

Bottles of Coac Cola chill in a refrigerated case in Coors Field before fans arrive to watch the Seattle Mariners face the Colorado Rockies, April 19, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Bottles of Coac Cola chill in a refrigerated case in Coors Field before fans arrive to watch the Seattle Mariners face the Colorado Rockies, April 19, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
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Coke Jumps on a Nostalgic Trend with New Coca-Cola Orange Cream Flavor

Bottles of Coac Cola chill in a refrigerated case in Coors Field before fans arrive to watch the Seattle Mariners face the Colorado Rockies, April 19, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Bottles of Coac Cola chill in a refrigerated case in Coors Field before fans arrive to watch the Seattle Mariners face the Colorado Rockies, April 19, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

A year after the launch of the short-lived Coca-Cola Spiced, Coke is adding another new flavor to its lineup.
Coca-Cola Orange Cream is scheduled to go on sale Feb. 10 in the US and Canada. It will be sold in regular and zero sugar varieties.
Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. said Monday that it developed the soda, which mixes cola with orange and vanilla flavors, in response to growing consumer demand for the comforting, nostalgic flavor.
Orange cream — first introduced with the Creamsicle ice cream bar in 1937 – has enjoyed a recent renaissance. Olipop, a probiotic soda, introduced an orange cream flavor in 2021. Carvel reintroduced its Orange Dreamy Creamy ice cream last year for the first time since 1972. Wendy’s also debuted an Orange Dreamsicle Frosty last spring, according to The AP.
Coca-Cola has been experimenting with new flavors to help keep customers engaged with its signature product. In 2022, it launched Coca-Cola Creations, a series of limited-edition Coke flavors in colorful cans and bottles. Coke added hints of coconut, strawberry and even Oreos to the drinks.
The company introduced raspberry-flavored Coca-Cola Spiced last February, saying the offering would be a permanent addition to its lineup. But the company abruptly pulled Coca-Cola Spiced off the market in September, saying it would be replaced with a new flavor this year.
Coke said Coca-Cola Orange Cream won’t be a permanent flavor but would remain on sale at least through the first quarter of 2026.
In an interview last year, Coca-Cola’s North American marketing chief, Shakir Moin, said it used to take the company at least a year to develop a new product. But it's trying to move more quickly.
“Consumers are moving faster. The market is moving forward faster. We’ve got to be faster than the speed of the market,” he said.



Al-Qatif Street Food Festival Celebrates Saudi Culinary Arts

The event features six pavilions that allow visitors to explore a wide variety of foods and beverages made from local ingredients, reflecting the Kingdom’s diverse environments and regional flavors - SPA
The event features six pavilions that allow visitors to explore a wide variety of foods and beverages made from local ingredients, reflecting the Kingdom’s diverse environments and regional flavors - SPA
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Al-Qatif Street Food Festival Celebrates Saudi Culinary Arts

The event features six pavilions that allow visitors to explore a wide variety of foods and beverages made from local ingredients, reflecting the Kingdom’s diverse environments and regional flavors - SPA
The event features six pavilions that allow visitors to explore a wide variety of foods and beverages made from local ingredients, reflecting the Kingdom’s diverse environments and regional flavors - SPA

The Culinary Arts Commission launched Al-Qatif Street Food Festival, which runs until December 30, 2025, offering visitors a rich cultural experience that highlights Saudi culinary arts in a setting that reflects the authenticity and diversity of the Kingdom’s national cuisine, while reinforcing the presence of heritage within the contemporary cultural landscape.

The festival showcases Saudi food culture as a vital component of national identity through live cooking stations where traditional dishes are prepared and presented by culinary experts, SPA reported.

The event features six pavilions that allow visitors to explore a wide variety of foods and beverages made from local ingredients, reflecting the Kingdom’s diverse environments and regional flavors.

In addition to the culinary offerings, the festival presents a range of accompanying cultural experiences designed to enrich the visitor journey and encourage engagement with food as both an artistic and knowledge-based experience.

These include a dedicated children’s pavilion, interactive tasting spaces for dishes, and innovative beverage experiences inspired by Saudi agricultural products.


Want to Read More in 2026? Here's How to Revive Your Love of Books

A woman reads a book in the afternoon sun on a bench outside South Station in Boston, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
A woman reads a book in the afternoon sun on a bench outside South Station in Boston, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
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Want to Read More in 2026? Here's How to Revive Your Love of Books

A woman reads a book in the afternoon sun on a bench outside South Station in Boston, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
A woman reads a book in the afternoon sun on a bench outside South Station in Boston, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

People stop reading in adulthood for lots of reasons. But it’s never too late to turn the page on old habits and start again.

Curling up with a good book can reduce stress, increase creativity and boost empathy. A recent analysis of US government data found that the percentage of Americans who read for pleasure during an average day has fallen to 16% in 2023 from 28% in 2004. That includes not just books but audiobooks, e-books and periodicals like magazines, The AP news reported.

Some people say they're fatigued from years of assigned reading in school. Others don't have the time or would rather zone out by doom-scrolling on social media. And many just got out of the habit.

“It’s difficult for people who are really tired and busy to think about getting into reading if it’s not something they’re used to,” said Jacqueline Rammer, director of Menomonee Falls Public Library in Wisconsin.

For those looking to set reading goals or resolutions in 2026, here's how to get back into the habit.

Choose the right book When picking your next book, avoid dense nonfiction or a 500-page doorstop.

“Your first book should be something that you think will be joyful,” said Jocelyn Luizzi, a software engineer from Chicago who blogs about books.

Everyone's taste is different, so get recommendations from a variety of places including friends, booksellers and online communities like BookTok.

Rammer and her staff ask library visitors: What was the last book, TV show or movie that you really enjoyed? Then, they look for similar genres or themes.

Many libraries offer access to a service called NoveList which suggests “read-alikes” for various books and authors.

Set a reading routine To create a habit that sticks, “start by scheduling reading into your day,” said Gloria Mark, an attention span expert with the University of California, Irvine. Read five pages during a lunch break or right before bed.

If you're reading a physical book, Mark said to avoid distractions by keeping phones and laptops out of sight.

But experimenting with other formats can make reading more convenient. E-books are portable and audiobooks are a good candidate to accompany chores or the morning commute. You can likely access both for free by downloading an app called Libby and signing in with a library card.

Try to read in a quiet setting, but don't be afraid to make it a social activity. Many cities in the US and around the world host silent book clubs where people read their own books together in coffee shops and libraries.

Setting a reading goal for the year or joining a local library's winter reading challenge can help with motivation — but if it feels like added pressure, don't do it.

Shannon Whitehead Smith, a book blogger from the Atlanta area who also works in marketing, says scrolling through lists of other people's reads on social media and trackers like StoryGraph encourages her to keep the habit.

“Seeing all these other people reading motivates me to put my phone down and pick up this book that’s sitting beside me,” she said.

Feel free to skip a read if a book feels particularly sluggish, it's OK to put it down and start another. Reading “shouldn't feel like a burden,” said Jess Bone with University College London, who analyzed the survey data about American adults reading for pleasure.

Routine readers say the habit helps them stay curious and release the stress of the day. Rammer, the library director, reads mysteries rife with twists and turns, and romances that cycle through roller coasters of emotions.

Most of all, she likes books that end with a “happily ever after.”

“I think the guarantee of knowing that things are going to end up OK is really reassuring,” Rammer said.


Saudi Architecture and Design Commission Launches Graphic Design Association in Riyadh

The association aims to unify graphic design practitioners
The association aims to unify graphic design practitioners
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Saudi Architecture and Design Commission Launches Graphic Design Association in Riyadh

The association aims to unify graphic design practitioners
The association aims to unify graphic design practitioners

The Graphic Design Association has been launched in Riyadh under the patronage of the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission.

Sunday’s event, attended by officials and culture experts, marks a significant step in empowering graphic design talents.

The ceremony included a presentation outlining the association’s vision and operational plans for developing the graphic design sector. Key goals include supporting designers and enhancing their professional presence locally and internationally.

The association aims to unify graphic design practitioners, providing a framework that fosters skill development, stimulates innovation, and creates opportunities in the cultural sector.

Acting CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission Prince Nawaf bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf stressed that the association is vital for organizing the sector and improving professional practices, thereby enhancing its role in the cultural ecosystem.

The Graphic Design Association is one of the professional associations established under the Saudi Ministry of Culture, aimed at building an integrated system of organizations to empower practitioners across various cultural fields.