Citrus is the most favoured taste among consumers of carbonated drinks in Oman, prompting none other than Coca-Cola to launch their own new citrus drink – Quwat Jabal – with a local flavour.

"Two years of research and tasting have gone into the new product," said David Helou, general manager of Al Ahli Gulf Line, Coco Cola's bottling partner for Oman and the UAE.

He added that the drink was first launched in Oman because of the sheer size of the market here and will be introduced to other areas in the region.

Oman has the biggest citrus segment in the entire region with a 40 per cent share, Helou said.

We have started marketing the product already and the response has been terrific, he said.

"We hope to capture 20 per cent share out of the 40 per cent market for similar drinks in the country."