Have you ever found yourself craving a sip of a soda that vanished from store shelves years ago? You’re not alone! Many of us fondly remember unique flavors that fizzled out too soon. Let’s pop open the vault and revisit these discontinued sodas we’d do anything to taste again.
Orbitz
This drink contained floating fruit-flavored spheres inside that made it look like a science experiment. The gellan gum kept the edible beads suspended and created a mesmerizing effect. Despite the eye-catching design, Orbitz’s thick, gelatinous texture wasn’t for everyone. It was released in 1996 and gone within a couple of years.
Josta
Guarana-powered fizz with a jaguar mascot—this PepsiCo creation was a bold move in the 1990s. It was marketed as an energy-packed alternative to typical refreshments and delivered a slightly spicy, fruity taste. The drink was launched in 1995 and discontinued in 1999, though it still has a cult following of sorts.
Surge
Neon-green, citrus-infused, and packed with energy, this extreme-sports-fueled powerhouse crashed into the market in 1996. Surge became a staple of late-1990s gaming sessions as it was aimed at adrenaline junkies. However, its sales plummeted by 2003, and it disappeared soon after.
OK Soda
Marketing chaos, moody aesthetics, and a mysterious, noncommittal taste turned this soda into one of Coca-Cola’s strangest creations. OK Soda was designed for the irony-loving Gen X crowd and launched in 1993 with cryptic ads and an existential hotline. Its vaguely cola-like flavor failed to gain traction, and by 1995, it disappeared.
Planters Soda
Carbonated peanuts? This bold yet baffling experiment from the early 1990s paired the salty nuttiness of Planters with a fizzy twist. The concept didn’t resonate, and Planters Soda quickly faded into obscurity. While some experimental flavors find second lives through longing, this one is a good reminder that not every snack brand should venture into beverages.
Snapple Elements
Earth, Rain, Fire, Sun—this late-1990s collection offered nature-inspired flavors in frosted glass bottles. It was infused with juices and herbal extracts that made it feel ahead of its time. Despite its unique appeal, the collection disappeared by the early 2000s and left fans longing for another sip of their favorite elemental-themed refreshment. And though some varieties made a brief comeback, not all of them survived.
Nestle Chocolate Cherry Capri Sun
Juice pouches took a surprising turn when this chocolate-cherry fusion hit the shelves. It combined rich cocoa notes with tart fruitiness for a dessert-like experience. The unconventional blend wasn’t for everyone, but there are those who loved it and still reminisce about it.
Fresca Black Cherry
Tart, refreshing, and sugar-free, this fruity version of Fresca was an interesting twist on the original. Its unique balance of sweetness and tanginess made it standout. Despite its strong fan base, Black Cherry disappeared from store shelves and frustrated fans who wondered why some of the best flavors seem to vanish without warning.
Mello Yello Toasted Coconut
This experimental Mello Yello variation from the late 1990s combined tropical and toasted with citrus with a smooth coconut essence; it was unlike anything else on the market. Having said that, the unexpected pairing proved too niche for mainstream success, and it faded into obscurity.
Barq’s Red Creme Soda
This lesser-known Barq’s soda had a devoted following. Unlike its root beer counterpart, Red Creme Soda never gained widespread distribution and subsequently turned into a hidden gem restricted to certain regions. Its scarcity is heartbreaking for fans who wanted it to become a national sensation like other creme-based refreshments.
Dr Pepper Vanilla Float
This limited-time release soda was an instant hit due to its old-fashioned soda shop vibes. By mixing Dr Pepper’s signature 23 flavors with a creamy vanilla swirl, the drink was kind of like a built-in float. While Dr Pepper keeps experimenting with flavors, this one remains a top request for a comeback.
Sunkist Orange Strawberry
Citrusy zing and berry sweetness gave this refreshing fusion a fruity explosion. Sunkist created this masterpiece by fusing two summer staples into one carbonated delight. It didn’t stick around and disappeared from stores with little explanation.
7 Up Plus Cherry
This cherry-infused twist on a classic aimed for a healthier angle. The light sweetness made it an easy favorite, but the entire 7 Up Plus line quietly faded. Unlike its more famous counterparts, this variation didn’t last; maybe, even a great-tasting refreshment needs more than a health boost to survive.
Pepsi Blue
This eye-catching cola arrived in 2002 in an attempt to target a younger, trend-loving audience. Its sweet, candy-like flavor had fans and critics divided and led to its U.S. disappearance in 2004. International markets kept it alive longer, and in 2021, a limited re-release gave American fans a nostalgic sip of this unforgettable, brightly colored blast from the past.
Crystal Pepsi
Having been marketed as “pure,” this transparent version of cola was a 1990s experiment that intrigued and confused consumers. It was initially a success in 1992, but Crystal Pepsi quickly lost momentum and went missing by 1994.
Coca-Cola Blak
This bold 2006 creation combined coffee and cola to target an upscale, mature audience. The roasted essence blended surprisingly well with Coca-Cola’s signature taste, but the market wasn’t ready. By 2008, Coca-Cola Blak disappeared. Years later, Coke introduced other coffee-infused varieties.
New Coke
Messing with a beloved classic is risky, and Coca-Cola’s 1985 formula change sparked nationwide outrage. It was sweeter and closer to Pepsi in taste and the backlash was so intense that Coca-Cola Classic returned within months. The failed experiment remains one of the most infamous moments in marketing history.
Clearly Canadian Black Cherry
This pure, crisp, and dark cherry flavored sparkling was a staple of 1990s pantries. The brand disappeared in the early 2000s and left fans devastated. A crowdfunding campaign revived Clearly Canadian in 2013, but not all flavors returned. Black Cherry remains one of the hardest to find, so naturally, it’s also an elusive favorite for collectors.
Hubba Bubba Soda
Hubba Bubba Soda was precisely what it sounded like—a liquid version of the iconic bubblegum, complete with an over-the-top pink coloring and a sugar rush to match. It was released in the late 1980s and delivered a carbonated blast of bubblegum flavor that somehow made drinking gum seem like a good idea. While the novelty was undeniable, the intensely sweet taste wasn’t for everyone. By the early 1990s, it had fizzled out, leaving only memories of its bizarre, bubbly existence.
Sprite Remix
Sprite Remix took the classic lemon-lime soda and cranked up the flavor with bold tropical twists. After it was released in 2003, this caffeine-free soda came in varieties like Tropical, Berryclear, and Aruba Jam, each packed with a candy-like fruit punch that made regular Sprite seem tame. The drink’s crisp, colorful flavors made it a favorite, but despite a loyal following, it disappeared by 2005. Though it made brief comebacks afterward, nothing quite matched the original’s nostalgic early 2000s vibe.