Ever had a soda so good that you still dream about it years later, only to find out it’s been discontinued? We’ve all been there. These 45 lost soda flavors had their moment in the spotlight before vanishing, leaving a trail of nostalgia in their fizzy wake. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the taste, charm, and ultimate fate of these iconic beverages.
Crystal Pepsi
Remember the clear cola that looked like water but tasted like Pepsi? Crystal Pepsi was a 1990s experiment that sparked curiosity but confused cola lovers!
Fans were initially drawn to its clean, crisp look and familiar flavor, but its confusing marketing and lack of differentiation from regular Pepsi led to poor sales.
Focusing too much on the novelty of its appearance rather than emphasizing its uniqueness compared to its other brands was certainly wrong! We’re not surprised it struggled to establish a foothold.
Surge
A citrusy soda that felt like Mountain Dew’s wilder, more rebellious cousin! Though the truth is… it’s Coca-Cola’s attempt to compete with Mountain Dew. So, they’re rivals instead of cousins!
Surge tasted like a citrus explosion in a bottle, an electrified blend of tangy orange and lemon-lime, with a bold, syrupy sweetness that felt like a sugar-powered punch to your taste buds.
We’ve heard that it had higher caffeine levels than most of its competitors. Maybe that’s the reason why it was called surge. You just can’t help it; energy surging all over your body!
OK Soda
A quirky, minimalist soda from Coca-Cola with a flavor as mysterious as its marketing. Take a look at that can, folks. It’s like one drop of it will bring you to an existential crisis!
Why do you think it is called OK? Is it because it’s just… OK, and that’s why it vanished into the soda void? The can’t surreal artwork and cryptic messages made the drink look fictional.
BUT IT’S REAL. Rumor has it that the closest you’ll get to its flavor profile is mixing flat Coke with a splash of orange soda and a whisper of herbal notes. H-Herbal? Really?
New Coke
Ah, New Coke. If there’s ever been a soda more polarizing in pop culture history, it’s this one. Infamous for being one of the biggest marketing missteps ever!
In the mid-’80s, Coca-Cola made a bold, some might say reckless, move to reformulate its classic soda—and the world has never let them forget it. Fans revolted, wanting to turn back to classic Coca-Cola!
Classic Coke had that bold bite; New Coke dialed it down with a gentler, almost vanilla-like sweetness. Some said it tasted eerily similar to Pepsi, so they didn’t like it. Don’t mess with the classic!
7UP Gold
Spicy, cinnamony, and a dramatic departure from the crisp, lemon-lime 7UP we all knew and loved. It’s literally a fiery twist of the classic 7UP we grew up with!
Fans said it tasted complex; it had a darker, richer hue, and its taste was a blend of spicy and fruity, almost like a mix of ginger ale and cola with a hint of cinnamon.
In 1988, it stood out in the soda section, trying to blend into the mainstream. Unlike regular 7UP, which is caffeine-free, 7UP Gold has caffeine. Yep, it was the rebellious sibling of the 7UP family!
Pepsi Blue
Do you remember Pepsi Blue? If you don’t, take a look at the picture. Does it remind you of the early 2000s? Pop-punk is blaring on every radio station, and everyone uses flip phones?
Then suddenly… Pepsi released a banger on a random day! A soda that was electric blue. Yeah, that’s Pepsi Blue! It had its cola undertone, but it was mostly berry-flavored!
The sweetness? Oh, it was intense. Some would say it’s too intense. Though it made the flavor unique, not everyone was ready for a soda that tasted like a candy aisle in a bottle.
Coke Blāk
Coffee lover and soda enthusiast at the same time? Then, you might want Coke Blāk to return to your nearest grocery stores! Gather here caffeine-fueled souls and say it with us, “Give us both!”
It’s the best of both worlds! A fizzy soda with a hint of coffee sophistication. We haven’t tasted it yet, but if it comes back, I’ll be on the line. First.
But what makes this flavor bold is Coca-Cola’s attempt to experiment and tap into the coffee market without abandoning its soda roots. Coke Blāk was Coca-Cola’s way of saying, “Hey, we can be trendy too.”
Slice
Honestly, the packaging looks like Sprite unless you stare at it for too long and notice that it wasn’t “Sprite” on the label but “Slice”! This was wildly popular in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Variants like Mandarin Orange Slice were fan favorites, but they lost ground to competitors like Sprite and Fanta. Today, we still hear those names thriving in the soda world!
However, no one does it like Slice and their promise of real fruit juice! Yep, before “natural ingredients” became a marketing buzzword, Slice was already doing it, and we missed it!
Dr Pepper Berries & Cream
Are you looking for a buddy who is experimental and not afraid to take risks? Well, go to the nearest convenience store and make sure to grab a Dr Pepper in the soda aisle!
Dr Pepper has always been eager to experiment with flavors for their loyal fans. In 2006, the brand decided to kick things up a notch by releasing a limited-time flavor: Dr Pepper Berries & Cream.
Fans loved the extra splash of sweet berries and the smooth creaminess of the soda that rounded everything out like a perfect dessert. Some are still mourning its early departure to this day!
Hubba Bubba Soda
We’re not baby-talking; this is a real thing! A bubblegum-flavored soda that hit shelves in the 1980s. Who do you think likes chewing gums? Kids! No wonder it is called “Hubba Bubba”!
You might think, “Is this just a liquid form of Hubba Bubba bubblegum?” Well, YES. The soda was unapologetically sweet, with that classic bubblegum flavor that felt nostalgic even while you were drinking it.
Some say it was a bit like drinking carbonated cotton candy but without the sticky fingers. While kids loved its sugary punch, adults found it a bit too much. So, it fizzled out pretty quickly.
Mountain Dew Pitch Black
Certified Halloween favorite! This grape-flavored Dew was dark and mysterious. Fans loved it because it felt like a cosmic adventure with every sip! The edgy touch of the can make it more appealing in 2004!
You’d take a sip, and it’d hit you with an electric grape punch, making you wonder why sodas are not this cool. It was not the “meh” grape you usually taste; it had its own personality!
But like all great things, it wasn’t meant to last. Pitch Black’s story is a rollercoaster of comebacks and heartbreaks. By 2019, it quietly faded into the soda graveyard, leaving diehard Dew lovers sighing.
Tab
One of the original diet sodas from Coca-Cola! If you grew up in the ’70s or ’80s, you probably remember this hot pink can with its bold retro logo.
Tab had this distinct taste that could best be described as “a diet soda before diet soda really got good.” It was sweet but not sugar-laden like Coca-Cola or Pepsi.
We’ve learned it leaned heavily on saccharin, an artificial sweetener that gave it a slightly bitter aftertaste. So, if you don’t fancy sweet beverages and are looking for balance, you would’ve picked Tab at the store!
Josta
Maybe you’ve only heard of Josta in the whispers of nostalgia from ’90s soda lovers, but this is no mythology, folks! Josta had its era of solving our thirst problems.
This guarana-based energy soda was ahead of its time! It was a pioneer in the energy drink space. If you don’t know guaraná, it’s a tropical berry known for its caffeine content and slight bitterness.
At the time, energy drinks weren’t a thing yet, so Josta felt like the edgy kid in the soda aisle. If the taste didn’t hook you, the packaging might have.
Fresca Black Cherry Citrus
We know you like to dabble in topics such as discontinued flavors, so we are giving you more to discover. Meet Fresca Black Cherry Citrus!
Yeah, it perfectly balances the sweetness of black cherries with the zesty, tangy kick of citrus. Yet, it couldn’t compete with the original’s grapefruit charm.
Now, the Black Cherry Citrus variety is a rare gem lost to time. Maybe it wasn’t mainstream enough, or perhaps it didn’t sell as well as its more citrus-forward siblings. Whatever the reason, it quietly disappeared.
Citra
Once upon a fizzy time, Citra burst onto the soda scene, promising to quench your thirst and make your taste buds do the cha-cha while it gives you the citrus experience you truly deserve.
If you were lucky enough to sip Citra in its heyday, you’d know it can give you a citrus burst in your mouth! It’s like lemon, lime, and orange singing harmoniously while you drink it.
As much as people loved its bold citrus punch, Citra had a pretty short shelf life. Some speculate it couldn’t compete with other citrus sodas like Mountain Dew and Sprite. Would you agree?
Pepsi AM
For those who thought, “Why not drink soda for breakfast?” Pepsi AM was caffeinated and marketed as a morning alternative to coffee. Your coffee maker was broken? Switch to Pepsi AM!
The flavor? ‘Twas a bit sweeter and sharper than the classic, designed to hit your taste buds with the same punch that a morning espresso shot might. 28% higher caffeine content than the regular one!
It didn’t stick around long, though. Simply put, America wasn’t ready to trade its beloved morning coffee for cola. Don’t you think that pairing it with bread… doesn’t sound nice?
Dr Pepper Red Fusion
Dr Pepper Red Fusion was like the lovechild of classic Dr Pepper with a wild cherry twist. It debuted in 2002 but couldn’t match the success of its original counterpart. So, you know what happens.
Fans described it as a more vibrant, sweeter version of Dr Pepper. The color alone was enough to catch your eye, screaming drink me, even if you were loyal to the OG formula!
To those who haven’t tasted it, it’s become one of those rare soda legends that sparks curiosity and endless internet threads. Could it make a comeback someday? Would you dig it?
Orbitz
Back in the late ‘90s, the soda aisle got much weirder—and arguably cooler—with the launch of Orbitz. Quite an eccentric-looking drink, right? It’s like a soda version of orbeez.
I mean, look at those gelatinous balls that floated like something out of a science experiment! Kinda daring to drink if you’re not used to seeing sodas like this.
If you’re feeling nostalgic, you’ll have to settle for reminiscing because you can’t find Orbitz anywhere today. (Unless you’re into eBay listings for decades-old soda, which… please don’t drink that.)
RC Edge
No, it’s not only Coca-Cola or Pepsi that has attempted to experiment with caffeinated sodas. We’re talking about you and looking at you, Royal Crown Cola!
Royal Crown Cola decided to bridge the gap by creating RC Edge, a caffeinated cola that promised to give you a buzz without betraying your beloved soda upbringing.
RC Edge was ambitious, no doubt. It tried to be everything: a cola, an energy drink, and a lifestyle statement. Unfortunately, the early 2000s wasn’t quite ready for such a multi-tasking beverage.
Aspen
Aspen was an audacious retreat from the traditional cola-dominated market. We’re so obsessed with citrus and cola flavor combos, so they dared to introduce apple to the limelight!
In the ‘70s, PepsiCo promised Aspen that it would taste like biting into a fresh, juicy apple and that it would feel more sophisticated than the heavy, syrupy colas of the era. Sounds like a dream, right?
But the majority had spoken. It didn’t quite hit the mark with the mainstream soda crowd. Maybe it was too different, or maybe they weren’t just ready for apple-flavored sodas.
Coca-Cola C2
Wanting to join the 2000s low-carb craze so badly that Coca-Cola experimented with their C2 version. It was designed to offer the classic cola experience with half the carbs and calories!
Yep, you can say it’s an alternative to the regular Coke. If you don’t want to go on a full diet, then half of it will suffice. Pretty clever if you think about it.
People who loved regular Coke found it lacking, while diet soda fans weren’t ready to give up their zero-calorie champions. It tried to please everyone, and we know how that usually goes.
Faygo Arctic Sun
This one’s the champ among those who craved a balance between sweetness and zest. Though honestly, the white and blue packaging reminds us more of mouthwash than a soda!
With its “sour and bitter” grapefruit flavor and unexpectedly sweet twist like candied finish, some people used it as a mixer for their favorite cocktails (oh yes, it played well with vodka). Versatile drink!
Despite its popularity in the region, production ceased, leaving fans to lament its absence. But in 2017, its passionate fanbase has occasionally convinced Faygo to bring it back in limited releases.
Sprite Remix
Grab your flip-flops and head to the beach! This one will make you feel that you’re on a beach vacation! Or if you prefer indoor pool parties, it won’t fail you either!
Sprite Remix featured three tropical remixes in the early 2000s: Tropical, Berryclear, and Aruba Jam! Tropical is the OG flavor. You can taste hints of pineapple, strawberry, and orange with Sprite’s signature fizz. Taste of summer!
While Sprite Remix is long gone, fans have attempted to recreate its flavors with DIY soda hacks. (No, it’s not the same. You can’t replicate what was once great, yet we don’t mind a comeback!)
Cherry Coke Vanilla
You don’t always hear vanilla-flavored sodas, right? We often wonder how it was discovered. Did someone accidentally put vanilla on their Coke and decided, “Oh, that tastes great? We should make this official.”
So, now we have Cherry Coke Vanilla. The first sip hit you with that unmistakable Coca-Cola tang, but just as you were settling into the familiar, the cherry flavor popped through.
And then, just when you thought it was over (not yet!), the vanilla smoothed everything out, wrapping your taste buds in a creamy embrace. Popping open a can felt like treating yourself to something special!
Pepsi Holiday Spice
You think 7UP Gold was the only brave thing that happened in the soda industry when they incorporated a cinnamon twist in their drinks? Nah, Pepsi took the risk, too!
Introduced as a festive treat for the holiday season, Pepsi Holiday Spice captured the cozy essence of winter in a fizzy, flavorful sip! They added warm hints of ginger and cinnamon to their formula!
Some fans swore it tasted like drinking a Christmas candle (in the best way possible, apparently). Others said it reminded them of a liquid version of gingerbread. You either loved it or politely passed it!
Dr Pepper Vanilla Float
The packaging looks like a typical root beer for me, but this one’s a creamy, dreamy take on Dr Pepper that tasted just like an ice cream float.
Now, we can see Vanilla working so hard to be compatible with sodas! Instead of the usual Dr Pepper taste, vanilla swoops in like a smooth operator, wrapping your taste buds in creamy comfort!
Fans said it goes well with popcorn on a movie night, a quick pick-me-up during a midweek slump, or a cheeky alternative to coffee when you’re pretending to be “productive.” (We’ve all been there.)
Mello Yello Melon
The name itself triggers a certain sweetness on our tongue, even though most of us haven’t tasted this yet! Summer in a can, as some fans would’ve recalled it.
Mello Yello Melon is an oddball among the quirky contenders in this soda graveyard. It’s like someone bottled the essence of a backyard picnic on a sunny day. The sweetness wasn’t overpowering!
If you’re craving melons, but your grocery store ran out of them, then Mello Yello Melon would be a perfect alternative! Oh, imagine drinking it super cold? Ahh, refreshing!
Coca-Cola Starlight
I guess if you can’t go to space, then you can taste space! We recommend you drink it while sitting under a starry night sky. Sipping on it is a cosmic explosion!
Coca-Cola Starlight, uhm… was Coke’s artsy, experimental cousin—the one who listens to indie music and takes up astrology. “How am I supposed to understand that taste?” We know what you’re thinking. We’ll explain!
It tasted like Coke mixed with cotton candy, vanilla, and graham crackers. Oh, it has a faint cooling effect, too—kind of like when you pop a mint in your mouth!
Pepsi Ice Cucumber
Yes, cucumber-flavored Pepsi was a thing… but only in Japan. What if it reached the American consumers? We have two minds about whether it would be a hit or… it will also face its demise.
What was the goal, really? Is it to make the Japanese community feel like they’d just had a rejuvenating spa day… in carbonated form? A wild mix of sweet and vegetal flavors. Creative, huh?
Think of the sensation of chewing on a cucumber slice while sipping a glass of Sprite. Ah, is this a soda, a salad, or a spa treatment? It’s perfect if you’re craving for something unconventional.
Coca-Cola Lime
We don’t have to complicate things. It’s as simple as its name. Imagine you’re enjoying a glass of Coca-Cola on a sweltering summer day, and someone drops a fresh lime wedge into your cup!
Fans loved how the lime balanced the cola’s sweetness, giving it a slightly more sophisticated edge. It was bold enough to make you notice but subtle enough not to feel like a full-on citrus assault.
But do you think it’s something unnecessary to do? I mean, you can slice your own lime for that extra zing, right? Unless… you don’t want to deal with sticky citrus juice on your fingers.
Mountain Dew Typhoon
If Mountain Dew Flavors were a music festival, Typhoon would be that unforgettable headliner who appeared once and then ghosted everyone. (You probably don’t know where they are now.)
For starters, Typhoon wasn’t a shy drink. This was no subtle whisper of pineapple or a polite nudge of cherry. Typhoon was a flavor explosion! It kept your taste buds guessing, “Is this guava?”
Unfortunately, Typhoon’s stint was shorter than a summer fling. Fans were quick to rally around this refreshing twist, and its discontinuation left many clamoring for its return. (It’s not really coming back.)
Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash
You know that feeling when you suddenly remember a drink from your childhood and instantly crave it? But… no matter how you look for it, you’re faced with it being truly gone.
Fans of Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash, we’re sending you tight hugs! It was a go-to beverage for seasonal gatherings, complementing everything from Thanksgiving feasts to Christmas dinners.
Still can recall how it tasted? Quick recap: the cranberry flavor wasn’t too syrupy or artificial. The perfect balance of sweet and tart danced on your tongue without overwhelming it! Tasty! We’re missing it!
Pepsi Twist
Another drink that dared to add a hint of lemon to its original formula. You might be wondering: what’s the big deal? Everyone’s doing it now. Can we try something new?
Despite its simplicity, Pepsi Twist was on the shelves for five years (it lingered in international markets a bit longer). Not that bad, eh? It kept a good balance between the lemon and cola!
But like many discontinued drinks, it seems Pepsi Twist just couldn’t carve out a big enough fanbase. If lemons are readily available in American fridges, then a regular Pepsi will suffice!
Mountain Dew Supernova
Yes, the bright pink, flavor-packed comet that shot across the soda aisle in 2008! Mountain Dew Supernova! Men who hate the color pink will love the color once they have tasted it.
Turning your ordinary afternoon into an adventure had been easy. Just open a can of Supernova! The sweetness of the strawberry wasn’t overwhelming, balanced out by the subtle tang of melon and ginseng.
Coca-Cola found their match when it came to bringing the space into our mouths. Starlight meets Supernova. Should we wait for future crossover? Well, we have to wish them a comeback first!
Sprite Cranberry
The second cranberry-flavored soda we’re gonna talk about! Not many cranberry-inspired flavor sodas on this list because they’re still rare in the market. We don’t see a lot!
It had that unmistakable Sprite DNA—a bright lemon-lime base that danced on your tongue—but with a cranberry mix that was refreshing and innovative! Your buds were kept intrigued by the mixture.
Some fans described it as “cranberry sauce with a soda makeover,” while others swore it was like drinking a snowflake. (Wait, what? They drank snowflakes? Ah, whatever that means, but hey, poetic license).
Pepsi Summer Mix
We don’t remember this particular variant of Pepsi Cola, but seeing people talking about it only proved that it had filled the store shelves once. Plus, they kept the can!
So, let’s talk about its taste. It’s a regular cola, yet pineapple and mango would start parading around your taste buds in one moment! You’ve got the general idea. It’s polarizing to some.
It felt like they’d been tricked into drinking carbonated fruit salad. Though look at the can! Pepsi nailed the visual branding; however, good packaging can only do so much when the contents are, well, divisive.
Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla
Oh, it brings me back to the time when I ate a cookie filled with orange filling. It tasted odd, and unfortunately, it felt weird to my taste buds. I threw it.
Orange vanilla is a tricky balance initiated by Coca-Cola, to be very honest. Yet, we’ve heard they nailed it! Sweet but not cloying, bold but not overpowering.
While it had its loyal fans, it was one of those polarizing flavors. (We told you.) Because Coke constantly experiments with new flavors, Orange Vanilla eventually got bumped off the menu.
Dr Pepper Dark Berry
Are you up for reopening cold cases? Well, if there was ever a soda that could make you feel like you were solving a noir mystery while sipping from a can, it was Dr Pepper Dark Berry.
We’re calling it the cool goth cousin of the regular Dr Pepper. Black cherries, blackberries, and raspberries are literally infused into this drink! (How many berries do you need? YES.)
Fans described the feeling of drinking it, “Each sip feels a little mysterious like you were uncovering secrets with every bubble.” We want its comeback. Now! We’re curious!
Fanta Mango Passionfruit
One of the most underrated gems of the soda world! This drink didn’t just taste like summer; it was summer, bottled up and carbonated. Fanta Mango Passionfruit, we want you back!
It was a perfect blend of ripe mangoes and tangy passionfruit—sweet, citrusy, and just exotic enough to make you feel like you were on a beach in the Caribbean (even if you were sitting in traffic).
Plane tickets, what? Fanta Mango Passionfruit can take you there! One sip, and you’d find yourself transported—whether to a tropical getaway or just a daydream in your cubicle.
Mountain Dew White Out
The drink was, well, white—a hazy, milky hue that felt oddly futuristic yet familiar. Remove the label around the bottle, and you’ll think that’s vinegar! Though we doubt it tastes like one.
If you’ve ever wondered what “smooth citrus” on the label means, think Sprite but with a slightly sweeter, almost creamy vibe. It’s enough to keep you coming back for more.
But why did White Out fizzle out? It remains a bit of a mystery. Some say it was a victim of Mountain Dew’s ever-rotating flavor lineup, while others think the competition is just tough.
Pepsi Fire
If soda companies start calling their drink “spicy” and “fiery,” then expect one common element to be present in the drink. Any idea what it is? We’ve talked about it. Louder. Cinnamon? Yes, it is!
They never seem to let go of cinnamon in their formulas, huh? Pepsi Fire came with a tagline promising a “spicy cinnamon twist.” Was it true? We’ve heard it was refreshingly sweet but uncomfortably fiery!
The cinnamon wasn’t subtle; it hit your taste buds right after the first sip and lingered just long enough to make you question your life choices. Perhaps that’s why it said, “Bye, Bye, Bye!”?
Coca-Cola Raspberry
It was the early 2000s, and soda companies were going through what we’ll call their “experimental phase.” During those days, raspberry made waves in everything from desserts to cocktails.
So, the idea was pitched. “Why not toss raspberries into a Coke and see what happens?” Everyone was engaged, and we were given Coca-Cola Raspberry! Regular Coke, taking a summer vacation to a berry farm.
It was one of those love-it-or-leave-it flavors. Were you the type who would order raspberry syrup in your latte? You might’ve been all in. But if you preferred Coke’s simplicity, this fruity detour might’ve felt unnecessary.
Mountain Dew Game Fuel (Halo Edition)
Video gamers, arms up! Remember those soda aisles that were filled with flavors as wild and imaginative as the video games they sometimes paid homage to? Strolling there felt like strolling in paradise!
Mountain Dew Game Fuel (Halo Edition) was so perfectly tailored to the gamer lifestyle that if you take a sip of it, you can’t help but do more levels in your game. Monsters are nothing!
It’s the taste of success but cherry-flavored. Also, you didn’t just drink Game Fuel; you displayed it like a trophy. The packaging was crafted to be collected! We’re not surprised why some chose to keep it.
Pepsi Salted Caramel
Salted caramel is a tasty flavor that is perfect for popcorn, but did it ever occur to you that it could be a soda flavor? No? Well, that seems reasonable. We haven’t thought of it, too!
You’re probably picturing a warm dessert—not something to chug with your pizza. “What did I just eat… I mean, drink! I mean… eat!” The confusion will mess up our tongues and minds.
The flavor’s uniqueness was both its strength and its downfall. No wonder why it didn’t have the universal appeal to warrant a permanent spot on the soda aisle. It left people more confused than refreshed.
Coca-Cola Green Tea
There was a time when Coca-Cola dipped its toes into the world of wellness drinks. Hence, the birth of Coca-Cola Green Tea! Who doesn’t want to maintain their soda intake while being healthy, right?
But this innovation was… intriguing. Let’s be real for once. Mixing tea’s earthy undertones with soda’s sugary punch would always be a gamble. It’s like two neon colors trying to exist together.
You know what happens when you gamble; you can also lose. Coca-Cola Green Tea suffered low sales and lukewarm reception. It never had the chance to win over the masses globally, only in Japan.