Remember those sticky fingers after grabbing your favorite ice-cold can from the corner store cooler? A world of fizzy flavors awaited, from the classics like cola and cherry to the more adventurous concoctions like bubblegum and peanut butter (yes, really!). But just like your favorite childhood trends, some of those beloved soda brands have vanished like a forgotten dream. Here's the thing: the soda graveyard is surprisingly vast. Experts estimate that over 500 soda brands have bubbled up and then disappeared from store shelves in the United States alone! So, grab a glass (of something still available) and get ready for a trip down memory lane. We're about to revisit 18 of those bygone sodas that dared to be different:
Orbitz
Credit: Youtube
Orbitz swirled with a mesmerizing blend of neon colors and boasted tiny, edible spheres bursting with bubblegum flavor. This visual and textural treat was a staple at birthday parties throughout the 1990s, but its novelty eventually fizzled out, leaving empty space on store shelves.
Josta
Credit: Twitter
Josta surged onto the scene in the late 1990s, promising a citrus-flavored energy boost to rival the big brands. Backed by a massive advertising campaign featuring extreme sports athletes, Josta carved out a niche for itself. However, the energy drink market became increasingly crowded, and Josta eventually lost its momentum.
Surge
Credit: Facebook
Surge offered a jolt of citrus with a neon green twist. Launched in the early 90s to compete with Mountain Dew, Surge boasted a more intense flavor profile and a mascot with an attitude. Despite its edgy marketing, Surge couldn't sustain its popularity and faded from store shelves by the early 2000s.
OK Soda
Credit: Youtube
OK Soda wasn't fancy, but it was a champion for the budget-minded soda drinker. This value brand offered classic flavors like cola, root beer, and orange at a fraction of the price of name brands. OK Soda became a favorite for homecomings, picnics, and everyday refreshments but eventually lost out to aggressive marketing campaigns from its bigger rivals.
Planters Soda
Credit: Facebook
Planters Soda dared ask, "Can peanuts be a beverage?" This peanut-flavored beverage from the Planters brand was a brief experiment in the 1920s. While unique, the concept never entirely caught on with the mainstream soda-drinking public, and Planters Soda quickly became a footnote in soda history.
Snapple Elements
Credit: Facebook
Snapple Elements aimed to capture the essence of the natural world in a soda bottle. Flavors like "Fire" (cinnamon), "Rain" (bubblegum with popping candy), and "Earth" (mixed berry) promised a unique taste experience. The novelty was undeniable, but the connection to the elements themselves remained a bit vague for consumers. Snapple Elements fizzled out after a short run.
Clearly Canadian Black Cherry
Credit: Instagram
Clearly Canadian Black Cherry offered a taste of our neighbor to the north. This black cherry soda boasted a crisp and refreshing flavor profile, distinguishing itself from the many cherry sodas already on the market. However, competition was fierce, and Clearly Canadian Black Cherry eventually disappeared from store shelves south of the border.
Fresca Black Cherry
Credit: Twitter
Fresca Black Cherry was another contender in the black cherry soda wars. Unlike Clearly Canadian's focus on crispness, Fresca Black Cherry offered a bolder and sweeter flavor. Despite its distinct taste, Fresca Black Cherry couldn't carve out a permanent space and eventually faded from store shelves.
Nestle Chocolate Cherry Capri Sun
Credit: Twitter
Nestle Chocolate Cherry Capri Sun wasn't your average juice pouch. This unique offering combined the rich taste of chocolate with the tartness of cherry in a convenient and portable package. Perfect for lunchboxes and on-the-go refreshments, the Chocolate Cherry Capri Sun found a niche among younger drinkers. However, its popularity waned, and it eventually disappeared from store shelves.
Mello Yello Toasted Coconut
Credit: flickr
Mello Yello Toasted Coconut took a tropical twist on the classic Mello Yello formula. This limited-edition flavor promised a taste of paradise with its creamy coconut and citrus combination. While some embraced the novelty, others found the flavor to be a bit too unusual. Mello Yello Toasted Coconut enjoyed a brief run but ultimately couldn't compete with the core Mello Yello flavors.
Barq's Red Creme Soda
Credit: Youtube
Barq's Red Creme Soda wasn't afraid to experiment with classic flavors. This cherry-flavored cream soda offered a unique twist on the traditional vanilla creme soda. While Barq's is known for its root beer, the Red Creme Soda never quite achieved the same level of success and eventually became a distant memory.
Dr Pepper Vanilla Float
Credit: Youtube
Dr Pepper Vanilla Float embodied the nostalgia of a classic ice cream treat in a soda can. This Dr Pepper cream soda swirled with a vanilla flavor, aiming to replicate the experience of a beloved dessert. While some found it delightful, others thought it tasted artificial. Dr Pepper Vanilla Float's popularity fizzled out, leaving the original Dr Pepper to reign supreme.
Sunkist Orange Strawberry
Credit: Youtube
Sunkist Orange Strawberry attempted to combine two beloved citrus flavors into one beverage. This tangy and sweet soda offered a refreshing twist on traditional orange soda. However, the combination proved divisive, with some consumers finding it unbalanced and others simply preferring the classic orange flavor. Sunkist Orange Strawberry eventually sunk from sight.
7 Up Plus Cherry
Credit: Instagram
7 Up Plus Cherry ventured beyond the realm of lemon-lime with a cherry twist on the classic 7 Up formula. This bubbly beverage offered a lighter alternative to cherry sodas while maintaining the refreshing taste of 7 Up. Despite its unique selling proposition, 7 Up Plus Cherry never quite captured a significant market share and eventually disappeared from store shelves.
Pepsi Blue
Credit: flickr
Pepsi Blue broke the mold with a cobalt blue colored cola and a berry-flavored twist. This visually striking soda aimed to be a bold departure from the traditional cola formula. While the color certainly turned heads, the taste itself wasn't quite enough to win over Pepsi drinkers in the long run. Pepsi Blue's vibrant presence on store shelves was short-lived.
Crystal Pepsi
Credit: Twitter
Crystal Pepsi dared to be different by offering a clear cola that looked more like sparkling water. This unusual beverage promised the taste of Pepsi without its artificial coloring. The novelty factor was undeniable, but many consumers found the clear appearance off-putting, and the taste itself wasn't different enough from regular Pepsi to justify a permanent switch. Crystal Pepsi's clarity couldn't keep it on store shelves.
Coca-Cola Blak
Credit: Crystal Pepsi
Coca-Cola Blak attempted to bridge the gap between cola and coffee. This dark-colored cola boasted a hint of coffee flavor, targeting consumers who enjoyed a more complex and sophisticated beverage. The idea was intriguing, but the execution wasn't universally loved. Coca-Cola Blak struggled to find its audience and eventually faded into obscurity.
New Coke
Credit: flickr
New Coke remains one of the most spectacular marketing blunders in soda history. In an attempt to compete with Pepsi, Coca-Cola reformulated its signature recipe in the late 1980s. The new flavor, however, was met with public outcry. Consumers overwhelmingly rejected the change, and Coca-Cola was forced to bring back the original formula under the name "Coca-Cola Classic." New Coke became a cautionary tale about staying true to a brand's identity.
