18 Forgotten Soft Drinks You Haven’t Thought About In Years

Remember when the soda aisle was a wild frontier of bizarre flavors and experimental concoctions? I sure do.

Growing up in the 90s, my allowance often went straight to trying whatever new, colorful liquid the beverage companies had dreamed up that week.

Some of these fizzy delights vanished as quickly as they appeared, leaving nothing but nostalgic memories and empty bottles in their wake.

1. Crystal Pepsi: The Transparent Trendsetter

Crystal Pepsi: The Transparent Trendsetter
© Snack History

The early 90s gave us this fascinating clear cola that looked like water but tasted like Pepsi. I still remember my friends and I buying bottles just to confuse our teachers – “No ma’am, just drinking water here!” The novelty wore off quickly for consumers, but not for collectors.

Launched in 1992, Crystal Pepsi lasted barely two years before disappearing from shelves. The marketing claimed the clearness symbolized purity and health – pretty ironic for a sugary soda! Van Halen’s “Right Now” soundtrack in commercials couldn’t save this transparent experiment.

Pepsi briefly revived it in 2016 for nostalgic millennials, but the clear cola concept remains a perfect time capsule of that weird era when everything from phones to Game Boys suddenly needed clear plastic versions.

2. Surge: The Mountain Dew Challenger

Surge: The Mountain Dew Challenger
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Lime green and loaded with caffeine, Surge burst onto the scene in 1996 as Coca-Cola’s answer to Mountain Dew. My teenage brother and his friends practically lived on this stuff during all-night gaming sessions. The aggressive marketing targeted extreme sports enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies.

The citrus soda came in distinctive green bottles and cans with that unmistakable jagged logo. Surge vanished in 2003, breaking the hearts of its devoted fan base. What other soft drink inspired a fan movement called “SURGE Movement” that actually succeeded in bringing it back?

Coca-Cola eventually caved to online pressure and resurrected Surge in 2014 as an Amazon exclusive. Now you can occasionally find it in stores again, proving that sometimes fan dedication actually works. That radioactive green still looks exactly the same!

3. OK Soda: Marketing Experiment Gone Wrong

OK Soda: Marketing Experiment Gone Wrong
© Messy Nessy Chic

Coca-Cola’s strangest creation targeted Generation X with nihilistic marketing and a bizarre aesthetic. I discovered this oddity at my local convenience store in 1994 and was immediately drawn to its weird comic book-style cans. The flavor? A forgettable mix of fruit and cola that nobody could quite describe.

The soda’s actual taste seemed secondary to its avant-garde marketing campaign. Each can featured a different piece of artwork and an “OK Manifesto” with statements like “What’s the point of OK? Well, what’s the point of anything?” There was even an “OK Hotline” where callers heard strange messages.

Coca-Cola pulled OK Soda after just seven months, making it one of the shortest-lived major soda launches ever. Today, empty cans sell for surprising amounts to collectors fascinated by this weird marketing misfire that was simultaneously ahead of its time and completely tone-deaf.

4. Jolt Cola: The Original Energy Drink

Jolt Cola: The Original Energy Drink
© eBay

Long before Monster and Red Bull dominated the energy market, Jolt Cola proudly advertised itself with the slogan “All the sugar and twice the caffeine!” My college roommate stockpiled this stuff during finals week. The simple black can with a lightning bolt looked like it meant serious business.

Launched in 1985, Jolt was revolutionary for openly marketing its unhealthy aspects as benefits. While other sodas downplayed sugar and caffeine content, Jolt celebrated them. Computer programmers, students, and night shift workers embraced it as their secret weapon.

The brand struggled to compete when dedicated energy drinks arrived in the late 90s. After several reformulations and packaging changes (remember those battery-shaped bottles?), Jolt largely disappeared. The original formula briefly returned in 2017 exclusively at Dollar General stores, but the comeback fizzled almost as quickly as the caffeine buzz it provided.

5. Orbitz: The Floating Boba Prototype

Orbitz: The Floating Boba Prototype
© Reddit

Before bubble tea became mainstream in America, Clearly Canadian gave us this weird science experiment in a bottle. I begged my mom to buy me one at the grocery store in 1997 solely because it looked like a lava lamp. The clear liquid contained colorful edible gel balls that floated suspended throughout the drink.

Drinking Orbitz was more about the novelty than flavor. The texture was unlike anything else – those little balls would unexpectedly slide into your mouth while sipping. Flavors included Raspberry Citrus, Vanilla Orange, and other combinations that honestly tasted medicinal.

The floating balls relied on gellan gum, the same ingredient now used in molecular gastronomy. Orbitz disappeared after about a year, though bottles occasionally surface on eBay for astronomical prices. Today’s bubble tea popularity makes me wonder if Orbitz was just ahead of its time, or if floating balls in fruit-flavored syrup was simply a step too far.

6. Fresca: The Sophisticated Citrus Option

Fresca: The Sophisticated Citrus Option
© consumertc

While technically still available, Fresca has faded so far from the spotlight that most younger people have never tried it. My grandma always kept her fridge stocked with this grapefruit-flavored zero-calorie soda. She’d serve it in fancy glasses as if it were champagne at her bridge club meetings.

Launched in 1966, Fresca (meaning “fresh” in Spanish) was marketed as a sophisticated mixer and alternative to tonic water. The slightly bitter, citrusy flavor made it unique among sodas. Coca-Cola positioned it as an adult beverage long before hard seltzers existed.

Fresca has survived while maintaining a low profile, occasionally getting packaging refreshes but never major marketing pushes. It’s developed something of a cult following among diet soda drinkers seeking alternatives to the cola standards. Finding a can today feels like discovering a secret handshake among a certain generation who remember when it was prominent.

7. Mello Yello: Coke’s Forgotten Dew Fighter

Mello Yello: Coke's Forgotten Dew Fighter
© Alchetron.com

The neon yellow soda in the bright green can was Coca-Cola’s original Mountain Dew competitor. I first encountered Mello Yello at my cousin’s house in the rural Midwest, where it seemed more popular than in my suburban neighborhood. The intensely sweet citrus flavor and caffeine kick made it a favorite among truck drivers and teenagers.

Launched in 1979 with the slogan “The world’s fastest soft drink,” Mello Yello gained brief fame when Tom Cruise wore a branded t-shirt in Days of Thunder. The soda has experienced an unusual distribution pattern, disappearing entirely from some regions while remaining common in others.

Despite multiple rebranding attempts and packaging changes, Mello Yello never achieved the cultural status of Mountain Dew. It still exists today, though many people assume it was discontinued years ago. The drink represents an interesting case study in how regional distribution can make a national brand seem like a distant memory.

8. New Coke: The Marketing Disaster

New Coke: The Marketing Disaster
© News.com.au

The most famous soft drink failure in history wasn’t actually a new product but a replacement for the original. I wasn’t born yet during the 1985 debacle, but my dad still rants about it whenever someone mentions changing classic recipes. Coca-Cola actually withdrew their flagship product and replaced it with a sweeter formula designed to beat Pepsi in taste tests.

The public reaction was swift and furious. Protest groups formed, hoarding of original Coke became common, and the company received thousands of angry calls daily. After just 79 days, Coca-Cola reintroduced the original formula as “Coca-Cola Classic” while keeping New Coke available.

The reformulated version quietly disappeared over the following years. Interestingly, some conspiracy theorists believe the whole fiasco was a brilliant marketing stunt to reinvigorate the brand, though Coca-Cola has always maintained it was a genuine mistake. Either way, it remains the benchmark for how not to change a beloved product.

9. Squeezit: The Interactive Bottle

Squeezit: The Interactive Bottle
© Reddit

These colorful plastic bottles with twist-off faces were the highlight of my elementary school lunch box. I’d squeeze the fruit-flavored drink through the character’s head while making appropriate monster noises, much to the annoyance of lunch monitors. General Mills launched these interactive drinks in 1985.

Each color had its own character with a distinct face molded into the soft plastic bottle. Later versions included color-changing options and sour flavors with names like Grumpy Grape and Chucklin’ Cherry. The true innovation was the packaging – drinking became an activity rather than just consumption.

Squeezit disappeared from stores around 2001, though similar concepts have appeared since. The relatively small amount of actual juice and high sugar content would make it a hard sell in today’s more health-conscious market. Still, no modern drink has quite captured the same playful experience of literally squeezing your beverage through a monster’s head.

10. Shasta: The Budget Brand Champion

Shasta: The Budget Brand Champion
© eBay

The ultimate party supply soda that came in seemingly endless flavors at a fraction of the price of name brands. My parents would stock up on Shasta for birthday parties – that distinctive pull-tab can opening sound still triggers memories of childhood sugar rushes. The brand originated in 1889 from springs near Mount Shasta.

Shasta pioneered many flavors before major brands adopted them. Their root beer, cream soda, and fruit flavors developed loyal followings despite the budget positioning. The company’s willingness to experiment led to unique options like Tiki Punch and California Dreamin’.

While Shasta still exists today, its prominence has diminished considerably. Once found in every supermarket, it’s now relegated to discount stores and regional markets. For many, Shasta represents a nostalgic reminder of a time when soda was an affordable treat rather than a premium product, and when regional brands could still compete with the industry giants.

11. Life Savers Soda: Candy in Liquid Form

Life Savers Soda: Candy in Liquid Form
© Reddit

In 1995, Planters LifeSavers Company decided that if people loved their hard candies, they’d surely love drinking them too. My sister and I convinced our babysitter to buy us these sodas based solely on brand recognition. The bottles mimicked the candy rolls, and flavors included pineapple, fruit punch, and the iconic 5-flavor.

The actual drinking experience was underwhelming. Unlike the subtle flavor of sucking on a LifeSavers candy, the soda version was overwhelmingly sweet with artificial fruit flavors that didn’t quite match their candy counterparts. The disconnect between expectation and reality doomed the product.

LifeSavers Soda lasted barely a year on shelves. Interestingly, the company claimed it failed because it was too similar to existing sodas rather than because it was a bizarre concept. This short-lived experiment highlights the challenges of translating a successful product from one format to another – not everything that works as candy works as a beverage.

12. Hubba Bubba Soda: Bubble Gum in a Bottle

Hubba Bubba Soda: Bubble Gum in a Bottle
© Do You Remember.co.uk

The shocking pink liquid that promised to taste like liquid bubble gum hit stores in the mid-1980s, targeting kids who apparently needed more sugar options. I remember my dentist specifically mentioning this drink as something to avoid, which naturally made me want it more. The color was so artificially vibrant it could probably be seen from space.

Wrigley’s bubble gum brand extension came in distinctive bottles with the Hubba Bubba character on the label. The flavor was exactly what you’d expect – an intensely sweet, somewhat artificial approximation of bubble gum that left a lingering aftertaste.

The novelty wore off quickly for most consumers. Drinking something that tasted like you were chewing gum turned out to be less appealing in practice than in concept. The soda disappeared after a brief run, though it occasionally resurfaces in nostalgic conversations about products that perfectly captured the excess of 1980s kid-targeted marketing.

13. Nehi: The Small-Town Staple

Nehi: The Small-Town Staple
© Etsy

These fruit-flavored sodas in tall, distinctive bottles were fixtures at small-town grocers and rural gas stations. My grandpa would always get the grape variety when we visited his farm, claiming nothing quenched thirst better after fieldwork. The brand gained literary fame as Radar O’Reilly’s favorite drink in M*A*S*H.

Nehi (pronounced “knee-high”) launched in 1924 by the Chero-Cola Company, which later became Royal Crown. The name supposedly came from the bottles being the height of a knee. Their fruit flavors – particularly grape, orange, and peach – developed devoted regional followings across rural America.

While technically still produced in limited markets by Dr Pepper/Snapple Group, Nehi’s prominence has diminished dramatically. Finding a bottle today feels like discovering a time capsule from mid-century America. The brand represents an era when regional sodas could thrive independently before industry consolidation put most small bottlers out of business.

14. Big Red: The Texas Treasure

Big Red: The Texas Treasure
© Wide Open Country

This bright red cream soda remains a cultural institution in Texas while being virtually unknown in many parts of the country. During a road trip through San Antonio, I discovered locals pairing it with barbecue and Mexican food. The intensely sweet, vanilla-tinged flavor has notes of bubble gum and cream soda that create a unique taste experience.

Launched in Waco, Texas in 1937 as “Sun Tang Red Cream Soda,” it was renamed Big Red in 1959. The soda maintains cult status in Texas, where it’s considered part of the state’s cultural identity alongside Dr Pepper (another Texas original).

Big Red has expanded distribution in recent decades but remains primarily a regional phenomenon. The company has launched spin-offs including Big Blue, Big Peach, and Big Pineapple, though none match the original’s popularity. For many Texans living elsewhere, finding a bottle of Big Red is an immediate connection to home.

15. Orangina: The Sophisticated Citrus Shake

Orangina: The Sophisticated Citrus Shake
© Snack History

The distinctive bulbous bottle with textured glass containing pulpy orange liquid made this French import feel fancy compared to Fanta or Sunkist. My first encounter came at a pretentious café where the server instructed me to gently shake the bottle before opening – a ritual that made the drinking experience feel ceremonial.

Created in 1935 by Spanish pharmacist Dr. Trigo, Orangina combines carbonated water with orange juice, pulp, and a hint of other citrus oils. The iconic bottle shape resembles an orange, and the presence of actual fruit pulp separated it from American citrus sodas.

While still available in specialty stores and some supermarkets, Orangina’s American presence has diminished significantly since its 1970s-80s heyday. The brand maintains stronger presence in Europe and Canada. Its legacy lives on in the “shake the bottle” instruction that created a unique consumer interaction – a marketing masterstroke that turned a necessity (mixing the settled pulp) into a brand-defining ritual.

16. Creamola Foam: The DIY Scottish Delight

Creamola Foam: The DIY Scottish Delight
© Glasgow Live

This uniquely interactive Scottish drink came as crystals in a tin that you’d mix with water yourself. During a childhood trip to visit relatives in Glasgow, my cousins introduced me to this fizzy concoction that we’d prepare ourselves, feeling like mad scientists as the powder dissolved and bubbled.

Manufactured in Glasgow from the 1950s until 1998, Creamola Foam came in raspberry, orange, and lemon flavors. The tin contained sodium bicarbonate that created fizz when mixed with water and sugar. Kids loved the DIY aspect and the satisfying fizzing sound during preparation.

When manufacturer Nestlé discontinued it, public outcry in Scotland was substantial. Several companies have since created similar products like Kramola Foam to fill the void. While never widely available outside Scotland, Creamola Foam represents a category of nostalgic treats that engaged children in the preparation process, creating memories beyond just the flavor.

17. Visniak: Buffalo’s Beloved Bubble Water

Visniak: Buffalo's Beloved Bubble Water
© Flickr

This regional soda brand from Buffalo, New York was once a household name throughout Western New York. During a family reunion in Buffalo, my great-uncle insisted we try the black cherry flavor, proudly explaining it was a local treasure. The name comes from the Polish word for cherry, reflecting the city’s Polish-American heritage.

Visniak’s signature flavors included black cherry, birch beer, and sarsaparilla, all produced by the Queen-O Bottling Company. The distinctively sweet yet slightly tart black cherry variety developed an especially devoted following among locals.

Production ended in the early 2000s when the family-owned company closed after nearly a century in business. Finding vintage bottles has become a passion for Buffalo memorabilia collectors. Visniak represents the once-thriving ecosystem of local soda brands that existed before industry consolidation, when nearly every city had its own signature fizzy drinks reflecting local tastes and cultural influences.

18. Wintergreen Soda: The Appalachian Curiosity

Wintergreen Soda: The Appalachian Curiosity
© Five Star Soda

This regional oddity tasted exactly like liquid wintergreen Lifesavers or melted Ben-Gay – a flavor profile most people wouldn’t consider refreshing! During a hiking trip through rural Pennsylvania, I encountered this strange brew at a country store where the owner insisted it was a local delicacy. The first sip was shocking – like drinking liquid toothpaste with bubbles.

Popular throughout Appalachia, particularly in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, wintergreen soda was produced by various small bottlers rather than major brands. The distinctive minty flavor comes from oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate), the same compound used in muscle rubs and some medications.

Most wintergreen soda producers have disappeared as regional bottlers closed shop. The unusual flavor represents America’s diverse regional food traditions and the once-common practice of creating sodas from locally available botanical flavors. Finding it today usually requires visiting small-town Appalachian stores that still stock products from the few remaining local bottlers.