12 Old-School Sodas That You Won’t Find at Grocery Stores Anymore
Sodas have been a go-to refreshment for decades. Yet, for every cola that stuck around and became a household name, there’s a handful of quirky, bold, or downright bizarre sodas that made their mark and then fizzled out—leaving behind memories (and maybe a few “what were they thinking?” moments). These once-popular drinks might no longer grace the shelves, but they’ve definitely earned a place in our nostalgic hearts.
Tab
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Back in the day, Tab was the drink of choice for anyone watching their waistline—before the era of calorie counts and wellness apps. It was Coca-Cola’s attempt to infiltrate the booming diet soda market, debuting in 1963 with a distinctively bitter taste due to the use of saccharin. The soda quickly became iconic, particularly among the health-conscious crowd. Its pink packaging was just as bold as the taste.
Crystal Pepsi
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This was the one soda that sparked confusion as much as it did excitement. Pepsi took the classic cola formula and stripped away its signature caramel coloring, which left behind a drink that was eerily clear. The idea was that it was “pure” and “natural”—or at least, that’s how it was marketed. Despite its catchy, futuristic ads, it tasted, well, just like regular Pepsi—only without the familiar caramel undertone.
Sierra Mist
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For nearly two decades, Sierra Mist was Pepsi’s answer to Sprite—light, crisp, and a little sweet. It became a go-to soda for those who wanted a lemon-lime refreshment without the bite of more intense citrus sodas. It didn’t try to be anything revolutionary, but it was steady and reliable. Fast-forward to 2023, and Sierra Mist was quietly replaced by Starry.
Life Savers Soda
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Life Savers as a candy was a beloved classic. So, naturally, someone had the idea to turn those flavors into a soda. Thus, Life Savers Soda hit the market in the late ’80s with flavors like cherry, watermelon, and orange. The concept was great—take the well-known fruity candies and turn them into a bubbly beverage.
Sprite Remix
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In the early 2000s, Sprite Remix came along and tried to take lemon-lime soda to a new level. It featured flavors like Berryclear and Aruba Jam that introduced tropical, fruity twists on the classic. It seemed like Sprite had stumbled upon something special—an upgraded version of the refreshing soda everyone loved.
Pepsi Blue
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If you ever wondered what blue would taste like, Pepsi Blue is it. This wild, bright blue soda hit the market in 2002 with a bold berry flavor that was unlike anything else on the shelves at the time. The neon color was enough to grab attention, but the flavor didn’t quite match the hype. It wasn’t as universally loved as Pepsi hoped it would be.
Josta
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Josta was one of those sodas that was ahead of its time, and not in a good way. Introduced in the ’90s, it combined fruity flavors with caffeine and guarana—basically, it was a soda-energy drink hybrid. It was marketed as the next big thing, but the unique combination of energy ingredients and fruity flavor didn’t quite click with consumers.
Coca-Cola With Lime
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Coca-Cola with Lime didn’t stray too far from the classic formula, but the citrus twist was a refreshing change for some. Unfortunately, the lime flavor wasn’t able to capture the same fervent following that Vanilla Coke or Cherry Coke enjoyed.
Vault
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Vault was Coca-Cola’s high-energy citrus soda, introduced in the mid-2000s. Coca-Cola used this citrus soda to try to capture some of the high-energy drink market. It had a taste similar to Mountain Dew and a hefty dose of caffeine, which became popular with the late-night crowd.
Surge
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Surge is one of the sodas on this list that has a cult following. The neon green citrus soda from Coca-Cola was marketed as an alternative to Mountain Dew, with more caffeine and a zippier flavor. Surge had a passionate fanbase that included a lot of teenagers at the time.
Hubba Bubba Soda
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Hubba Bubba Soda took the bubblegum flavor of the iconic gum and turned it into a carbonated beverage. This sweet, bubblegum-flavored drink hit the shelves in the ’80s, and while it seemed like a fun idea, the execution left something to be desired. The soda was far too sugary, and the bubblegum flavor didn’t quite make the transition from chewable to drinkable as seamlessly as the company hoped.
Aspen
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PepsiCo introduced Aspen in the late 1970s as an apple-flavored soda that provided a tart, refreshing alternative to cola. However, it never managed to make a significant impact on the market, especially with competing fruit sodas like Slice and 7 Up already established.
Slice
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Pepsi’s Slice was a fruit-flavored soda that hit the market in the 1980s. It was a bit of a pioneer at the time, offering flavors like orange, lemon, and grape that didn’t rely on the heavier taste of cola. Slice was light and refreshing, with real fruit juice in the mix.
OK Soda
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OK Soda was basically Coca-Cola trying to appeal to the Generation X market. Having been released in the mid-’90s, it featured quirky, almost existential advertising that poked fun at the mainstream. The soda itself was a mix of cola and citrus flavors, which sounded interesting combined with the “cool” anti-establishment vibe.
Orbitz
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Orbitz was one of the strangest soda concepts ever created. It featured floating gelatin-like bubbles suspended in clear liquid. It looked like something you might find in a science experiment rather than a drink, and while it had a unique texture and funky appeal, it never really caught on. The drink was discontinued after a short run, but it remains one of the more bizarre beverage experiences from the late ’90s.