Soda enthusiasts, prepare for a fizzy trip down memory lane! We’re diving into the carbonated depths of nostalgia to revisit 13 beloved soda flavors that have vanished from store shelves. From crystal-clear colas to fruity fusions, these discontinued drinks were once all the buzz.
Let’s pop the cap on memories of these once delightful beverages!
Pepsi Blue (2002–2004)
Remember when sodas started looking like they could glow in the dark? Pepsi Blue was the cobalt-colored concoction that had everyone talking. With its berry flavor and electric hue, it was the drink of choice for the cool kids… for about two years.
Though discontinued in the U.S. and Canada by 2004, it developed a cult following overseas, remaining a staple in countries like the Philippines (rebranded as Pepsi Pinas) and parts of the Middle East.
PepsiCo capitalized on nostalgia in 2021, relaunching it as a limited-edition U.S. product with hashtag campaigns like #BringBackBlue and promotions featuring Millie Bobby Brown. This revival, available from May to August 2021, marked its brief return to American shelves in 20-ounce bottles and multipacks.
Surge (1997-2003)
Surge was the caffeinated rebel of the soda world, Coca-Cola’s answer to Mountain Dew. Launched in 1997 in the U.S.(Surge originated in Norway as Urge in 1996 before it was rebranded for the U.S. market) with its neon-green aesthetics, this citrus-flavored soft drink packed a punch with its bold taste and edgy extreme-sports marketing. Despite strong initial sales, it was discontinued in 2003 due to declining demand.
However, a grassroots #SURGEMovement campaign by nostalgic fans—including billboards near Coca-Cola HQ and 150,000+ social media supporters—prompted its 2014 revival as an Amazon exclusive.
The re-release sold out within hours, leading to limited retail distribution in the Eastern U.S. until its second discontinuation circa 2020. While no longer produced, Surge remains a cult symbol of 1990s counterculture and fan-driven brand resurrection.
7UP Gold (1988–1989)
7UP decided to go for the gold in 1988 with this spicy cinnamon-and-ginger twist on the classic lemon-lime soda.
Marketed as a “premium” beverage (hence the “Gold” name), its dark amber color and caffeinated formula directly contradicted 7UP’s iconic “Never Had It, Never Will” caffeine-free branding.
Consumers found the flavor closer to spiced ginger ale than a clear soda and the identity crisis proved fatal – it captured just 0.1% of the soda market before vanishing in 1989.
Dr Pepper Red Fusion (2002-2004)
In 2002, Dr Pepper broke its 117-year flavor silence with Red Fusion. This cherry-forward (some say it had a hint of berry and vanilla as well) twist on the classic was the brand’s first new flavor in over a century.
Sadly, it didn’t quite hit the spot for Dr Pepper purists and faded away after just two years — Sales initially spiked but plummeted within 18 months, prompting its removal.
Bonus Trivia: Red Fusion’s brief run marked Dr Pepper’s first major flavor expansion and influenced later limited editions like Dark Berry and Strawberries and Cream. Its metallic-red packaging and racing stripe design remain nostalgic for fans, though attempts to revive it through petitions (e.g., RedFusionRevival.com) were unsuccessful.
Crystal Pepsi (1992–1994)
The ’90s were wild, and nothing screams “radical transparency,” quite like Crystal Pepsi. This clear cola looked like water but tasted lighter and was far less sweet than regular Pepsi, confusing taste buds everywhere (was it cola? Sprite?). Despite its initial hype, the novelty wore off fast enough for it to be discontinued by 1994.
Although a 2016 reboot, which was more of a limited-time nostalgia campaign than anything else, didn’t achieve much mainstream success, it capitalized on cult interest and social media buzz.
Bonus fact: The drink’s clear appearance symbolized the 1990s “purity” trends but clashed with consumer expectations for cola’s caramel-brown familiarity.
Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla (2006-2007)
Coca-Cola got fancy with this flavor fusion in 2006. Combining the sophistication of black cherry with the smoothness of vanilla, it was a short-lived romance that ended in 2007.
After just one year on the market, the beverage was discontinued as it failed to gain sustained popularity, especially when compared to other Coca-Cola variants like Cherry Coke — add to that, its low sales coincided with the reintroduction of Vanilla Coke in the U.S.
Josta (1995-1999)
Before energy drinks were cool, there was Josta. This guarana-based soda from Pepsi was ahead of its time, packing a caffeinated punch that would make modern energy drinks jealous. Sadly, it was too edgy for its own good and disappeared by the turn of the millennium — PepsiCo cited corporate strategy changes, though poor market reception and high costs contributed to its discontinuation.
Bonus fact: Josta used slogans like “Better do the good stuff now” and targeted youth culture with ads featuring nostalgic themes. Campaigns featured elderly men reflecting on missed youthful opportunities, urging viewers to seize the moment.
Pepsi Twist (2000-2006)
Lemon-lime sodas? Old news. Pepsi Twist added a citrus kick to the classic cola formula with its lemon-flavored formula. First tested in U.S. markets in 1999–2000, the beverage went national in 2001 with a $20M+ marketing campaign featuring celebrities like Britney Spears.
Though it struggled to maintain long-term popularity domestically, the fizzy hybrid had a five-year national run before being discontinued in the U.S. by 2006. Today, it lives on as a cult favorite and remains available in Poland, Bosnia, China, and other international markets.