15 Discontinued Soda Brands from the ’90s You Forgot About
Take a fizzy trip down memory lane with these forgotten ’90s sodas that once ruled the vending machines.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The 1990s were a golden age for bold, bizarre, and sometimes bizarrely delicious soft drinks. From neon-colored cans to wild flavors, soda companies weren’t afraid to take risks — and some paid off more than others. These 15 discontinued soda brands were once cult favorites, but today, they live only in our nostalgic taste buds.
1. Surge
Magnus Kolstad on Flickr
This citrus-charged soda was Coca-Cola’s answer to Mountain Dew. Marketed to extreme sports kids, it came in neon green with wild ads to match.
2. Crystal Pepsi
Crystalpepsi21 on Wikimedia Commons
Clear cola? It sounded strange — and was. Pepsi stripped out the color but kept the sweetness, creating a see-through soda that puzzled everyone.
3. OK Soda
Derek Bruff on Flickr
Coca-Cola tried to get ironic with OK Soda, targeting cynical teens with its minimalist can and edgy ads. It tasted like a cola-citrus hybrid.
4. Josta
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
This was America’s first energy soda, packed with guarana for a caffeine kick. It had a spicy-fruity flavor that was hard to describe but addicting.
5. 7UP Gold
Julian Rösner on Unsplash
This was 7UP, but with spice and color — more like ginger ale than lemon lime. Fans were confused by the drastic shift.
6. Orbitz
Candeadly on WIkimedia Commons
Orbitz looked more like a lava lamp than a beverage. It had floating gelatin balls suspended in a clear, fruit-flavored liquid.
7. Pepsi Blue
Fieldafar on Wikimedia Commons
Electric blue and berry-flavored, this soda was hard to miss. It launched in the early 2000s but was born from late-’90s flavor trends.
8. Tab Clear
Kevin Trotman on Flickr
A clear version of Coca-Cola’s diet soda, Tab Clear was part of the see-through trend. It had a strong artificial taste and minimal appeal. Coke quietly pulled the plug.
9. Slice
The Upstairs Room on Flickr
Once a supermarket staple, Slice came in multiple fruit flavors like orange, grape, and lemon-lime. It was Pepsi’s fruity soda line before Sierra Mist took over.
10. Dr Pepper Red Fusion
Jeanne à vélo on Wikimedia Commons
This was Dr Pepper with a cherry twist and a vibrant red color. Fans were intrigued but not loyal. It didn’t last long, vanishing quietly.
11. dnL
Paxton Holley on Flickr
This upside-down 7UP was green, caffeinated, and packed with citrus. It was the brand’s attempt at edgier appeal. Unfortunately, it confused more than it thrilled.
12. Coca-Cola BlāK
Josh Hallett on Wikimedia Commons
Coke plus coffee seemed genius — or gross, depending who you asked. This cola-coffee hybrid had a small but passionate fan base.
13. Fruitopia
Phil Nelson on Flickr
More of a juice-soda hybrid, Fruitopia had colorful labels and a “peace and love” vibe. It was popular in vending machines and school cafeterias.
14. Kick
Khoa Võ on Pexels
This citrus soda from Royal Crown had an extra caffeine punch. It was geared toward night owls and college kids.
15. Coke II (New Coke)
Eric Schmuttenmaer on Flickr
Originally launched in the ’80s, Coke II lingered into the ’90s before its final goodbye. It was sweeter than classic Coke, which turned many fans off.