15 Discontinued Soda Flavors from the ’80s You Can’t Buy Now
These quirky, ambitious sodas from the 1980s once filled vending machines and grocery aisles but are now just memories for those who were there.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
The 1980s were a time of experimentation in the soda world, driven by competition, changing tastes, and a desire to stand out. Companies pushed boundaries with bold flavors, unusual branding, and even stranger ingredients, hoping to strike the next cola goldmine. Most didn’t last, but their brief fizz in the cultural zeitgeist makes them worth remembering.
1. Pepsi AM
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Launched in 1989, Pepsi AM was a bold attempt to replace your morning coffee with soda. It packed more caffeine than regular Pepsi, aimed squarely at early risers and caffeine fiends. It didn’t catch on, though, and quietly disappeared within a year.
2. Coca-Cola Raspberry
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While Raspberry Coke had some international success, it made a short, forgettable splash in test markets during the late ’80s in the U.S. The combo intrigued fans of fruit flavors but failed to gain traction among classic cola drinkers. It was pulled before it could make any real mark.
3. Dr Pepper Berries & Cream
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Released in the mid to late ’80s in select regions, this twist on the classic Dr Pepper offered a creamy, fruity spin that confused as much as it delighted. It had its loyal fans but wasn’t built for mass appeal. It vanished with little fanfare, becoming a niche memory for soda collectors.
4. 7 Up Gold
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In 1988, 7 Up went spicy with 7 Up Gold, a darker soda spiced with cinnamon and ginger. It was a stark departure from the lemon-lime brand people knew. Most folks didn’t know what to do with it, and it was discontinued less than a year later.
5. Like Cola
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Coca-Cola tried to rival RC Cola and Pepsi with this caffeine-free, sugar-free alternative in the early ’80s. Marketed as a healthier option, Like Cola never quite found its crowd. It quietly fizzled out, leaving barely a bubble behind in soda history.
6. Pepsi Light (Lemon Flavor)
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Before Diet Pepsi took center stage, Pepsi Light was their first low-calorie soda. It had a surprising lemony kick meant to mask the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners. The flavor didn’t resonate long-term, and it was soon swapped out for more familiar formulations.
7. Aspen Apple Soda
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Aspen was PepsiCo’s venture into crisp apple soda territory, launched in 1984. It had a light, tart flavor that was actually refreshing, especially over ice. Still, it couldn’t compete with cola powerhouses and quietly left the shelves by the end of the decade.
8. OK Soda
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Though it launched in the early ’90s, development and buzz started in the late ’80s. OK Soda was Coca-Cola’s attempt to grab Gen X with irony, gray branding, and a vaguely citrusy cola flavor. It was weird before weird was cool, but people didn’t bite.
9. Hubba Bubba Soda
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This was the liquid version of the beloved bubble gum, created in the late ’80s. It smelled like candy stores and tasted like your childhood — but as a drink, it was a tough sell. Kids liked it, adults didn’t, and the novelty wore off fast.
10. Citra
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Not to be confused with later citrus sodas, this version was tested in limited markets in the late ‘80s. It was sharper than Sprite and had a slightly bitter grapefruit tone. Though some fans remember it fondly, it failed to scale up and disappeared quickly.
11. Josta
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Though it technically launched in the early ’90s, Josta was conceived in the late ’80s as America’s first energy soda. It was made with guarana and had a spicy, fruity flavor that was oddly addictive. Discontinued in 1999, it still has cult fans wishing for a comeback.
12. Fresca Black Cherry Citrus
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This rare flavor joined the Fresca family briefly in the late ‘80s. It brought a deeper fruitiness to the typically grapefruit-heavy line. Despite its refreshing taste, it never got national rollout and quickly faded into soda lore.
13. Slice Apple
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Before Sierra Mist, Pepsi had Slice, and for a brief moment in the ’80s, Apple Slice hit the market. It was an unusual flavor for soda, which made it both intriguing and short-lived. Apple fans were left hanging when it vanished almost overnight.
14. RC 100
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This was Royal Crown’s attempt at a caffeine-free, sugar-free cola during the health craze of the ’80s. It didn’t have the flavor punch people expected and felt too watery for many. It disappeared before the decade ended.
15. Crystal Pepsi (Early Prototype)
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Before its flashy 1992 launch, Pepsi spent the late ’80s testing colorless soda formulas. The early prototypes of what would become Crystal Pepsi circulated in closed studies. Consumers were unsure what to make of a cola that looked like water, and the final product came years later with only limited success.