15 Vintage Soft Drinks That Vanished from Shelves
These 15 soft drinks were once sold across the United States but were eventually discontinued due to low sales, changing trends, or company decisions.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Over the decades, many soft drinks have come and gone, each with its own reason for disappearing. Some failed because of their unusual taste or poor reception, while others were replaced by new products. This list looks back at 15 real soft drinks that were once available but are no longer found on shelves.
1. Crystal Pepsi
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Crystal Pepsi was released by PepsiCo in 1992 as a clear cola with no artificial colors. It was heavily promoted as a clean and modern alternative to regular Pepsi. The drink confused consumers because it looked like a lemon-lime soda but tasted like cola. It was discontinued in the United States by 1994 due to poor sales.
2. Tab
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Tab was introduced by Coca-Cola in 1963 as a low-calorie diet soda. It became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, especially before the release of Diet Coke. Coca-Cola continued to produce Tab for a small group of loyal consumers. In 2020, the company decided to end production as part of a cost-cutting plan.
3. New Coke
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New Coke was launched in 1985 after Coca-Cola changed the formula of its original soda. The change was not well received, and many people demanded the old version back. Coca-Cola responded by returning to the original recipe under the name Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke was removed from the market later that year.
4. Josta
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Josta was launched by PepsiCo in 1995 and was one of the first soft drinks in the United States to contain guarana. It was marketed as a high-energy soda with a fruity taste. While it developed a small following, it did not reach a wide audience. Pepsi stopped producing Josta by 1999.
5. Surge
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Coca-Cola introduced Surge in 1997 to compete with Mountain Dew. It had a citrus flavor and was aimed at teenagers and young adults. Despite strong marketing, sales declined after a few years. It was discontinued in the early 2000s but returned briefly in limited release before being removed again.
6. Pepsi Blue
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Pepsi Blue was launched in 2002 as a berry-flavored cola with a bright blue color. It was intended to appeal to younger consumers and had a strong advertising campaign. The unusual flavor and color did not perform well in the market. PepsiCo discontinued the drink in the United States by 2004.
7. OK Soda
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OK Soda was launched by Coca-Cola in 1993 to target the Generation X market. The drink had a citrus and cola blend and was packaged with minimalist, gray cans and abstract artwork. The marketing was experimental but confused many consumers. It was removed from shelves after less than two years.
8. Citra
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Citra was a citrus soda launched by Coca-Cola in 1996. It was lightly carbonated and had a smooth lemon-lime flavor. The drink did not perform well compared to other citrus sodas. Coca-Cola eventually replaced it with Fanta Citrus.
9. Orbitz
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Orbitz was a clear soda with floating colored balls, released by Clearly Canadian in 1997. It did not contain carbonation and had a fruit-flavored liquid. The texture and appearance were often seen as strange or unappetizing. It was removed from stores within a year due to low demand.
10. Slice
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Slice was introduced by PepsiCo in 1984 as a fruit-flavored soda line that included orange, apple, and other varieties. It originally contained a percentage of real fruit juice. Over time, the formula changed and it lost its market share to other brands. PepsiCo stopped selling Slice by the late 2000s.
11. Dr Pepper Berries and Cream
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Dr Pepper Berries and Cream was introduced in 2006 as a flavored variation of the original drink. It added a sweet berry and cream taste to the base formula. While it attracted some attention at launch, it was not popular enough to continue. It was discontinued within a few years.
12. 7Up Gold
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7Up Gold was released in 1988 by the makers of 7Up as a spicy, amber-colored soda. It had a cinnamon and ginger flavor that was very different from the usual lemon-lime taste of 7Up. Consumers were confused by the product and the branding. It was pulled from the shelves within one year.
13. Coca-Cola BlāK
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Coca-Cola BlāK was launched in 2006 as a coffee-flavored soft drink. It combined cola with coffee extract and had less sugar than regular Coke. Most consumers found the taste too bitter. Coca-Cola discontinued the product in 2008.
14. RC Edge
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RC Edge was a product from Royal Crown Cola introduced in the early 2000s. It was a high-caffeine version of RC Cola designed to attract young adults. The drink failed to make an impact in the crowded soda market. It was quietly discontinued after poor sales.
15. Kick
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Kick was a citrus soda made by Royal Crown in the 1960s. It was created to compete with Mountain Dew. The drink was sold for several years but never became a major brand. It was eventually removed from stores.