16 Soda Flavors That Should Never Have Been Invented
This article lists soda flavors that were so strange that they probably should never have existed.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
Some soda flavors are fun. Others go completely off the rails. These 16 drinks include everything from bacon to ranch dressing, and they all make you wonder how they were approved in the first place. You might laugh, cringe, or even feel curious enough to try one.
1. Bacon Soda
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Bacon Soda is exactly what it sounds like: a fizzy drink flavored to taste like smoked bacon. It smells like breakfast but tastes oddly sweet, leaving your taste buds confused. Despite its weirdness, it continues to be a top seller at novelty shops.
2. Buffalo Wing Soda
Maksym Kozlenko on Wikimedia Commons
This soda was made to taste like spicy buffalo wings, combining the heat of hot sauce with a citrus-like fizz. It has an orange color and smells almost like vinegar. Some people say it is surprisingly drinkable, while others take one sip and quit.
3. Dirt Soda
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Dirt Soda has a flavor that is meant to mimic the earthy taste and smell of soil. It is sugary but still manages to remind you of digging in the yard. Many people try it once just for the shock factor and never go back.
4. Mustard Soda
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Mustard Soda pours out in bright yellow and hits your nose with a strong, tangy smell. The flavor is sweet at first but quickly turns into something that tastes like actual mustard. Most people try it as a joke, not for refreshment.
5. Peanut Butter and Jelly Soda
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This soda attempts to capture the taste of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in liquid form. The grape flavor is strong, but the peanut note makes it feel off. It is a strange twist on a childhood favorite that does not quite land.
6. Turkey and Gravy Soda
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Created as a holiday novelty, this soda tastes like savory turkey and gravy in carbonated form. It was meant to be funny but ended up tasting like salty broth with bubbles. It sold out fast once but never became a regular flavor.
7. Cel-Ray (Celery) Soda
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Cel-Ray is a celery-flavored soda that has been around since the 1800s. It has a slightly salty, herbal taste and is still served in some New York delis. Some people enjoy it as a refreshing change, while others find it completely strange.
8. Moxie
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Moxie is a bitter soda that dates back to the 19th century and was originally sold as a health tonic. It has a strong licorice-like taste that can be hard to get used to. While it still has fans today, many people do not enjoy the aftertaste.
9. Mr. Q. Cumber (Cucumber Soda)
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This soda has a light cucumber flavor that reminds people of spa water. It is refreshing but feels unusual as a soft drink. Many say it tastes clean, while others find it too subtle to enjoy.
10. Empire Spruce Beer (Spruce Soda)
CoolKid1993 at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
Empire Spruce Beer is flavored with extract from spruce needles, giving it a pine-like taste. It smells like a forest and has a slightly herbal flavor. It is popular in some regions but far too woodsy for most soda drinkers.
11. Pumpkin Pie Soda
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Pumpkin Pie Soda tries to bring fall flavors into a fizzy drink, including cinnamon and nutmeg. It tastes like sweet pumpkin filling with a spicy kick. Some people find it cozy, but others cannot get past the odd combination.
12. Ranch Dressing Soda
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Ranch Dressing Soda mixes buttermilk flavor with fizz, which is just as weird as it sounds. The drink is thick, creamy, and has an herbal taste that does not work well in a soda. Many people say it is one of the worst novelty drinks ever made.
13. Onion Soda
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Onion Soda has a strong smell and flavor that tastes like actual cooked onions. It is sometimes used in promotions or joke gift sets. Most people try it for laughs and never touch it again.
14. Bug Barf, Unicorn Yack, and Monster Mucus
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These sodas come with gross-out names but fruity flavors like kiwi pineapple, raspberry orange cream, and blue raspberry. They are designed for kids who love weird things and silly packaging. The flavors are sweet, but the names are what make them unforgettable.
15. Tree Bark Soda
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Tree Bark Soda, made from mauby tree bark, has an earthy and bitter taste. It is popular in some Caribbean countries and is believed to have health benefits. Most first-time drinkers find the flavor too strong to enjoy.
16. Mystery Mystery Soda (Mountain Dew Voo-Dew)
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Each year, Mountain Dew releases a mystery flavor under the name Voo-Dew around Halloween. The flavor changes every time and has included candy corn, sour candy, and fruit mixes. Fans try to guess what it is before the big reveal.