16 Sodas from the Past That Were Just Plain Weird
These sodas were once on shelves everywhere, but they stood out for being way too strange to last.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Some sodas are unforgettable because they tasted great. These ones are unforgettable for much stranger reasons. Between wild flavors, strange textures, and bold experiments that fizzled out, these 16 sodas definitely left an impression.
1. Pepsi A.M. Thought It Could Replace Coffee
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Pepsi A.M. was loaded with extra caffeine and meant to be your morning soda. It was made for people who wanted a carbonated wake-up call instead of coffee. Most people weren’t ready to switch their morning ritual to cola.
2. Crystal Pepsi Looked Like Water, Tasted Like Soda
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Crystal Pepsi ditched the caramel color for a clear look but kept the cola taste. It caught people’s attention in the 90s but confused their taste buds. It came back briefly years later, mostly for the novelty.
3. Coca-Cola BlāK Mixed Soda with Coffee
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Coca-Cola BlāK was part soda, part coffee, and all weird. The blend had a bitter aftertaste that made people unsure how to feel. It didn’t take long for it to disappear.
4. Josta Was Pepsi’s Energy Soda Experiment
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Josta was filled with guarana and had a spicy, fruity taste. It was one of the first sodas aimed at giving you an energy boost. It disappeared fast but has kept a loyal fanbase begging for a comeback.
5. Orbitz Floated Gel Balls Inside the Drink
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Orbitz looked more like a lava lamp than a soda. The tiny floating gel balls made the texture really strange. Most people were done after one sip.
6. Surge Was the Loudest Soda of the 90s
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Surge was neon green, packed with caffeine, and had wild ads to match. It became a favorite for kids and teens craving a sugar rush. Eventually, it faded, but fans still talk about it.
7. OK Soda Was Designed to Be Just “OK”
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OK Soda was a strange mix of marketing irony and average taste. It leaned into being plain on purpose, but that didn’t exactly win fans over. It became more of a conversation piece than a real hit.
8. Tab Was the Original Diet Soda
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Tab had a strong, somewhat bitter flavor that diet soda lovers either loved or hated. It was popular for decades before finally disappearing. Even though it was weird, it had staying power.
9. New Coke Caused a National Backlash
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Coca-Cola changed its formula in the 80s, and people were furious. New Coke tasted sweeter but lacked the old-school flavor fans loved. The uproar led to the return of the original recipe as “Coca-Cola Classic.”
10. Dr Pepper Berries & Cream Was a Flavor Gamble
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This soda added fruity and creamy notes to the already bold Dr Pepper taste. Some people enjoyed the twist, but many found it too much. It quietly left the shelves not long after.
11. 7Up Gold Was Nothing Like 7Up
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Instead of citrus, 7Up Gold had a spicy, cinnamon flavor. Fans were confused since it didn’t taste like anything they expected. The experiment failed and vanished quickly.
12. Coke C2 Tried to Be Low-Carb Soda
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Coke C2 promised the taste of Coke with fewer carbs and calories. It tried to appeal to the low-carb craze of the early 2000s. Most people didn’t see the need for a halfway diet soda.
13. Pepsi Ice Cucumber Was as Odd as It Sounds
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This soda was only released in Japan and had a cool, crisp cucumber flavor. It was refreshing but left many unsure if it counted as a soda. It became more of a collector’s item than a go-to drink.
14. Pepsi Holiday Spice Was a Seasonal Oddity
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Cinnamon and ginger were added to Pepsi for a holiday twist. Some people loved the warm, spicy flavor. Others wished the holidays hadn’t touched their soda.
15. Moxie Had a Bold, Bitter Kick
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Moxie has a sharp, herbal taste that hits you right away. It was one of the first sodas ever made in America. People either swear by it or say it tastes like medicine.
16. Slice Was Fruit-Flavored and Full of Hype
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Slice offered flavors like orange, cherry, and even peach with real juice. It was big in the ’80s and had lots of TV ads. Over time, it lost fizz as competitors took over.