I lived for pop long before I was able to gorge myself on beer. I was an aficionado of sorts, and attempted to try all the soda I could as often as I could. Many of my favorite pops as a kid and a young adult have since gone the way of the Dodo; disappearing into oblivion. Sometimes a few make it back for another life, but, like the ten here on this list, many have faded away only to survive on Ebay and web sites. Enjoy them here, while they last.
10. Coke II
So, back when Coca Cola started to slump a little in sales to its fiercest competitor, Pepsi Cola, someone made the executive decision to dink around with Coke’s secret formula thereby making it taste more like, well, PEPSI. It wasn’t bad, per se , but it sure as hell wasn’t Coke. I remember consuming mass quantities of this stuff by can and, the newest form of container: 2 liters. This was an early eighties disaster and it always managed to make an appearance at our sleep-overs and it did a fine job of keeping us wired for hours. I think it had more sugar as well. I really do miss this stuff, but sadly, when Coke went back to its ‘Classic’ formula permanently, Coke II disappeared into soda oblivion.
9. Hubba Bubba
The strongest memory I have of Hubba Bubba Soda is from high school. We, in the ass-backward, dirt-water, shit-hole that is Paw Paw Michigan, used to hold school-wide contests involving all manner of self-deprecation. One of the ‘games’ was the infamous ‘Pop Chug’. The teaching staff that came up with this gem were sick and evil sadists of the highest degree. Everyone would stand over a beach towel with a ‘spotter’ on one side and commence to gulping as much warm Hubba Bubba Soda as humanly possible. Loads of fun. I was never a big fan of this gum-flavored pop, but it does hold certain high esteem in my clogged memory bank.
8. Pepsi’s Wild Bunch
Just in case the images aren’t clear, we’ve got: Raging Razzberry, Tropical Chill, and Strawberry Burst. I love how Raspberry is cleverly misspelled into ‘cool’ territory with the two ‘Z’s. Very nice. Anyway, The deepest remembrances I have of this particular trio was the chilling innards of my grandparent’s ancient refrigerator in their garage. It was one of those ‘chill chest’ types with the giant metal walk-in-restaurant-freezer style of handle and enough wattage to cause neighborhood brown outs. Yeah, that thing was always chock full of every conceivable beverage from beer to Bosco . Every time we’d visit we’d try to find the most odd drink we could dig out of there and I quite fondly remember tossing back a few of these guys. Dead and gone now. No, not my Grandparents, but the fridge and the soda, for sure.
7. Surge
Though not out of circulation as long as some of these, Surge has still become a classic to many a pining American. Coca Cola distributed this green soda for quite some time. I can remember it coming in to its own right around 1995 or so, and really building up steam for a few years before succumbing to the popularity of other, weaker, beverages. It had a citrus-like flavor to it but there was something almost lime-Jell-O-ish in the back ground that would always leave a little tang phlegm at the back of my throat. But it was pretty tasty and I could knock back a 2 liter in a sitting no problem. Almost, but not quite, melted candy.
6. Leed
Leed was a carbonated lemonade drink sold in some parts of the world during the middle to late 20th century. It was produced and distributed by Coca-Cola Amatil only in New Zealand and Australia. Leed was one of the staple drinks among New Zealand retailers during the 1980s and was probably the most common lemonade drink distributed by Coca-Cola Amatil during its life. In 1984, Leed was discontinued and replaced by the more widely known Sprite brand. Accompanying this change was also a new recipe.
5. Josta
This was a pretty recent extinction as well. I remember drinking a few of these back when Guarana was the new kid on the beverage block being marketed by Coke as the energy source of choice. Josta was so chock-full of the stuff you could, in fact, taste it. It was a tad medicine-y, but that flavor was nicely buried beneath the strong fruit and spice overtones that assaulted your taste buds moments before. This pop was far different taste wise than just about anything else out there, and it was pretty decent while it lasted.
4. Orbitz
Oh yeah, soda with little chewy chunks in it. Outstanding. Somehow, the creators of this beverage managed to thwart the normalcies of science by allowing starch nuggets to suspend themselves ever so beautifully in a super-sweet solution. It was really good, too. I remember Target selling the hell out of this stuff for quite a while. I enjoyed the drinking part, but somehow, coming to the little lumps floating there in was a lot like drinking a glass of gravy… except a lot sweeter. I do miss it.
3. Kick
Kick was a lot like the bastard step-son of Mountain Dew and Mello Yellow. It tasted really similar to both, but almost leaning a bit toward Mello Yellow with its citrus overtones. I actually preferred it over either and would go through a case of this stuff during my late night Dungeons and Dragons marathons. I think it may have made a bit of a come back lately, but not around here. Too bad.
2. Slice
Slice was the precursor to Sierra Mist by the Pepsi corporation and for my buck, it tasted a whole lot better. My grandmother, in her massive fridge of holding, used to keep a constant supply of the Mandarin Orange flavor of this stuff. I hate mandarin oranges in any form, so I stuck to the lemon-lime standard and all was good with the world. There was something less overpowering about Slice as compared to 7-UP; not quite as crisp, not quite as effervescent, but certainly just as tasty.
1. Crystal Pepsi
I was in college in 1993 and this soda was a huge hit up at Northern Michigan U. in Marquette, Michigan. My room mate and I loved the stuff. We could get it at the local Circle K for like $2 an eight-pack of 20-ouncers. I honestly loved this stuff, I would drink the HELL out of a few packs per week. I remember one time I tried to be cool by slashing open the plastic yolk that securely held together the octuplets with my X-Acto knife. Bad idea. I ended up cutting two of the bottles and sprayed soda all over our dorm room. Not especially funny. Anyway, there was just something about the non-caramel colored Pepsi that really appealed to me. I miss this the most of all.
Contributor: StewWriter
I have one thing to say…1-800-I-FEEL-OK..
I’m shocked and apalled that didnt make it in. That beverage outshined them all!!!
Brings back many memories… Looked a few of these up on Wikipedia and you can find alot of background information on these sodas. Slice is not totally dead, just another case of being in hiding. Seems Wal-Mart is the big seller for Slice-One, sporting a few different flavors, but changed the name due to using Splenda in all of the variations. I have a restaurant and bar in Illinois, and I grew up drinking RC Cola. I had thought that it had disappeared, along with Diet Rite, but currently that is what I sell at my place and people come in alot of times just to have one or the other. Diet Rite did change to using Splenda, versus Nutrasweet in the original formula. There is even a whole Wikipedia page for discontinued sodas and there were a few more on there that I am sure would drum up some lost memories for alot of people.
Doing a little more Wiki’ing…. You can even look up nearly all of the current sodas in all markets worldwide. I see alot of them that I’ve had while vacationing in other areas of the US, like Birch Beer, which is kinda like root beer, but made from birch trees versus sassafras. Just Wiki “soft drinks” and check it out.
I drank Surge back in the late ’90′s. One day my buddy Jimmy and I were driving, listening to the radio, and drinking Surge. A loose wire blew a fuse and the radio quit. So we entertained ourselves by having a burping contest. After a while I announced, “We don’t need a radio, we got Surge!” Jimmy laughed so hard Surge almost came out his nose. Maybe you had to be there, maybe it was the caffiene and sugar, or maybe it’s just that Jimmy was wEiRd. I miss Surge.
coke II did taste more like pepsi, and the first time i tried “surge”, i was up for a day and a half. Jolt, i thought was weak, and tasted like the old howard johnson brand canned sodas i used to pick up on the way through chicago in the 70s.
i do remember the original in the glass bottle fresca and tab products. both tasted fine to me, and i agree about chemical sweeteners. but does any one remember “Like” cola? their tag line was “it isn’t LIKE a cola, it IS a cola!” early 80s if i’m not mistaken. possible 7-up product.
i can easily buy vernor’s or faygo sodas at the woodman’s fine store. and not to forget mountain dew in the green glass bottle. “bottled by maw and paw” and it’s effervescence is so strong it shoots the bottle cork right through the brim on “paw’s” hat.
Afri Cola find it all over in Germany.
Being an English ex-pat I arrived in time only to try about half of these- the other half being gone before I moved here.
But one drink I used to love back in England that I wish they sold in the US (I believe it is a Coke product):
LILT
Simply the best sode- pineapple grapefruit. The only thing that disturbs me is the name- sounds similar to milt, which if I remember from biology correctly is fish sperm.
I remember Surge very well, pretty tasty by my accounts, the one that really got me were the flavored pepsi’s and Josta cola, man they sold that thing where I lived for maybe 7 months and then poof. I think I saw someone posting about the mexican apple soda manzana, now here in Chicago you can find it at some local corner shops along with Mexican coke and pepsi which is still made with real sugar and comes in this real heavy glass bottle, costs a little more but well worth it.
By the way where’s Citra on the list? That coca-cola copy of Squirt.
ZELTSER SELTSER AND CHEERWINE ARE STILL CLASSICS IN MY BOOK
Man I loved me some crystal pepsi as well. I recently moved home to TX where any soda is a coke, still trying to re-adjust to saying that. Before I left TX (1991) we had shasta here, Cream Soda in particular I was hooked on. Anyone know what happened to Shasta???? or where I might procure some of this tasty “coke”
thanx,
spawny@gmail.com
OK Soda was never “officially” released nationwide. I can picture it on the Harding’s shelf in Parchment, MI, but I don’t ever remember seeing it anywhere else. Any of you who loved the advertising campaign need to listen to the song “Tastes Like OK Soda” by Dillinger 4.
I’ve never seen Manzanita Sol in the US, but on a class trip to Mexico, there were a few of us who chugged about 3 or 4 a day. Good stuff.
Also, bring back Crystal Pepsi and Van Halen-backed commercials.
A few years ago while searching my cabinets I found a Six Pack I had put back of Coke produced before “New” Coke, it does not have the “Classic” on the can. Haven’t had the courage to try a taste.
Dang – Smells Like OK Soda by Dillinger 4.
Tab, RC Cola, Diet Rite, and (surprisingly) Vernor’s are available here in central VA. Vernor’s was always a Michigan/Great Lakes phenom, but apparently y’all’s transplants have brought the demand for it here. BTW, Josta and it’s rival Jaguar were the best!!!
WHODATHUNKIT: Are you from NC? It seems Cheerwine and/or SunDrop are the state beverages for Tarheels. I like ‘em, but not as much as Mr. Pibb/MelloYello
Hey, Paw Paw’s not so bad. Speaking of tasty beverages, they’ve got a winery there now, ya know…
Vanilla Coke
Sundrop is a way of life in Middle Tennessee. Most folks who move away have relatives bring a trunk load to them when they visit. Also, very high in caffeine.
JAMES- They finally started carrying Sundrop in Kroger stores here about a year ago. I think it’s also big in WV (must be the mountains)…
Anyone remember Hires Root Beer? I’m sure it’s still around, but I can’t find it anymore. Mug’s just not the same.
hmm – speaking of root beer – what it is made of? I really like it.
Stew! I was looking, but did not find my 2 favorite sodas of my youth:
Green River & Jolt
Green River came in a cool 2 liter bottle my mom would pick up from the Food Lion. It had a simple label with a river and the moon, and the bottle was green. Tasted a lot sweeter than Sprite, more like sucking a lime dipped in sugar, but not as syrup-y as modern Mountain Dew.
Now Jolt? Many a night during my rave phase did I consume nothing but Jolt to dance the night away. Now that I think about it, how else could I have remained on the dance floor, jerking and dancing, crazy lights and glow sticks a-plenty, from Midnight to 8 a.m.? as far as I was concerned, back in 1994, Jolt was the only “energy” drink I could afford!
ringtailroxy
p.s. i believe both of these sodas are still made now, but in very limited quantites…
From Wikipedia -
“Bark from the roots of Sassafras tree is the typical flavor in root beer. It can be complimented with other flavorful ingredients, for instance vanilla, cherry tree bark, licorice root, sarsaparilla root, artificial sassafras root bark flavoring (the natural form is mildly carcinogenic), nutmeg, anise, and molasses among other ingredients in some cases including caffeine.”
There’s your answer, jfrater. =)
Melissa: thanks! Judging by the inclusion of some of those ingredients is it the same thing as sarsaparilla?
Hey – for the kiwis reading the list – do you remember when dairies used to have great big giant leed bottles on their roofs? Some had fanta bottles instead. Do they still do that?
#4 with the little jelly (actually its probably tapioca) thing can probably be traced to Vietnamese Boba drinks that you can try in most Vietnamese Pho noodle restaurants here in America.
I remember orbitz, I hated that stuff…I could not get over the texture.
I remember Crystal Pepsi being called Pepsi Clear here in Canada… I had a severe allergic reaction and ended up getting hives everywhere!
Let’s not forget Pepsi Free, the original Diet Pepsi.
Hire’s used to sell packets to make your own rootbeer…put it in canning jars. When you opened them..blue smoke would come out. My mom made it strong so it wouldn’t lose its zip in ice. They still sell Hire’s in WVa. Anyone remember…Double Cola, Upper Ten, Moonshine, Kickapoo Joy Juice, Yoo-Hoo (still made I think)Remember Fizz Tabs? Big Red?
SocialButterfly – that is crazy! What was the ingredient that caused it?
mitchsn: does that taste like orbitz? I never liked that drink but I seem to recall that the balls were were very gelatinous – does tapioca go that consistency?
Um in case you didn’t know this. Surge is still sold. It just has a different name. I used to drink that crap all the time since my high school had machines of the stuff with can’s costing 15 cents and 35 for a 20 oz when the stuff first came out. If you want Surge it now comes in a Container called Vault. The exact same ingredients list I checked and it tastes exactly the same. Oh did I mention Vault is made by Coke so um yeah same stuff.
Hubba Bubba Soda?
You’re a diabetic now, aren’t you?
jfrater: Honestly I’m not sure what caused it, this was in ’93 and I was 13 at the time. I just remember having red itchy welts all over and my mother having to put this lotion on me… very embarrasing when you are a teenager!
SocialButterfly: I can imagine!
8rustapples: drink enough hubba bubba soda and you will become a diabetic too!
RAT FINK- I think Kikapoo was bought out by/turned into Mountain Dew. And Yoo-Hoo is very big here. Nothing beats an ice cold one on a hot day. BTW, you know what one of it’s primary ingredients is?
its not pop… let me explain why… the full name is Soda Pop correct? Yes! so calling it soda is by its first name the only people who walk around calling people by ther last names are douche’s and should be kicked in the privbates u all know who im talking about those annoying guys who think they are all that or something walking around calling everyone by there last name well now u have make it 10 times worse by calling drinks by there last name
Pepsi Blue… how I loved that stuff. It tasted so good and was discontinued. I cried that day for hours.
Pepsi Lite, the lemon flavored one…Godawful! Somebody called it “Pepsico’s way of saying fvck you to consumers.”
Pepsi Blue! I feel your pain, Explosion.
I miss Josta, too, that ***** was delicious. And I totally forgot about the tantalizing Surge and *****y(?) Slice.
The bubble tea stuff reminds me of Orbitz.
it’s soda. no, it’s pop. no, it’s cola.
it’s just regional dialects, like saying buggy for shopping cart, or tennis shoes for sneakers. big deal.
by the way, it’s totally soda and sneakers, anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong! new yorkers never get anything wrong.
if you drank enough surge it would mess u up for a couple of days haha
Pepsi Max is sold in the UK and its the best, I drink it by the gallon, so much nicer than Diet Pepsi. Since I’ve been drinking it so much I hate the taste of Diet Coke (I only drink diet drinks). And if you’re referring to the Pepsi Light i’m thinking of its sold in Europe mainland (well, Café Nero sells it), along with Coca Light etc, and they all taste vile. We have this new stuff called Coke Plus which is diet coke with vitamins in and its disgusting, its like herbal tea mixed with coke. Also Five Alive is still in the UK.
.
Vanilla Coke is still here along with the lemon and lime pepsi’s.
If you live in the UK Tesco took the energy drink Red Devil out of production, that broke my heart! Its cherry flavoured and kept me alive at work!! boooo
They forgot my personal favorite – Aspen! Remember, it was an apple flavored soda that came out either in the late 70s or early 80s??? I absolutely LOVED it!!!
I agree. I miss Aspen and of course who could forget Rondo – The Thirst Crusher. It was, after all, less carbonated “so you could slam it down fast!” A couple of those, a Marathon bar and playing Star Castle in the back of 7-11 is how I spend my tween years.
Oh man. Tropical Chill Pepsi. The best soda EVER.
I’ve never before or since loved a soda like I loved that. I had ONE can of it left in my fridge for like 6 months after it was discontinued. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it.
I found a bottle of Crystal Pepsi in my basement. I think Holday Spice Pepsi should be on this list, but I may be the only one who liked it.
lol, so many comments on a soda list.
anyway here’s a funny Crystal Pepsi related skit:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1556461&vid=142059
Do you think if we pooled some money together we could buy the Crystal Pepsi recipe from Pepsi and make it in our bathtubs?
From Wikipedia: “In 2003, 55 gallon drums of the beverage were found in a storm drain in Denver, Colorado, and later sold on eBay.”
If only I had known!!!!!
Is nautilus still around? What about Shasta?
http://gumbofile.wordpress.com/
Stop notifying me of followup comments
Jesus Christ!! so many comments already on a bunch of sodas!! Folks sure have a lot to say today..
the first diet drink i ever liked was diet cherry cola slice. it was good and didn’t have a aftertaste like nearly all diet sodas before that. i miss that *****!
Guarana’ was/is the national drink of Brasil. (Perhaps after Beer and caffe)
Two biggest brands are Antarctica and Brahma. I liked the Antarctica best. The guarana’ drinks I found here were too sweet.
The “little gob things in the soda” can be found on the West Coast–in Thai restaurants! They call it “bubble soda” and I have seen a few indie versions. So if you’re nostalgic for hacking up slime, you have a variety of new possibilities. . .perhaps take it next door with some calamari sushi?
OK Soda was great. It even had the cans that looked like beer cans. I was hooked as a kid
I’m glad someone mentioned Pepsi Blue. I liked coke alot more than the pepsi company until that sweet nectar pepsie blue came out.
I see a few mentions of “Rondo” it has to best the best discontinued soft drink. It hasn’t been around for years and yet there are still those of us who remember it wistfully.
I’ll also chime in on the root beer topic. Frosty, Dad’s and Hires in that order, there are no other decent root beers. Although the Big River Grille in Chattanooga, TN does make a mighty fine runner-up.
Good list….
MMMMMM GUARANA…
Pepsi came out with some tropical blend during the summer. i mistakenly picked it up and bought it… it was horrible.
orange slice is the best…
i remember seeing the commercials for crystal pepsi when i was 10 and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. but it disappeared as fast as it came…..
does anyone remember the clear pepsi?
Every soda in america that was put into glass bottles should be remembered. That’s why I love foreign countries…still have glass bottles.