Have you ever heard of Crystal Pepsi or Orbitz? How about Surge or Jolt Cola? These are just some of the discontinued drinks that were once popular in the past. For those who were fortunate enough to taste them, these drinks bring back memories of a bygone era. Let’s take a look at some of these drinks and why they were discontinued.
Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi was a clear, caffeine-free cola introduced by PepsiCo in the early 1990s. The drink was marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional cola, as it did not contain any artificial colors or preservatives. The clear appearance was achieved by using a different manufacturing process that removed the caramel coloring typically found in cola.
The drink was initially successful, with a large marketing campaign featuring famous celebrities like Van Halen and Cindy Crawford. It was marketed towards young adults and those who were health-conscious, with slogans like “You’ve never seen a taste like this” and “Clear, clean, refreshingly Pepsi.” However, the unique taste and lack of color turned off many consumers, and it ultimately failed to catch on in the market.
Crystal Pepsi was discontinued in the early 1990s, only a few years after its introduction. The drink had poor sales and was not able to compete with other colas on the market. However, the drink has gained a cult following in recent years, with some fans calling for its return. In fact, PepsiCo briefly brought back the drink in 2016 for a limited time in the United States and Canada due to popular demand.
Overall, Crystal Pepsi may not have been a commercial success, but it has left a lasting impact on the soft drink industry. Its unique concept and marketing campaigns have made it a memorable product for those who were able to try it.
Surge
Surge was a citrus-flavored soft drink produced by The Coca-Cola Company in the 1990s. The drink was marketed towards teenagers and young adults as an alternative to Mountain Dew, which was popular among this demographic. Surge was first introduced in 1996 and quickly gained a loyal following.
The drink was known for its bold and intense flavor, high caffeine content, and bright green color. Its marketing campaigns targeted extreme sports enthusiasts and gamers, with the slogan “Feed the Rush.” It was even featured in the popular video game “Crash Bandicoot” as a collectible item.
However, Surge’s popularity was short-lived, and the drink was eventually discontinued in 2003 due to declining sales. Some speculated that the high sugar and caffeine content contributed to its decline, as health concerns became more prevalent in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Despite its discontinuation, Surge has maintained a devoted following, with fans launching various campaigns to bring it back. In 2014, Coca-Cola brought back the drink in limited quantities, exclusively through Amazon.com. The initial batch of Surge sold out within hours, and the demand for the drink continued to grow.
Today, Surge has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, with many fans collecting and trading the various merchandise and memorabilia associated with the brand. Its unique flavor and intense marketing campaigns have left a lasting impression on those who were fortunate enough to try it during its brief heyday in the 1990s.
Jolt Cola
Jolt Cola is a highly caffeinated soft drink that was first introduced in the United States in 1985. It was marketed as a “battery in a bottle” and targeted towards young adults and college students who needed an extra jolt of energy to get through the day. The drink quickly gained popularity and developed a cult following.
Jolt Cola was known for its high caffeine content, which was twice that of most other colas at the time. The drink was marketed as a stimulant and often used the slogan “All the sugar and twice the caffeine.” This appealed to those who needed an energy boost to stay awake or focused.
Jolt Cola went through several ownership changes and rebranding efforts over the years. It was briefly discontinued in 2009 but brought back in 2017 with a new marketing campaign and packaging design. The company has since expanded its product line to include other energy drinks and snacks.
Today, Jolt Cola remains a popular choice for those who are looking for an energy boost or a nostalgic beverage from the 80s and 90s. It has become somewhat of a pop culture icon and has been featured in various TV shows, movies, and video games. Its unique flavor and high caffeine content have made it a memorable product for many consumers.
Orbitz
Orbitz was a soft drink that was first introduced in the United States in 1997 by the Clearly Canadian Beverage Corporation. The drink was notable for its unusual appearance, featuring small, colorful balls suspended in a clear, gel-like liquid. These balls were made of edible jelly and contained fruit juice.
Orbitz was marketed as a premium and sophisticated beverage, with a high price point and sleek packaging. The company promoted it as a “texturally enhanced alternative beverage” and compared its appearance to a lava lamp. The drink came in a variety of flavors, including blueberry, raspberry, cherry, and citrus.
Despite its unique appearance and flavor, Orbitz struggled to gain widespread popularity and was eventually discontinued in 1998. Some speculated that the unusual texture and appearance turned off many consumers, while others attributed its failure to the high price point and lack of clear marketing strategy.
Despite its short-lived run, Orbitz has maintained a cult following among those who remember it. Its unusual appearance and flavor have made it a memorable product for many, and it has been featured in various TV shows, movies, and video games. Orbitz has become somewhat of a collector’s item, with some bottles selling for high prices on auction sites.
OK Soda
OK Soda was a soft drink produced by The Coca-Cola Company in the early 1990s. It was marketed as an alternative to traditional colas, with a unique flavor and packaging design that appealed to young adults and those who were disillusioned with mainstream advertising.
OK Soda was known for its minimalist branding and packaging, which featured abstract designs and cryptic messages. The drink’s slogan was “Things are going to be OK,” and its marketing campaigns often featured surreal imagery and obscure references.
Despite its unique branding and flavor, OK Soda failed to catch on with consumers and was discontinued in 1995, only a few years after its introduction. Some speculated that the unusual branding and cryptic messaging confused consumers and made it difficult for the drink to establish a clear identity.
Despite its commercial failure, OK Soda has maintained a devoted following, with some fans collecting and trading the various merchandise and memorabilia associated with the brand. Its unique branding and marketing campaigns have made it a memorable product for those who were able to try it during its brief run in the early 1990s.
Tab Clear
Tab Clear was a clear cola soft drink produced by The Coca-Cola Company in the late 1990s. It was marketed as a low-calorie alternative to traditional colas, with a crisp and refreshing taste that was intended to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Tab Clear was notable for its transparent appearance, which was achieved through a new formulation that removed the caramel color typically used in cola drinks. The drink was launched with a large marketing campaign, including commercials featuring the slogan “Get Clear!” and appearances at various events.
Despite its innovative formulation and marketing efforts, Tab Clear failed to catch on with consumers and was discontinued after only a year on the market. Some speculated that the drink’s unusual appearance and lack of clear branding confused consumers, while others attributed its failure to the fact that it was perceived as a “diet” or “health” drink, which may have turned off traditional soda drinkers.
Today, Tab Clear has become somewhat of a pop culture icon, with its unique appearance and short-lived run making it a memorable product for those who remember it. It has been featured in various TV shows, movies, and music videos, and has even been the subject of parody and nostalgia. Despite its commercial failure, Tab Clear remains a notable example of the soda industry’s experimentation with new formulations and marketing strategies in the late 1990s.
Pepsi Blue
Pepsi Blue was a blue-colored, berry-flavored soft drink produced by PepsiCo that was first introduced in the United States in 2002. The drink was marketed as a bold and innovative new beverage, intended to appeal to younger consumers and those looking for a unique and refreshing taste.
Pepsi Blue was notable for its vibrant blue color, which was achieved through the use of Blue 1 food coloring. The drink had a sweet and fruity flavor, with notes of berry and vanilla. It was launched with a large marketing campaign, including TV commercials, billboards, and promotions featuring popular musicians and celebrities.
Despite its initial popularity, Pepsi Blue struggled to maintain sales and was eventually discontinued in 2004. Some speculated that the unusual flavor and bright blue color turned off consumers, while others attributed its failure to the fact that it was launched during a time when the market was becoming increasingly saturated with new soft drink flavors and brands.
Despite its commercial failure, Pepsi Blue has maintained a devoted following among those who remember it. Its unusual flavor and vibrant color have made it a memorable product for many, and it has even been the subject of nostalgia and nostalgia-driven social media campaigns. PepsiCo has since experimented with other unique flavors and formulations, but Pepsi Blue remains a notable example of the soda industry’s ongoing attempts to innovate and appeal to changing consumer tastes.
Pepsi Kona
Pepsi Kona was a limited edition coffee-flavored soft drink produced by PepsiCo in the late 1990s. The drink was introduced in 1996 and was marketed as a beverage that combined the bold flavor of coffee with the refreshing taste of Pepsi cola.
Pepsi Kona was notable for its unique flavor profile, which blended the sweetness of Pepsi cola with the bitterness of coffee. It was produced using real Kona coffee beans, which are grown exclusively on the Big Island of Hawaii and are known for their rich, smooth flavor.
Despite its innovative formulation, Pepsi Kona failed to gain widespread popularity and was discontinued after only a few years on the market. Some speculated that the unusual flavor turned off consumers, while others attributed its failure to the fact that it was marketed as a limited edition beverage and was not widely available in stores.
Despite its short-lived run, Pepsi Kona has maintained a devoted following among those who remember it. Its unique flavor profile and use of real Kona coffee beans have made it a memorable product for many, and it has even been the subject of nostalgia-driven social media campaigns. PepsiCo has since experimented with other unique flavors and formulations, but Pepsi Kona remains a notable example of the soda industry’s ongoing attempts to innovate and appeal to changing consumer tastes.
Ecto Cooler
Ecto Cooler was a green-colored, citrus-flavored soft drink produced by Hi-C, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company. The drink was introduced in 1987 as a tie-in with the popular Ghostbusters franchise, featuring a cartoon image of the film’s iconic ghost mascot, Slimer, on its packaging.
Ecto Cooler was marketed as a bold and refreshing beverage, with a tangy and sweet citrus flavor that was both distinctive and popular among consumers. The drink’s green color was achieved through the use of Yellow 5 and Blue 1 food coloring, giving it a unique and eye-catching appearance.
Despite the end of the Ghostbusters franchise, Ecto Cooler remained in production for many years, continuing to be a popular beverage among children and adults alike. However, the drink was eventually discontinued in 2001, as Hi-C shifted its focus to other products.
In recent years, Ecto Cooler has gained a cult following among those who remember it, with fans creating online petitions and social media campaigns calling for its return. The drink has even been featured in popular media, with references to Ecto Cooler appearing in movies, TV shows, and video games.
In response to the demand, The Coca-Cola Company briefly brought back Ecto Cooler as a limited edition beverage in 2016, coinciding with the release of the Ghostbusters reboot film. The drink was once again available for a limited time, satisfying the cravings of many fans who had been waiting years for its return. Today, Ecto Cooler remains a notable example of the soda industry’s ability to create unique and beloved products that capture the imagination of consumers.
Slice
Slice was a line of fruit-flavored soft drinks introduced by PepsiCo in 1984 as a direct competitor to Coca-Cola’s Minute Maid and Fanta brands. Slice was marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional sodas, containing less sugar and fewer calories than other soft drinks.
Slice was initially offered in a variety of flavors, including lemon-lime, grapefruit, orange, apple, fruit punch, and berry. The drink was sweetened with a blend of high-fructose corn syrup and aspartame, an artificial sweetener.
In the 1990s, PepsiCo shifted the focus of Slice away from being a healthier alternative and began marketing it as a more indulgent beverage, with flavors like Cherry Cola and Mandarin Orange Soda. The company also introduced a line of diet flavors, which were sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
Despite its popularity, Slice began to lose market share in the late 1990s and was eventually discontinued in 2009, as PepsiCo focused its efforts on other brands like Sierra Mist and Tropicana. However, in 2018, Slice was reintroduced in a limited capacity, with a reformulated recipe and new flavors like Pineapple, Berry Punch, and Apple Slice.
Today, Slice remains a beloved beverage among those who remember it, with many fans eager to try the new and improved version. It is an example of how companies can adapt and change their marketing strategies over time to appeal to changing consumer tastes and preferences.
Overall
These discontinued drinks represent a bygone era in the soda industry, with each one leaving a lasting impact on those who remember them. Whether it was the innovative flavor profiles of drinks like Pepsi Kona and Jolt Cola or the tie-ins to popular franchises like Ghostbusters with Ecto Cooler, these drinks captured the imagination of consumers and became beloved parts of pop culture. While some of these drinks, like Crystal Pepsi and Surge, have seen brief comebacks in recent years, most remain a fond memory for those who enjoyed them during their heyday. Nevertheless, they continue to be a testament to the creativity and innovation of the soda industry, and a reminder of the enduring power of beloved brands and products.
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