When classic sodas are no longer stocked on supermarkets’ shelves, collectors continue their legacy, attracted by their pop culture history and stylish designs. The thrill of hunting down that one elusive can from decades past has created an underground economy where empty soda containers trade hands for thousands of dollars. Serious “can-tique” collectors scour flea markets, estate sales, and specialist auctions for the rarest pieces, and some of those rusty relics now command four- and even five-figure prices. Below are some of the documented cans that have recently fetched at least $2,000, proving that yesterday’s empties can become today’s treasure.
Beverage experts and collectors have identified certain discontinued sodas that continue to fuel obsessive searches decades after their demise. From limited edition releases to discontinued brands, rare soda cans are prized by collectors not just for their scarcity, but for the stories they tell. What makes these particular sodas so coveted? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of discontinued fizz that collectors would pay handsomely to find.
Crystal Pepsi – The Clear Cola Phenomenon
Crystal Pepsi, a luminescent icon among discontinued sodas, captivated taste buds with a novel twist. Born in the early ’90s, it swapped caramel for clarity, showcasing a pure cola flavor unhindered by artificial colors. This revolutionary clear cola represented Pepsi’s audacious attempt to ride the “clear craze” that swept through the early 1990s. It quickly developed a cult following despite its brief time on the market. Original release cans are increasingly difficult to find, especially unopened ones in good condition.
The transparent beverage became a cultural phenomenon that transcended its short commercial lifespan. Collectors particularly prize the original 1993 release cans, which feature the distinctive clear bottle imagery and the tagline that promised “pure cola taste.” The crisp, citrusy notes and smooth caramel undertones formed a unique symphony, granting a glimpse of cola’s essence. Its origin in the United States and innovative concept piqued curiosity, propelling it to a brief but memorable stint in the soda scene, where it remains a testament to adventurous soda exploration.
Josta – The Original Energy Cola
When PepsiCo launched Josta in 1995, it made history as the first energy drink introduced by a leading U.S. beverage brand. This innovative soda featured both caffeine and guarana, a plant from the Amazon that’s naturally high in caffeine. Fans have said this drink tasted similar to cola but had a stronger, fruitier flavor, reminiscent of berries. Josta represented a bold experiment in the mid-90s beverage landscape, combining traditional cola taste with exotic energy-boosting ingredients.
In 1999, PepsiCo announced it was discontinuing Josta, blaming a shift in corporate strategy. Devastated fans immediately started a campaign called “Save Josta,” which still exists to this day. In 2007, fans even organized a National Josta Day to bring awareness to their cause. Despite these efforts (and a recent cameo in Disney+’s Loki series), Pepsi has remained silent on the possibility of bringing back the soda. The passionate fanbase has kept demand for original Josta cans remarkably high among collectors.
Surge – Coca-Cola’s Electric Green Answer
Known for its electric green can and high caffeine content, Surge was Coca-Cola’s answer to Mountain Dew in the 90s. It was discontinued in the early 2000s, and the original cans are now relatively scarce. Surge was Coca-Cola’s bold 1996 answer to Mountain Dew. Though this drink was discontinued in 2003, it was revived briefly in 2014, and for a short time, you could buy it on Amazon.
The soda’s distinctive neon packaging and extreme marketing campaign made it an instant hit with teenagers and young adults. Surge, a bold and citrusy elixir, emerges as a prime example within the realm of discontinued sodas. Its vibrant green hue and intense flavor captured the essence of the late ’90s, resonating with a generation seeking the thrill of adventurous tastes. The story of Surge is a testament to the evolving tastes and trends that have shaped the soda landscape, inviting us to reflect on the transitory nature of fizzy favorites.
Tab – Coca-Cola’s Diet Pioneer
Launched in 1963. This was Coca-Cola’s first diet soda. Tab pioneered calorie-free beverages and had a dedicated cult following for an impressive 57 years. The fake sugars were a big hit. Sadly, the rise of Diet Coke in the 1980s eclipsed Tab, leading to its discontinuation in 2020. Arguably the most famous recently discontinued product occurred in 2020 when manufacturer Coca-Cola ended its Tab soda. Tab was introduced in 1963, evolving through quite a few design changes over the years. Tanner told Newsweek: “It was extremely popular and prices have risen significantly for many of the cans.
The pink-canned diet soda became synonymous with weight-conscious consumers throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Its distinctive saccharin sweetness and memorable advertising campaigns created a loyal following that persisted for decades. Collectors now seek vintage Tab cans from different eras, particularly those featuring early logo designs and promotional tie-ins that reflected changing American attitudes toward dieting and health.
Coca-Cola BlaK – The Coffee-Cola Hybrid
Coca-Cola BlaK was a coffee-flavored soda introduced by the manufacturer in 2006 and discontinued a short while later, in 2008. Nancy Quan, Coca-Cola’s Chief Technical Officer has suggested the soda’s infamous failure was simply a case of bad timing. She told CNN Business: “That was a trend before its time. This ambitious fusion beverage attempted to bridge the gap between cola and coffee culture, targeting sophisticated adult consumers.
Coca-Cola BlāK, launched in 2006, was a daring fusion of soda and coffee. Coca-Cola actually thought it could appeal to the coffee elite. And yeah, it didn’t work out, leading to its discontinuation by 2008. The sleek black packaging and premium positioning made BlaK cans instantly recognizable. Today, collectors view these cans as artifacts of Coca-Cola’s experimental phase, representing the company’s willingness to push boundaries in pursuit of new market segments.
Orbitz – The Lava Lamp Drink
Easily one of the coolest and most inventive beverages we’ve ever seen, Orbitz Soda is the perfect example of the wacky creativity of the ’90s. It resembled a drinkable lava lamp and was filled with funny-looking floating balls made with food dye, artificial flavoring, and gelatin. Launched in 1997, Orbitz stood out with its strikingly translucent liquid and floating gelatinous balls, resembling a drinkable lava lamp and marketing itself as a “texturally enhanced” beverage. However, the unsettling texture divided consumers, and by 1998, Orbitz was discontinued.
The beverage featured colorful floating orbs suspended in clear, flavored liquid that created a mesmerizing visual effect. Though many consumers found the texture off-putting, the unique appearance made Orbitz bottles highly collectible. The short production run and distinctive packaging have made original Orbitz bottles among the most sought-after items in the discontinued beverage collecting community.
Hubba Bubba Soda – The Bubblegum Beverage
You may not remember Hubba Bubba soda given its short shelf life. After all, this pink beverage (derived from the popular bubblegum) was released in 1988, but was discontinued in less than 5 years. The taste was rumored to come from a bubblegum-flavored snow cone syrup invented by a fan named Steve Roeder – who secured the rights from Wrigley – rather than the actual Hubba Bubba recipe. When Roeder blended club soda with a bubblegum-flavored syrup, he may have captured the taste of the original bubblegum – but he failed to win over the hearts of its fans. Despite Hubba Bubba releasing a diet version of its soda alongside the original flavor, this beverage simply wasn’t long for this world.
Diet Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum Soda was a pink soft drink manufactured with a license from The Wrigley Company, the maker of Hubba Bubba bubble gum. This is the diet version of the drink. The listing on eBay, which has a reserve price of $200, states: “The product has been discontinued for unknown reasons. “The soda was sold worldwide and now has a petition online of loyalists to bring it back again.”
Slice – The Fruit Juice Soda
Before Starry, there was Sierra Mist, and before Sierra Mist there was Slice–yet another blip in PepsiCo’s lemon-lime timeline. This original soda pop gushed onto the scene in 1984 quickly to be joined by other fruit variants including Orange Slice, Apple Slice, Cherry Cola Slice, Strawberry Slice, and Grape Slice. Gimmicks aside, the soda tasted incredible, and issues only arose when the company decided to diversify its flavor selection. Eventually, Slice offered 15 fruit flavors to choose from, which muddied the brand’s voice and contributed to a decline in sales and discontinuation. While the original Slice is gone as we know it, a completely different-looking Slice soda returned in 2018 with a new recipe and design (though that also appears to be gone as of February 2024).
Slice, a vibrant contender in the realm of discontinued sodas, blended a symphony of flavors that once tantalized taste buds. With its medley of real fruit juices and a touch of effervescence, Slice showcased the harmony of citrusy zing and subtle sweetness. The original Slice cans featuring the distinctive logo and “We’ve got the juice” slogan have become highly prized among collectors who remember the soda’s unique positioning in the market.
Coca-Cola Spiced – The Raspberry Mystery
Coca-Cola Spiced is another recently discontinued soda. While the flavor, launched in February 2024, was advertised as a permanent offering, it had a surprisingly short run. After about five months on the market, Coca-Cola decided to cut its losses. The main issue with Spiced was its misleading name. Instead of a spicy beverage, Spiced combined the classic Coke taste with a raspberry twist. The soda received mixed feedback from consumers, with some enjoying its pronounced raspberry flavor and others comparing it to cough syrup.
Despite its brief appearance on shelves, Coca-Cola Spiced has already begun attracting collector interest due to its remarkably short production run. Coca-Cola Spiced, for example, was highly touted by the company upon its release early in 2024. The Associated Press noted that Coke marked the flavor as a “permanent” addition to its line before pulling the plug about 5 months later. The distinctive red and pink swirled packaging design and the controversy surrounding its taste have made early cans potential future collectibles.
Jolly Rancher Soda – The Hard Candy Beverage
Another hard candy soda gone sour. Apparently, the execs at Jolly Rancher, owned by the Hershey Co., didn’t learn from the mistakes made by Life Savers and released a sparkling refreshment infused with its confection’s tastes anyway in 2005. Surprisingly, they reaped a starkly different outcome, though, as the brand’s soft drink enjoyed a 17-year spurt of action in the aisles. In a fit of nostalgia, novelty, and sugar cravings, shoppers guzzled down the bubbly beverage’s 14 different flavors including all your Jolly Rancher favorites like Watermelon, Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, and Grape until it was finally discontinued in 2021.
Unlike many candy-flavored sodas that failed quickly, Jolly Rancher Soda achieved remarkable longevity in the market. The vibrant, neon-colored cans matched the bold flavors of the candy brand, creating a visually striking product that stood out on store shelves. Collectors now seek the various flavor variants, particularly limited editions and regional releases that featured special packaging or promotional tie-ins with the candy brand.
These discontinued sodas represent more than just failed products – they’re cultural artifacts that capture specific moments in beverage history. It is certainly one of the most sought-after soda cans! Price estimates could be as high as $3,000 to $5,000.” The collector market continues to thrive as enthusiasts search attics, estate sales, and online auctions for these fizzy treasures. What discontinued soda would you pay top dollar to find? Tell us in the comments.
