1. Flip ’n Mix Soda Packets
If you grew up in the ’70s, you probably remember those little powder packets that promised a “custom soda experience” long before anyone said the word “craft.” Flip ’n Mix came in bright foil pouches, and all you had to do was add water, shake like crazy, and hope for the best. Kids loved the science-experiment feeling, even if half the time the results were overly sweet or oddly flat. The flavors were wild for the era too, especially anything labeled “tropical,” which usually meant something close to fruit punch. Parents didn’t love that it made a sticky mess on every kitchen counter, but that was part of the charm. Even when the flavors were hit or miss, it felt like magic to make your own soda. Today, it’s one of those inventions that feels very tied to a specific summer vibe. Looking back, it was less about the taste and more about the thrill of mixing something “grown-up” like soda all on your own.
Kids would trade packets like baseball cards at summer camp, bragging about who had the rare lemon-lime or the super-sour grape. The fizz never lasted long, but the anticipation did, especially when you cracked open a brand-new pouch. Sometimes the powder would clump if you didn’t seal the packet right, which led to those momentarily horrifying globs floating around in your cup. Still, everyone drank it anyway because that’s what you did in the ’70s, when the bar for novelty drinks was satisfyingly low. Flip ’n Mix also showed up at backyard cookouts where parents pretended it counted as “something hydrating.” By the end of the decade, the craze fizzled out just like the soda, but its memory still pops up for anyone who grew up shaking those packets. It’s funny how a little pouch of flavored powder could feel like the height of summer freedom.
2. Shasta Chocolate Soda
Shasta had no shortage of wild flavors back in the ’70s, but the chocolate soda was the one kids either adored or avoided entirely. It tasted like someone melted a Tootsie Roll into a can and added bubbles, which sounds strange, yet it totally worked on a hot July afternoon. You’d crack it open and hope the carbonation didn’t overwhelm that creamy chocolate edge. Friends would insist it tasted like a float without the ice cream, but it always leaned more “candy bar” than “dessert drink.” Parents didn’t love that it felt like drinking pure sugar, but that was hardly unique for the decade. For a while, it was the go-to treat to stash in the cooler before heading to the lake. Something about that sweet, fizzy chocolate taste made you feel like you were getting away with something.
When the flavor disappeared from shelves, people assumed it would eventually return like so many other vintage sodas have. But Shasta never brought it back for long, and the few attempts to revive chocolate sodas just couldn’t capture that same nostalgic kick. Kids who grew up with it still describe the taste with surprising accuracy, like it imprinted itself on their memory. You didn’t drink it every day, but when you wanted something fun and different, this was the can you reached for. It also made you feel oddly sophisticated, like you were drinking a fancy soda adults didn’t understand. The flavor definitely wasn’t for everyone, which may be why it faded away, but fans still talk about it like a long-lost friend. Chocolate soda will forever be one of those drinks that only makes sense if you lived through it.
3. Pepsi Light Lemon
Back in the ’70s, Pepsi decided to freshen up summer with a lemon-tinged cola called Pepsi Light. This wasn’t diet cola as we know it now, but rather a regular soda with a citrus kick that made it feel brighter and lighter. The lemon flavor wasn’t subtle either, almost like someone squeezed a wedge directly into the can. Adults loved it because it seemed somehow more refreshing and sophisticated than plain cola. Kids liked it because it felt like trying something new, even if they couldn’t decide whether it tasted more like lemonade or soda. It was the kind of drink you grabbed at a roadside burger stand before piling back into a scorching car. For a minute there, it really felt like Pepsi had cracked the code on the perfect summer soda.
But as new cola trends emerged, Pepsi Light slowly faded into the background. It didn’t help that diet soda culture was exploding, and the word “light” took on a whole new meaning. By the time the decade ended, most stores had quietly stopped carrying it. People who remember it still say nothing has ever tasted quite like that lemon-cola combo. If you had it at a family picnic or a camping trip, that memory probably stuck with you. It was the sort of drink that didn’t last long on the market, but left a surprising number of nostalgic fans behind.
4. Tahitian Treat Fruit Punch Soda
Tahitian Treat was the ultimate summer soda when you wanted something sugary, bold, and unapologetically red. It had that unmistakable fruit punch flavor that stained your tongue and your T-shirt if you weren’t careful. Every sip felt like a burst of Hawaiian vacation energy, even if you were just sitting in your backyard. Kids loved that it tasted nothing like actual fruit, which somehow made it better. Parents kept it around because it was affordable and seemed fancier than regular punch. It was the drink you emptied into big coolers for summer block parties. At the time, nothing tasted quite as electric and summery as Tahitian Treat.
Over the years, it faded from mainstream shelves, though you can still find it in a few places if you hunt hard enough. But in the ’70s, it was practically everywhere, especially at pool parties. People remember the bright can almost as much as the drink itself because it looked like summer in aluminum form. Even if you didn’t drink it often, you certainly remember seeing it at least once. It was a soda with personality, louder than anything else in the cooler. Its disappearance from many grocery stores makes it feel like one of those lost classics from a simpler time.
5. Lipton Brisk Lemonade Mix
Before pre-bottled iced tea and lemonade took over, Lipton’s lemonade mix was the MVP of summer drinks. You scooped a few spoonfuls into a plastic pitcher, added water, and stirred until the powder finally dissolved. Kids usually snuck an extra spoonful to make it sweeter, which meant parents constantly complained it was disappearing too fast. The result was tangy, sugary, and perfect after running around outside all day. It became a staple at neighborhood garage sales and Little League games. Most kids didn’t know how easy it was to make until someone accidentally spilled half the container on the counter. But once you learned how to mix it right, it was the taste of pure summer.
By the late ’70s, ready-made lemonades started popping up, and the classic powder mix lost its star status. Still, plenty of families kept it in their pantry long after it stopped being trendy. It had this homemade charm that felt different from grabbing a bottle out of the fridge. Younger generations might not recognize the old containers, but people who grew up with them remember exactly what that tart first sip tasted like. Even today, tasting a similar powdered lemonade can instantly send you back to being a sunburned kid holding a plastic cup dripping with condensation. It’s one of those small summer pleasures that quietly slipped away.
6. Fresca Peach
Fresca has survived the decades, but its peach flavor didn’t. In the ’70s, peach Fresca was a surprise hit, especially with adults who liked a lighter, fruitier soda. It had this crisp, refreshing taste that made it perfect for a sweltering July afternoon. Some people thought it tasted like a carbonated version of canned peaches, which wasn’t too far off. You’d often see it at summer potlucks alongside potato salad and watermelon slices. Kids didn’t always love it because it lacked the sweetness of other sodas, but grown-ups happily stocked it. It was elegant in a way, even if it came in a regular can.
By the ’80s, the flavor vanished, replaced by new takes on citrus and grapefruit. Fans still wonder why peach never made a comeback, especially when peach everything seems trendy now. If you ever had it with a backyard barbecue, you likely remember its easy, mellow flavor. Fruity sodas today are louder and sweeter, which makes the old Fresca peach seem almost classy by comparison. Its disappearance is one of those small beverage mysteries that still pop up in nostalgic conversations.
7. Kool-Aid Purplesaurus Rex
Before Kool-Aid started experimenting with wild flavor names, Purplesaurus Rex was the king of summer drink mixes. It mixed grape and lemonade, creating a tart-sweet combo that kids devoured by the pitcher. The dinosaur on the packet made it feel like a party before you even added water. You’d stir it with a wooden spoon until the water turned a deep purple that practically glowed in the sunlight. Friends compared whose mom made it sweeter, which usually meant pouring in way more sugar than the instructions suggested. It tasted like something you shouldn’t be allowed to drink every day, which made it more exciting. At camp or during sleepovers, this was always the first flavor to disappear.
Then, just as quickly as it arrived, it vanished. Kool-Aid occasionally brings it back for limited runs, but the original version never seems to stick around. People who grew up in the ’70s remember it as one of the best Kool-Aid flavors of all time. It may not have been a “fancy” drink, but it captured exactly what childhood summers felt like. The mix of grape and lemon sounds odd until you remember how adventurous kids’ taste buds were back then. Even now, the name alone sparks instant nostalgia.
8. 7-Up Gold
In the late ’70s, 7-Up introduced a totally unexpected twist with 7-Up Gold, a darker, spicier soda that suddenly made the brand feel rebellious. It had hints of cinnamon and ginger that made it unlike anything else in the cooler. Some people loved its bold flavor, while others wondered why a lemon-lime brand was suddenly making something that tasted more like a cola. Still, it became a short-lived summer favorite for those who liked something different. The flavor was warm and fizzy at the same time, which made it strangely refreshing on hot days. It was the sort of drink you tried once out of curiosity, then kept drinking because it felt unique. Kids didn’t totally understand it, but adults sometimes preferred it to traditional sodas.
Despite a small fanbase, it disappeared within a couple of years because it just didn’t fit the 7-Up identity. For people who loved it, though, it remains one of those “if you know, you know” beverages. The taste was so specific that nothing today quite replaces it. When people talk about discontinued sodas online, 7-Up Gold almost always gets a mention. It’s a reminder that even the most iconic brands sometimes take big swings that don’t survive, but leave behind unforgettable flavors.
9. Orange Nehi
Nehi was already a nostalgic brand by the ’70s, but Orange Nehi still had a loyal summer following. It had that bright, citrusy flavor that tasted like sunshine in a bottle. The color alone felt like it was custom-made for hot weather. Kids grabbed it because it reminded them of orange popsicles, and adults liked it because it wasn’t overly sweet. You’d find it in glass bottles at small gas stations or country stores where the cooler lid was always hard to lift. It wasn’t a soda you saw everywhere, which made spotting it in the wild a little thrill. By the mid-’70s, other brands crowded it out, and it slowly disappeared from most places.
People still search for it today, remembering how refreshing it felt on long road trips. That first fizzy sip after a few hours in a boiling hot car was the best. Even though orange sodas still exist, none of them have quite the same old-fashioned charm. Orange Nehi had a smoother flavor that didn’t taste artificial, at least not compared to its competitors. It’s one of those drinks that instantly transports you back to childhood if you ever tried it. Its quiet fade from store shelves makes it one of the great forgotten summer beverages.
10. Pepsi Twist
Before citrus-cola combinations had their big moment decades later, Pepsi tested the waters with Pepsi Twist. In the ’70s, it was an unexpected treat that tasted like someone squeezed a lemon into a classic cola. It instantly felt fresh, bright, and perfect for summer afternoons. You’d often see it stocked at concession stands at outdoor events because it felt more refreshing than regular soda. Kids liked the zesty kick, while adults appreciated that it wasn’t overly sweet. For a while, Pepsi Twist felt like a glimpse into the future of flavored colas. But it never quite broke through.
By the end of the decade, it disappeared from most shelves until Pepsi revived it again in the 2000s. Still, the original ’70s version had its own particular charm. People remember it as one of those drinks that didn’t last long but made a lasting impression. It tasted different enough to feel special, but not so strange that you didn’t want to drink it regularly. Even today, fans still talk about how the early version just hit differently. If you ever had it sitting on a lawn chair at a Fourth of July party, that memory probably stuck around.
11. Fanta Red Cream Soda
Fanta’s red cream soda was one of those flavors that made you stop and stare because it looked so bold. It had that unmistakable cream-soda smoothness, but the red color fooled you into expecting something fruitier. Kids loved the surprise of that creamy vanilla taste paired with such a vibrant hue. It showed up at pool parties and picnics, always standing out in the cooler. Parents didn’t buy it as often because it tended to be sugary, even by the standards of the day. But when you did get a bottle, it felt like a treat. It was a soda meant to be sipped slowly on a hot day.
Eventually the flavor disappeared in favor of more predictable fruit sodas. For people who grew up with it, the memory is crystal clear, especially that first visual shock of pouring a red drink that tasted like vanilla. Today, cream sodas still exist, but few try anything as bold as Fanta’s red version. It was the perfect example of how the ’70s loved to experiment with both color and flavor. Even if you only had it a few times, it left an impression. It’s one of those drinks you wish you could taste just once more.
12. Mr. Pibb (Original Formula)
Mr. Pibb debuted in the ’70s, offering a spicier alternative to the more mellow colas. The original formula leaned heavily into cinnamon and other spices, giving it a bold, almost fiery kick. It quickly became a summer favorite for people who wanted something a little different. You’d see it at cookouts next to burgers sizzling on the grill. Kids felt oddly mature drinking it because the flavor was more complex than the usual fruit sodas. Adults appreciated that it paired well with salty snacks and barbecue food. It was a soda with personality.
When the formula changed later on, longtime fans immediately noticed. Many still claim the original ’70s version was superior and still talk about it like a lost treasure. If you were lucky enough to try it back then, you probably remember the exact taste. The newer versions aren’t quite the same, which makes the original feel even more iconic. People love to reminisce about it because it came along during a time when soda brands weren’t afraid to get creative. For many, the original Mr. Pibb is a symbol of a summer that can’t be recreated.
13. Topp Cola
Topp Cola was one of those regional sodas that somehow made its way into coolers during summer gatherings. It had a clean, straightforward flavor that made it an easy crowd-pleaser. Kids would grab it at small convenience stores during road trips, especially if they wanted something different from the big national brands. The bottle had a simple label, which weirdly made it feel more special. It wasn’t flashy, but it got the job done on a hot summer day. When you cracked it open, that first carbonation hiss always hit just right. It was the sort of soda that didn’t need a gimmick to taste good.
By the late ’70s, larger brands edged it out of most markets. Today, only a small number of people even remember the name. But for those who do, it’s tied to memories of long drives, gas station pit stops, and lazy summer afternoons. You didn’t buy it because it was trendy, you bought it because it felt familiar. It’s one of those forgotten brands that quietly shaped summers without anyone realizing it. Topp Cola disappeared without fanfare, but its simple charm still lingers for anyone who ever drank it straight from a glass bottle.
14. Cactus Cooler (Original Regional Release)
Cactus Cooler is around today in some places, but its original ’70s version was a different experience entirely. Back then, it was a quirky regional soda with a bold pineapple-orange flavor that tasted like sunshine in a bottle. It felt like an exotic treat when most kids were still drinking basic colas or root beers. If you found it outside its usual regions, it felt like you’d discovered buried treasure. The combination of flavors made it perfect for scorching afternoons when you needed something tropical. Kids especially loved how different it tasted from anything else in the cooler. The bright label made it look even more summery.
As it expanded and the formula shifted, the original version faded into memory. People who grew up with it still insist the old blend was smoother and fruitier. It became one of those “you had to be there” drinks that defined local summers. Even though a version still exists, the ’70s formula is the one fans reminisce about. If you ever tasted the early release, it probably left a lasting impression. It’s one of the few drinks that managed to feel both nostalgic and ahead of its time.