7 Drinks That Fans Miss The Most Slideshow
With all the products and options available to customers at Starbucks, you would think that something like a syrup flavor being discontinued might go relatively unnoticed. Not so in the case of the cult favorite, Valencia, an orange-flavored syrup that was featured in Passion Tea drinks and mocha lattes and frappuccinos. Not only is it frequently brought up by fans in a Facebook thread entitled "Starbucks drinks you wish they'd bring back," it is also a popular topic on My Starbucks Idea, a web site created by the brand that allows consumers the opportunity to give feedback on the company. One heavily commented-on post on the site has nearly 20,000 votes supporting its return.
Mountain Dew Pitch Black
Fans of the grape-flavored variety of Mountain Dew, which was only originally released for the 2004 Halloween season, have long rallied behind it in Facebook fan pages ("Mountain Dew Pitch Black," "Make MD Pitch Black Permanent," "Pitch Black Mtn Dew, BRING IT BACK!"). So loyalists were no doubt excited when it was brought back by "popular DEWmand" for a few months this summer — a sweet, albeit fleeting victory.
Hi-C Ecto Cooler
Frequently featured in lists memorializing discontinued but beloved retro food products, this neon green juice was created as a product tie-in with the cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters. Discontinued in 2001, the drink has inspired fans (no doubt proud, card-carrying nerds and children of the 80s) to share recipes for their own homemade versions.
Orange "Drink" at McDonald's
Not to be confused with orange juice or orange soda, this sugary orange-flavored drink has since been sent off to the Golden Arches in the sky. Fans seem to get nostalgic about the drink's role as a staple at childhood school and church functions (there's even an Urban Dictionary entry about it), and have taken to Facebook to find like-minded enthusiasts.
Sprite ReMix
Apparently, the concept for the flavored versions of the popular soda were inspired by focus group talks the company held with "teenagers and young people." Unfortunately, those among them who liked the drink drew the short straw in 2005 when it was officially discontinued. Guess there's always a chance a still-full can will go up for sale on eBay.
Surge
Although sales weren't strong enough to inspire Coca-Cola to continue making the citrus-flavored soda (it was discontinued in 2001), the drink has since become an underground cult favorite. In addition to several Facebook petitions and fan blogs, it even inspired a website called SaveSurge.org, from self-proclaimed "soda activist" Eric Karkovack, who for years worked to bring the drink back to the market.
Crystal Pepsi
The clear, caffeine-free drink may not have fared too well on the market (lasting only one year, between 1992 and 1993), but it has become a pop culture icon with fans who have since petitioned for its reinstatement and taken to various social media outlets to proclaim their love for it.