History's Weirdest Soda Flavors
Throughout history, soda companies have pushed the boundaries of taste, creating flavors that surprise, delight, and even disgust. From the savory taste of a Thanksgiving dinner to the sweet pop of bubble gum, these beverages challenge our palates and sometimes our sensibilities. Here's a roundup of some of the most bizarre soda flavors to ever hit the shelves.
1. Bacon Soda
Imagine starting your day with a fizzy, bacon-flavored soda. Launched in 2010 amidst a nationwide bacon craze, this innovative beverage infuses the beloved taste of smoky, salty bacon into a soda. Still available today, bacon soda continues to intrigue and delight those who believe everything is better with bacon.
2. Tree Bark Soda
From the Caribbean comes a soda based on a truly unusual ingredient: tree bark. Mauby Fizz's Tree Bark soda, introduced in 2005, involves boiling tree bark with spices and herbs. Believed to have health benefits like lowering blood pressure and fighting diabetes, this soda is still popular today.
3. Onion Soda
While it may not win any popularity contests in the West, onion soda is popular in South Korea where this unique beverage is believed to offer medicinal benefits related to heart disease and Alzheimer's. For those adventurous enough to try this niche soda flavor, the experience has been described as somewhat off-putting.
4. Ranch Dressing Soda
In 2013, the creators at Rocket Fizz brought a peculiar twist to the soda market with ranch dressing soda. As strange as it might sound, this soda aims to capture the creamy, tangy essence of ranch dressing in a carbonated form. It's an acquired taste, with a scent resembling blue cheese.
5. Bubble Gum Soda
Hubba Bubba took a nostalgic candy flavor and turned it into a soda in 1987. The bright pink Hubba Bubba Original Bubble Gum Soda was designed to taste like the popular bubble gum, but despite its eye-catching color and sweet flavor, it didn't quite stick and was eventually discontinued.
6. Black Garlic Soda
Switzerland gave us one of the most unexpected soda flavors: black garlic soda. LaObamas' creation claims to be a "refreshing special garlic drink" without the garlic smell, focusing on the medicinal properties of black garlic. Surprisingly, this unusual beverage hasn't been discontinued and is still sold online.
7. Salty Watermelon Soda
In 2016, Japan introduced Fanta Salty Watermelon, a take on the traditional Japanese summer treat of salt-sprinkled watermelon. The idea was to help hydrate and replenish salts lost during hot summers. Despite being a popular flavor combination, the salty watermelon soda wasn't met with much success and was discontinued.
8. Celery Soda
Dating back to 1868, Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda is one of the oldest bizarre flavors. Originally produced in the U.S., this celery-flavored soda still has its fans, especially in New York City delis, continuing its legacy as a unique drink.
9. Curry Flavored Soda
Japan's love for curry inspired Ramune to create curry flavored soda. This soda attempts to capture the savory-sweet essence of curry sauce, a popular condiment in Japan. While it strays far from the traditional soda flavors, it still holds a place in the market for those looking for something a little different.
10. Turkey and Gravy Soda
Jones Soda took novelty to a new level with its turkey and gravy soda, a limited-edition flavor that aimed to capture the essence of Thanksgiving in a bottle. This creation is a testament to the lengths soda makers will go to, to replicate all your favoriate familiar and outrageous flavors.
11. Pickle Juice Soda
Imagine sipping on a carbonated drink that tastes like pickle juice. This green, vinegar-smelling soda claims health benefits such as alleviating muscle cramps and is still being produced today. Its bold flavor is definitely not for everyone but is a must-try for pickle lovers.
12. White Fungus Bird's Nest Soda
Perhaps the most exotic of all, Vietnam's white fungus bird's nest soda includes actual bits of white fungus and bird's nest made from swiftlet saliva. Marketed as tasting like "vanilla with milk," this soda highlights the diverse flavor preferences found in different cultures.
From meat and dressing to botanical and medicinal flavors, the world of weird sodas shows us that there's truly no limit to human creativity in the beverage industry. Whether these sodas sound tantalizing or terrifying, they all offer a unique taste experience that challenges our palates and our perceptions of what a soda can be.
