Soda lovers, prepare your taste buds for a wild ride! Beyond the familiar colas and lemon-limes lies a universe of soda flavors so strange they’ll make your head spin.
From savory holiday dinner flavors to bizarre vegetable concoctions, these drinks push the boundaries of what carbonated beverages can be. Ready to discover the weirdest bubbles on the planet?
1. Mabi Taino Fermented Bark Soda
Tree bark in a bottle? Absolutely! This Caribbean concoction starts with the bark of the mabi tree, fermented until it develops a unique woody-sweet profile that’s simultaneously earthy and refreshing.
Indigenous to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, this traditional beverage predates modern sodas by centuries. The slight fermentation gives it a natural effervescence that commercial producers now enhance.
2. Jones Soda Co. Turkey & Gravy Soda
Thanksgiving dinner in liquid form? Jones Soda Co. shocked the beverage world with their Turkey & Gravy soda, a limited-edition flavor that tastes exactly like its name suggests – roasted turkey with savory gravy.
First released in 2003 as part of their holiday pack, this bizarre creation quickly became legendary in the soda collecting community. The brownish liquid looks disturbingly like actual gravy, while the smell hits you with unmistakable poultry notes.
3. Pepsi Black Cherry Chocolate Gummy Flavor
Sugar overload alert! Pepsi’s limited Black Cherry Chocolate Gummy creation combines three dessert flavors into one chaotic sugar bomb that defies all beverage logic.
Released in select Asian markets, this purple-hued concoction hits you with waves of artificial cherry first, followed by a chocolate undertone that somehow doesn’t clash completely. The finale? A strange gummy candy sweetness lingering on your tongue.
4. Cheerwine Kreme Soda
Southern magic happens when two North Carolina icons collide! Cheerwine Kreme combines the cult-favorite cherry soda Cheerwine with the unmistakable glazed donut flavor of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
Launched as a limited collaboration, this ruby-red beverage delivers Cheerwine’s signature wild cherry punch followed by a creamy, vanilla-frosting finish. The carbonation somehow enhances the donut glaze sensation, creating an uncanny liquid pastry experience.
5. Pepsi X PEEPS Marshmallow Soda
Yellow soda alert! The unexpected collaboration between Pepsi and PEEPS created a pastel-colored beverage that tastes exactly like liquefied marshmallow chicks with a cola kick.
Originally released as an ultra-limited social media promotion, this spring-themed drink came in adorable mini-cans with pastel packaging. The flavor delivers exactly what it promises – the familiar Pepsi cola base with a sweet, vanilla-marshmallow finish that mimics biting into a sugar-coated PEEPS.
6. Dr Pepper FANtastic Chocolate Soda
Chocolate soda that actually works? Dr Pepper’s limited FANtastic Chocolate edition combines their signature 23 flavors with rich cocoa notes, creating a surprisingly balanced dessert drink.
Fan-designed through a social media contest, this creation maintains the distinctive Dr Pepper spice profile while adding smooth chocolate undertones. Unlike failed chocolate colas, the existing vanilla and cherry notes in Dr Pepper provide the perfect foundation for chocolate addition.
7. Kimchi Ramune Soda
Fermented cabbage carbonated? Japanese beverage makers took their famous marble-sealed Ramune soda and infused it with the unmistakable flavor of Korean kimchi, creating what might be the world’s most polarizing soft drink.
The clear liquid looks deceptively normal until you catch the distinct reddish tint and floating spice particles. One sip delivers the trademark fizzy sweetness of Ramune followed by an aggressive punch of garlic, chili, and fermented cabbage flavors.
8. Curry Ramune Soda
Spice explosion in a bottle! Japanese Ramune makers pushed boundaries again with Curry Ramune – a beverage that combines sweet carbonation with the complex spice profile of Japanese curry.
The golden-yellow liquid releases an unmistakable curry aroma when you pop the marble seal. Initial sweetness quickly gives way to turmeric, cumin, and a hint of apple – the secret ingredient in Japanese curry. The aftertaste leaves a lingering warmth similar to actual curry.
9. Wonderfarm Bird’s Nest White Fungus Soda
Luxury meets bizarre in this Vietnamese soda that incorporates two traditional Asian medicinal ingredients – bird’s nest and white fungus – into a sweetened carbonated beverage.
The cloudy white liquid contains visible strands of the prized swiftlet bird’s nest (actually solidified bird saliva) and delicate pieces of white fungus. Flavor-wise, it presents as mildly sweet with subtle floral notes and an unusual gelatinous texture from the dissolved ingredients.
10. Rocket Fizz Grass Soda
Lawn clippings in a bottle! Rocket Fizz, America’s wackiest soda company, bottled the unmistakable aroma of freshly cut grass in their aptly named Grass Soda. The light green liquid looks innocent enough, but one whiff delivers the unmistakable scent of suburban lawn mowing day.
The flavor follows through with a sweet base that quickly gives way to a remarkably accurate grassy finish. Some tasters swear they can detect notes of dirt and morning dew.
11. Lester’s Fixings Buffalo Wing Soda
Hot sauce in carbonated form! Lester’s Fixings Buffalo Wing Soda delivers the spicy, tangy experience of buffalo wings without the chicken – creating a beverage that’s simultaneously fascinating and terrifying.
The orange-red liquid looks like a normal fruit soda until you catch the distinct aroma of vinegar and cayenne. The first sip hits with sweetness that quickly surrenders to buffalo sauce heat, complete with buttery notes and escalating spiciness that builds with each gulp.
12. Hubba Bubba Original Bubble Gum Soda
Childhood nostalgia in liquid form! Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum Soda perfectly captures the artificial-yet-addictive flavor of the classic pink bubble gum, minus the chewing. The bright pink liquid looks exactly like liquid bubble gum, complete with that unmistakable candy-sweet aroma.
Flavor scientists somehow captured both the initial sweetness and the distinctive aftertaste of bubble gum that typically lingers after the sugar dissolves. Originally released as a limited-edition novelty, unexpected popularity led to wider distribution.
13. Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray Soda
Vegetable soda pioneer! Long before bizarre flavors became marketing stunts, Dr. Brown’s created Cel-Ray – a celery-flavored soda that’s been continuously produced since the 1860s.
This pale greenish-gold beverage offers a surprisingly refreshing blend of celery seed extract, ginger, and just enough sweetness to balance the vegetal notes. Originally marketed as a health tonic, it found enduring popularity in Jewish delis as the perfect accompaniment to salty pastrami sandwiches.
14. Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread Soda
Christmas cookies in a can! Pepsi’s holiday-exclusive Gingerbread soda transforms the beloved December treat into a zero-sugar carbonated experience that’s surprisingly accurate.
The amber liquid looks like normal cola until you catch the distinctive aroma of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg wafting from the can. Each sip delivers a perfect balance of warming spices, molasses notes, and even hints of vanilla frosting – all while maintaining the cola base.
15. Perfy Pepperoni Pizza Soda
Pizza night just got weird! Perfy’s Pepperoni Pizza Soda somehow captures the complete pizza experience – tomato sauce, cheese, herbs, and yes, pepperoni – in carbonated form. The reddish-orange liquid releases an unmistakable pizza aroma when opened.
The flavor journey starts with sweet tomato, transitions to oregano and basil, then finishes with smoky pepperoni notes and even a hint of cheese umami.