Three Hi-C flavors you'll never see again as customers are longing for the 80s look

HI-C has been an iconic juice brand that defined a generation of school lunches, but throughout the years, several flavors have mysteriously vanished.

The beverage had its start in 1946 when Niles Foster, who was a former bakery and bottling plant owner, developed the formula.

Each orange drink contained orange juice concentrate, peel oil, orange essences, sugar, water, citric acid, and vitamin C.

Later on, Hi-C was eventually sold to Coca-Cola and has now become an American staple.

Here’s a full list of shoppers’ favorite discontinued products.

1. HI-C IN A CAN

Before the Hi-C that we know and love today was offered in its iconic juice box packaging, the beverage actually came in a can.

The original drink looked more like a product for canned vegetables than a juice box, but many still miss the nostalgic 80s appeal of the former packaging.

One fan even lamented how her own kids will never get to experience the canned drink.

"When I was a kid, I had it in the house a lot. It came in a can. You used a can opener to puncture the can which made a little triangular opening, so you could pour it," a blog writer said on Frugal SOS.

"I remember spilling it as I poured it if the can was too full," she continued. "They got rid of the can and started the juice boxes, so sadly my kids have never seen the cans.

2. HI-C ECTO COOLER

First unveiled in 1989, the Hi-C Ecto Cooler was initially a rebrand of the existing Citrus Cooler beverage but with a Ghostbusters packaging twist.

Each drink contained a mix of orange and tangerine fruit juices.

After widespread success for around a decade, shoppers were shocked when the drink disappeared from stores.

However, with further investigation, customers believe it had simply undergone yet another rebrand.

Now, shoppers say the drink goes under the names Shoutin’ Orange Tangergreen or Crazy Citrus Cooler, but the taste is exactly the same.

Still, some don’t think the juice is quite right coming out of packaging without the movie’s Slimer character.

While the beverage’s original packaging returned alongside the new Ghostbusters movie, it was a short-lived stint.

“Praying it’ll come back, then I sat down and thought, logically how many more Ghostbusters movies can there be in my lifetime?” a Reddit shopper said three years ago when it made a temporary comeback. “This may in fact be the last time I get to drink Ecto Cooler.”

Another Redditor shared their nostalgia: “The nectar of the gods. So simple yet so delicious.”

3. ORANGE LAVABURST

Orange LavaBurst was the only flavor of Hi-C you could find at your local McDonald’s, and children and adults alike adored the drink.

When the news first hit that Hi-C would no longer be available at the fast food chain, customers were livid.

"McDonald's been trash since they got rid of Hi-C,” one fan tweeted.

Another wrote: "Going to McDonald's and not getting orange Hi-C feels sinful. I miss it so much."

Now, McDonald’s offers a new type of fruity drink called Sprite TropicBerry, but a large portion of fans haven’t gotten on board.

“Orange lavaburst is one of the most perfect flavors ever concocted by man,” one Redditor wrote. “It literally tastes like 90s sunshine. Never change Hi-C.”

OTHER MISSING BEVERAGES

The Hi-C flavors are far from the only Coca-Cola beverage discontinuations that people are upset about.

Coke has also faced controversy for its decision to discontinue its limited edition drink Starlight.

Starlight quickly garnered traction with shoppers for its reddish color and a subtle cooling sensation - all with the familiar Coke taste.

Unfortunately for fans, it left soon after it was introduced in 2022.

Since then, Coke lovers went to Twitter and begged the soda brand for its return.

One user wrote: “Please bring back Coke Starlight! Possibly the best soda I’ve ever had!”

Coca-Cola replied with some hope for potential other new additions.

“We're glad you were a fan of one of our Coca-Cola Creations flavors. Unfortunately, it was only available for a limited time. Stay tuned for more Coca-Cola Creations in 2023,” the company said on Twitter.

Diet Coke Lime was also discontinued back in 2018.

During that time, the company created millennial-friendly flavors like Twisted Mango, Zesty Blood Orange, Feisty Cherry, and Ginger Lime.

Fans felt that the Ginger Lime flavor didn’t have the same taste as its predecessor.

Similarly, Coca-Cola announced it had stopped producing its Orange Vanilla soda in 2022.

It was the first new flavor the company had released in over a decade.

Despite launching in February 2019, the new offering was axed just a few years later.

"Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla Zero Sugar was discontinued so that we can focus on flavors that show the most potential for growth and scale. We regret any disappointment this may cause you," the company said on Twitter.

NEW DRINKS ON THE HORIZON

Despite many drink products being discontinued in recent years, fans are also getting excited about future flavors.

This month, Coca-Cola collaborated with Riot Games, the producer of League of Legends, on a new drink called the Coca-Cola Ultimate.

The drink was released in Canada and the US on June 12 with both sugar and zero sugar options.

While the option has many intrigued, the company won’t reveal the drink’s flavor profile.

"While I can’t give you hints about the flavor itself, we took inspiration from the many facets of the League of Legends world, curating a unique blend of both action-packed and exhilarating flavors that celebrates a great Coca-Cola taste, while simultaneously pushing the envelope of what a flavor can be," a Coca-Cola spokesperson told The U.S. Sun.

"Collectively, they were able to create a product that celebrates the games every fan enjoys with the taste of experience points."

Nostalgic fans are also missing the beloved Fruitopia drink.

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