The High-Caffeine Soda That Was Never Discontinued, Despite Rumors

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Soda lovers are passionate about their fizzy drinks, but some cans are more popular than others. Coke and Pepsi, obviously, are heavyweights in the pop world. Much lower down on the list is Mello Yello, a citrus-flavored soda made by Coca-Cola that tends to compete directly with Mountain Dew. Of course, nowadays the citrus soda market is pretty crowded. For one, there are differences between Starry and its predecessor, Sierra Mist, but some people can't even taste them. This is to say nothing of Sprite, of course. Other than its zesty blend of lemon, lime, and orange flavors, Mello Yello is distinguished from the pack by the fact that it contains a decent helping of caffeine: 51 milligrams per 12-ounce can, which is only slightly less than a cup of brewed coffee.

Mello Yello is definitely not a widely available monolith of soda in the same way that Mountain Dew is. Social media contains plenty of complaints from consumers unable to find it in their markets, and some have even wondered if it was totally discontinued. However, while Coca-Cola admitted to periodically limited availability of Mello Yello, the soda is still alive and kicking. Unlike TaB soda, which was unambiguously discontinued due to poor sales, Mello Yello can still be found for customers who don't mind a bit of looking around.

As of writing, Mello Yello's website is live and claims that it's available at big supermarkets like Publix, Kroger, and Walmart. Social media denizens seem to agree that Mello Yello is only on shelves in certain areas throughout the country. However, for those who are patient, you can buy the soda online through Walmart or even have a 24-pack of 12-ounce Mello Yello cans shipped straight to your door via Amazon. Some folks report seeing Mello Yello in Coke Freestyle machines, the likes of which are sometimes spotted at convenience stores and fast food outlets.

Is it worth all the effort to find Mello Yello, when competitors like Mountain Dew, Sprite, and Starry are right there? A small contingent of devoted loyalists seem to think so. "It's more crispy and tangy," one Redditor stated, comparing the drink to Mountain Dew. In the same thread, several folks called Mello Yello the best of the citrus sodas. On the other hand, others came out swinging in favor of the now-discontinued Surge soda, though the similar Sun Drop, which is limited to the South and has come under fire for including brominated vegetable oil among its ingredients. Turns out that pop brings out the hot takes! If you do track down an ice-cold Mello Yello, use a time-honored hack for pouring canned soda to make sure you get a perfect glass every time.