The Orbitz drink is one of the most fondly remembered beverages of the 90s, and for good reason. With colorful gelatin balls suspended inside a clear liquid, every bottle looked like a miniature lava lamp sitting on the shelf. Clearly Canadian launched this texturally enhanced beverage in 1997, marketing it as a non-carbonated fruit drink unlike anything else on the market. Knowing where to buy one today is tricky because the product was discontinued after just two years of production. Whether you are chasing nostalgia or simply curious about what all the fuss was about, this guide covers what made Orbitz special, where to find sealed originals, and which currently available alternatives scratch the same itch.
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What Is the Orbitz Drink and Why Do People Remember It
Orbitz was a non-carbonated fruit-flavored beverage produced by the Clearly Canadian Beverage Corporation. It arrived on shelves in 1997 and was discontinued by 1998 after sluggish sales. Despite the short production run, Orbitz built a cult following that has only grown with time.
The appeal was mostly visual. Small, edible gelatin balls floated in the clear liquid, giving the bottle the look of a lava lamp you could actually consume. The novelty factor was enormous – people bought it as much for the spectacle as for the taste. Collectors now treat sealed specimens as 90s time capsules, and the social media hashtag #orbitz still surfaces regularly on Instagram and retro food forums.
What Made Orbitz Unique: Flavors, Ingredients, and the Science Behind It
Several features set this beverage apart from anything else on store shelves at the time.
Suspended gel spheres. The defining trait. Tiny, chewable orbs drifted through the liquid without sinking to the bottom. Gellan gum – a food-grade polysaccharide – matched the density of the balls to the surrounding liquid so they stayed afloat. No shaking required.
Original flavor lineup. Five options launched at once: Raspberry Citrus Trip, Blueberry Melon Strawberry, Pineapple Banana Cherry Coconut, Vanilla Orange, and Blackcurrant Berry. Each had its own bead color scheme, making every bottle instantly recognizable. The taste was fruity and sweet, though opinions on the actual flavor were sharply divided.
Non-carbonated formula. Unlike most soft drinks of the era, Orbitz contained zero carbonation. The still liquid was essential to keeping the balls suspended – bubbles would have pushed them to the surface.
Ingredient list. Water, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, gellan gum, sodium citrate, and xanthan gum. By modern standards, the heavy reliance on corn syrup and gums would be a tough sell to health-conscious consumers.
Visual packaging. The clear container with vibrant, floating beads resembled a lava lamp more than a grocery-store beverage. That look drove impulse purchases and made Orbitz a conversation starter, even if some buyers never opened the cap.
What to Watch Out For When Buying Vintage Orbitz
Because every remaining bottle is nearly three decades old, buying vintage Orbitz comes with real pitfalls.
Do not consume the contents. The liquid in surviving units has yellowed significantly, and the corn syrup and gelatin inside have long since degraded. These are collectibles, not refreshments. Consuming one poses genuine food-safety risks including bacterial growth and chemical breakdown of the preservatives.
Check the seal. Unsealed or resealed ones are worth far less and may have been tampered with. Look for an intact factory cap with no signs of prying.
Watch for fakes. A small number of sellers have filled modern containers with colored gel beads to mimic the original. Verify the label text, branding, and UPC code against known originals before paying collector prices.
Beware inflated pricing. A single bottle typically sells for $30 to $50 in good condition. Complete flavor sets command more, but anything above $150 for one unit is likely overpriced unless it is still factory-sealed with an exceptionally clear liquid.
Where to Buy Orbitz Drink In Store
Because this soda has been out of production since 1998, you will not find it at Walmart, Target, CVS, or any grocery chain. It was pulled from retail shelves decades ago, and no brick-and-mortar retailer carries it today.
Your best chance at an in-person purchase is through specialty channels:
Vintage candy and soda shops. Stores that specialize in retro candy and discontinued snacks occasionally stock old inventory. Call ahead – supply is unpredictable and items move quickly when they appear.
Flea markets and antique malls. Collectors sometimes offload pieces at flea markets, estate sales, and curio shops. Prices vary wildly, so know the going rate before you negotiate.
Pop culture conventions. Vendors at retro-themed events and 90s nostalgia conventions may have one or two available. These are hit-or-miss, but worth checking if you attend.
Where to Find Orbitz Drink Online
eBay
eBay remains the single best marketplace for finding unopened bottles. At any given time you can expect five to fifteen listings, ranging from individual units to complete flavor sets. Prices start around $30 for a single bottle in fair condition and climb past $120 for a sealed complete collection. Check seller ratings carefully – established sellers with photos of the actual item are safest.
Amazon
Amazon #ad previously carried a Blueberry Melon Strawberry listing, but it has been out of stock for years and is unlikely to return. You can set a stock alert on the product page, though resupply from a brand that no longer exists is a long shot.
Collector Forums and Social Media
The Bring Back Orbitz Drinks Facebook group and Reddit communities like r/nostalgia occasionally feature members willing to sell or trade sealed originals. Pricing is less standardized than on eBay, but you may find a motivated seller. Always use a payment method with buyer protection when purchasing from individuals.
Top Picks: Best Alternatives to Orbitz
Since the original is purely a collectible at this point, these currently available options capture parts of the Orbitz experience – the floating textures, the fruity sweetness, or the novelty factor.
Best Overall – Boba Tea (Bubble Tea). The closest modern equivalent to the Orbitz concept. Chewy tapioca pearls float in a flavored tea base, giving you a similar visual and textural experience. Available made-to-order at thousands of shops nationwide, or grab canned versions on Amazon #ad for around $3 per can. Dozens of flavor combinations available.
Best Budget – Basil Seed Drinks. Brands like Bebidas and TGarden sell basil seed beverages for under $2 each. The small seeds swell into gel-coated spheres that float through the liquid, recreating that signature Orbitz look at a fraction of the price. Find them at Asian grocery stores or search Amazon #ad for multi-packs.
Best for Nostalgia – Clearly Canadian Sparkling Water. The same parent company behind Orbitz still produces this sparkling water line. It will not give you floating orbs, but the fruity flavor profiles and retro branding scratch the 90s itch. Available at select retailers and on Amazon #ad for roughly $3 each.
Best for Kids – Jelly Ball Drinks (Mogu Mogu). Mogu Mogu nata de coco beverages contain small, chewy coconut jelly cubes suspended in fruit juice. The visual effect is similar to Orbitz, and the taste is more universally appealing. Widely available at Asian supermarkets for about $2 each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still buy Orbitz drinks?
Not from a retailer. Production stopped in 1998. The only way to acquire one now is through resale channels like eBay, collector forums, or vintage shops. Every surviving unit is a collectible, not something to open and consume.
What were the balls in Orbitz made of?
The floating spheres were made from gellan gum, a plant-based gelling agent. The manufacturer matched the density of the gel to the surrounding liquid so the balls neither sank nor rose to the top. The result was that gimmicky, lava-lamp visual that made the product famous.
Why was Orbitz discontinued?
Poor sales. While the appearance generated curiosity, many consumers found the taste underwhelming – some compared it to cough syrup. The texture of chewing gel beads while sipping a still liquid was polarizing, and repeat purchases were low. The manufacturer pulled it from shelves within roughly a year of launch.
Is Orbitz ever coming back?
There have been periodic rumors, and the Clearly Canadian website has acknowledged fan interest in bringing it back. As of 2026, no official relaunch has been announced. Fan campaigns on Facebook and Instagram continue to push for a return, but nothing is confirmed.
Is it safe to drink a vintage Orbitz?
No. Any surviving specimen is nearly 30 years old. The liquid has likely yellowed, the sugars and gums have broken down, and bacterial growth is a real risk. Treat vintage finds as shelf displays or collectible items only – never as something to consume.
How much is an unopened Orbitz worth?
Individual units in good condition typically sell for $30 to $50 on eBay. A complete set of all five original flavors in sealed condition can fetch $120 to $200 depending on clarity of the liquid and label condition. Prices have risen steadily as supply dwindles.
Reviewed by the wheretobuyguides.com editorial team. Last updated: March 2026.
Whether you are hunting for an original sealed bottle or exploring modern alternatives that capture the same spirit, the Orbitz drink remains one of the most memorable novelty beverages of the past three decades. Happy collecting.