Hi-C Orange Lavaburst Comes Back to McDonald's

Though it feels like Taco Bell generates the greatest fan backlash when it takes away menu items, other fast food restaurants have found ways over the years to alternately frustrate and titillate fans by the selective appearance or disappearance of certain coveted menu items. While the status of the McRib gets most of the attention when it comes to McDonald's in this context, that doesn't mean diners haven't wanted other cult favorites to come back.

Now, some of them seem to be getting their wish. After nearly four years away, Mickey D's is bringing back Hi-C. This month, soda fountains at select locations will start serving up Hi-C Orange Lavaburst for the first time since 2017, with a greater nationwide rollout of the non-carbonated, safety orange beverage expected by June.

You may not have heard of Hi-C Orange Lavaburst before, but it's certainly a cult favorite among devoted McDonald's fans. Made by Coca-Cola exclusively for the major fast food chain, its disappearance sparked a Change.org petition describing it as "the drink [people have] been drinking from McDonald's for years" before its slot in the soda fountain was usurped by Sprite Tropic Berry.

In order to build hype for the return of the beverage, McDonald's is letting fans track where they can find Orange Lavaburst near them, sharing new updates on availability every week beginning Monday, February 15th. In news that should further excite fans of orange fountain drinks, it looks like Orange Lavaburst will coexist with Fanta Orange as well.

So if your Big Mac just doesn't taste the same without a pairing of sweet orange goodness, your time is nigh. There's a lot of things in the world today that still need fixing, but it's good to know that at least McDonald's drink lineup is no longer one of them.