FIZZ-TORY
10 Bubbling Tales Behind Your Favorite Sodas
Published on April 10, 2024
Credit: Mohamad Babayan
Sodas have been a fizzy fixture in our lives for over a century, and we tend to take them for granted. But behind the sugary bubbles, there are intriguing anecdotes and tales of ingenuity and entrepreneurship.
From Coca-Cola's mysterious recipe to the curious origin of tonic water, here are 10 surprising stories from the history of carbonated beverages.
A Closely Guarded Formula
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The legendary Coca-Cola was concocted in 1886 by American pharmacist John Pemberton.
The name referred to two of its original ingredients - coca leaves and kola nuts - and the drink was marketed both as medicine and as an alternative to alcoholic beverages, which were beginning to be seen as harmful to society under the influence of the temperance movement.
While it is speculated that the primary taste of Coca-Cola comes from vanilla and cinnamon, the complete recipe is a closely guarded secret, and ingredients are shipped in numbered containers to syrup factories.
Marketing Genius
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Pepsi, the challenger to Coca-Cola's throne, also began in a pharmacy. Created by pharmacist Caleb Bradham in 1893, Pepsi aimed to cure dyspepsia (indigestion). Initially named "Brad's Drink," it was rebranded as Pepsi-Cola in 1898, with the name "Pepsi" being inspired by pepsin, an enzyme aiding digestion. The drink gained much popularity during the Great Depression due to its affordable presentation in 12-ounce bottles and clever marketing strategies.
The Soda That Made You Smile
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In 1929, Charles Leiper Grigg introduced 7-Up, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda." It is speculated that the unusual name came from the seven main ingredients and the "mood-enhancing" lithium citrate, a drug used to treat bipolar disorder and depression in some patients. However, lithium citrate was removed after 1948, when the government banned the use of the drug in soft drinks.
Breaking the Mold
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Created by pharmacist Charles Alderton in the 1880s, Dr Pepper defies categorization. According to the FDA, the unique drink "is not a cola, nor a root beer, nor a fruit-flavored soft drink." Rather, it is often placed in a category of its own, called "pepper soda." Just like Coca-Cola, its formula is kept a secret, allegedly stored in two halves in separate Dallas banks.
Born in the Shadow of War
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During World War II, Coca-Cola's German operations faced ingredient shortages due to the American embargo on the country. Max Keith, head of Coca-Cola's German branch, devised Fanta using locally available resources. Its name stems from fantasie (German for "imagination"). Originally sold as a cola beverage, its current formulation with orange flavor was not developed until after the war, in 1955.
Moonshine Roots
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Mountain Dew's origins trace back to the Appalachian region, where moonshiners brewed homemade spirits known as "mountain dew." In the 1940s, Barney and Ally Hartman created a lemon-lime soda as a mixer for moonshine since they had difficulty obtaining their preferred soda. In 1948, they trademarked the name "Mountain Dew" for the soft drink, and its early bottles referred to its bootlegging origins with the use of a cartoon hillbilly character.
Sassafras Spirit
Credit: Perry Merrity II
Root beer consumption can be traced back at least to the eighteenth century. But, by then, both Native Americans and early European colonists were already familiar with the medicinal benefits of its main flavoring ingredient, the root bark of the sassafras tree. In the 1840s, pharmacists began producing root beer as a medicinal tonic. The first to successfully market a commercial brand of root beer was pharmacist Charles Elmer Hires. Despite initially calling the beverage "root tea," he switched to "root beer" to improve sales among Pennsylvania coal miners.
The Cola Wars
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The rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi, dubbed the "Cola Wars," has raged for over a century. From taste tests to marketing campaigns, both titans have sparred for soda supremacy. Their intense competition has fueled innovation, as the two companies continued to introduce new advertising techniques, such as Coke's first celebrity endorsement and the introduction of the iconic 1915 contour bottle. One of the craziest stories goes back to 1992, when Pepsi launched Crystal Pepsi, amidst a clear craze in the consumer market. Coca-Cola retaliated with a "kamikaze" product, Tab Clear, intended to undermine Pepsi’s new product line.
Tonic Water’s Colonial Origins
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Tonic water originated in colonial India, where British officials mixed quinine with water and sugar to create a bitter tonic to prevent malaria. Schweppes commercialized tonic water in 1870, adding carbonation and creating a refreshing soft drink that is both bitter and sweet. Over time, the beverage gained popularity as a cocktail mixer, particularly with gin, and is occasionally blended with non-alcoholic drinks like in espresso and tonic.
The Rise of Energy Drinks
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The recent energy drink craze began in the 1980s with brands like Red Bull and Jolt Cola. Marketed as revitalizing elixirs, these beverages contain caffeine, taurine, and B vitamins to boost energy. However, beyond the large amounts of caffeine, it is disputed whether other additives have any effect whatsoever on alertness and cognitive performance. While some ingredients claim to boost energy, scientific evidence supporting their effects is lacking. Energy drinks are also frequently used as mixers with alcoholic beverages, especially with vodka and other potent spirits.
