Tag: Soft drink history

First introduced as 'Peppo' in 1972 before being renamed Mr. Pibb, the soft drink has a long and complicated history marked by significant changes. While the original Mr. Pibb soda was officially discontinued and replaced by Pibb Xtra over two decades ago, a new beverage surprise for fans was announced in late 2025.

In 1985, The Coca-Cola Company famously reformulated its flagship drink, leading to immense public backlash and the reintroduction of the original formula under a new name. Today, many consumers are confused by the labels "Coca-Cola" and "Coca-Cola Original Taste," wondering if there is any difference between the two products.

First introduced in the 1940s, Mountain Dew was originally intended to be a mixer for whiskey. But what fruit is Mountain Dew supposed to taste like? The original formula is a citrus-flavored soda, with its distinctive flavor deriving from a unique blend of ingredients, including a small amount of orange juice.

Did you know that until 1948, the popular lemon-lime beverage, 7 Up, contained lithium citrate? The soft drink has a surprising medicinal past, having originally been marketed as a mood-stabilizing tonic and hangover cure, a practice that was common during the early days of soda production.

According to nutritional data, the original version of Pepsi Twist contains a significant amount of sugar, a key ingredient contributing to its energy content and flavor. This makes it important for consumers to understand the formulation of the beverage, especially given the availability of different variants around the globe.

Introduced in 1985, Jolt Cola was the definitive answer to what was the super caffeinated soda in the 80s. With its unapologetic slogan, 'All the sugar and twice the caffeine!', it quickly became the go-to drink for college students, gamers, and anyone needing a potent energy boost.

First introduced in the United States in 1966, Fresca has always been marketed as a zero-calorie, sugar-free soda. However, the history of a sugar version of Fresca is not as straightforward, involving different markets and brand names under The Coca-Cola Company.

Sprite first introduced a sugar-free variant, named "Sugar Free Sprite," in the United States in 1974, marking the beginning of its complex journey with sugar alternatives. This decision did not mean the original sugary version was discontinued, but rather, that a separate option became available, with later formula tweaks influencing when Sprite stopped using sugar in various forms and regions.

When 7UP was first introduced in 1929, it was originally called “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda”. It is a little-known fact that the drink, in fact, does not still contain lithium, which was removed from the formula decades ago.

Did you know that Sprite was not originally from the United States? The iconic lemon-lime soft drink, now a household name, was first developed in West Germany in 1959 under a different name, before its official U.S. launch in 1961 as a direct competitor to 7 Up.