Tag: Vintage sodas

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.

For centuries, indigenous people across Central and South America have used the root of the sarsaparilla plant for its purported medicinal qualities, brewing it into a therapeutic tea. The drink's journey from a traditional remedy to a nostalgic soda staple reveals a story of changing tastes, cultural shifts, and a lingering appreciation for its unique flavor and heritage.

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.