7 Up is one of the most popular soft drinks in the world, but few people know the fascinating and sometimes bizarre history behind this refreshing beverage. From its origins as a “lithiated” lemon-lime soda to its current status as a global brand, 7 Up’s journey is a testament to innovation, adaptability, and the timeless appeal of a well-crafted drink.
The original recipe for 7 Up, known as “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda”, was created by Charles Leiper Grigg in 1929. Grigg was a former employee of an orange soda company, but he quit his job and started his own company, the Howdy Corporation, which produced an orange soda called Howdy. However, Howdy faced stiff competition from Orange Crush, and Grigg decided to switch his focus to a new flavor: lemon-lime.
After two years of testing different formulas, Grigg developed a unique beverage that contained lithium citrate, a mood-stabilizing drug used to treat patients with mental health problems like bipolar disorder, depression, or mania. Lithium citrate was one of the seven ingredients in the original formula, along with carbonated water, sugar, citrus oils, citric acid, and sodium citrate. The inclusion of this drug in a soft drink may seem unusual today, but it was not uncommon in the late-19th and early-20th centuries for patent medicine products to contain such ingredients.
Grigg launched his new drink just two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, which spurred the Great Depression. Despite the economic downturn and the drink’s higher cost compared to its competitors, it managed to carve out a niche for itself. The name was later shortened to “7 Up Lithiated Lemon Soda” before being further shortened to just “7 Up” by 1936.
The name “7 Up” has sparked numerous theories over the years. Some suggest it refers to the drink’s seven ingredients, while others believe it’s a nod to the lithium in the recipe, which has an atomic mass of 7. Yet another theory is that the name refers to the 7-ounce bottles in which the drink was first sold, which were larger than the 6-ounce bottles used by most other soft drinks at the time.
The “Up” in the name, according to some theories, references the lithium lift. This suggests that the drink’s original consumers may have been drawn to its mind-altering effects. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of lithium in beer and soft drinks in 1948, leading to 7 Up being reformulated two years later.
Over the years, 7 Up has undergone several changes, both in its formula and its ownership. Other problematic ingredients, such as calcium disodium EDTA, were removed in 2006, and at that time potassium citrate replaced sodium citrate to lower the sodium content. The drink has also been marketed under different slogans, such as “You Like It, It Likes You” in the 1940s, “The Uncola” in the 1960s and 1970s, and “Make 7 Up Yours” in the 1990s.
Despite these changes, 7 Up remains a beloved beverage around the world, its fizzy, citrusy taste a testament to its enduring appeal. The drink has also been featured in various forms of entertainment, such as movies, TV shows, video games, and music. For instance, the drink was used as a prop in the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause, starring James Dean, and the 1980 film Airplane!, starring Leslie Nielsen. The drink was also the subject of a song by the British band Squeeze, titled “Goodbye Girl”, which contains the lyrics “I met her in a pool room, her name I didn’t catch, she looked like something special, the kind who’d understand, the room was almost spinning, she pulled another smile, she had the grace like pleasure, she had a certain style”.
7 Up’s popularity has also led to the creation of several spin-off products, such as Diet 7 Up, Cherry 7 Up, 7 Up Gold, and 7 Up Plus. The drink has also been used as an ingredient in various recipes, such as cakes, pies, punches, and cocktails. One of the most famous cocktails made with 7 Up is the Seven and Seven, which consists of 7 Up and Seagram’s Seven Crown whiskey.
While the secret behind 7 Up’s name may have gone to the grave with its founder, Charles L. Grigg, the drink’s fascinating history continues to captivate. From its origins as a “lithiated” lemon-lime soda to its current status as a global soft drink brand, 7 Up’s journey is a story of innovation, adaptability, and the timeless appeal of a refreshing beverage.
Relevant articles:
– 7 Up – Wikipedia
– 7UP Once Contained An Ingredient Used To Treat Depression
– 7 Up: Originally an Antidepressant – McGill University
– Bubbling Facts About 7 Up – The Fact Site
– 11 Fizzy Facts About 7 Up | Mental Floss