History of carbonated softdrink in United States

The first carbonated beverage was provided by nature and dates back to antiquity, when the first carbonated natural mineral waters were discovered. Owing to their purported therapeutic properties, they were used for bathing by the ancient Greeks and Romans and not for drinking.

In 1767, Joseph Priestley, British chemist was credited for infusing water with carbon dioxide to make carbonated water.

In 1806, Benjamin Silliman of Yale University and Philip Physick of University Pennsylvania were among those who began to market similar artificially carbonated waters in the United States.

Carbonated beverages have been growing in popularity as a favorite American beverage since the 1800s. In 1819, Samuel Fahnestock patented the first soda fountain.

Surprisingly it took until 1832 for carbonated soft drinks to become widespread throughout the United States.

This took place soon after John Mathews created a machine for manufacturing carbonated water and then mass manufactured this machine for sale to soda fountain owners.

In the late 1800s, entrepreneurs began selling flavored carbonated beverages with added caffeine.

Dr Pepper, created in 1885 by two pharmacists in Waco, was sold as ‘tonic, brain food’ and exhilarant.’ The following year, John Pemberton introduced the first Coca-Cola drink in 1886. During World War II Coca-Cola was shipped to American forces wherever they were posted. The habit of drinking Coca-Cola stayed with them even after they returned home.

Carbonated soft drinks are no longer the unique products of pharmacies and soft drinks definitely no longer marketed as health tonics,.

Until 1980s, soft drinks were sweetened with refined cane sugar or corn syrup. Since 1978, the consumption of carbonated beverages has tripled from males between the ages of twelve and twenty nine.
History of carbonated softdrink in United States