The Ancient Discovery of Soda

Soda Fountains were first introduced in the 1850's. Primarily, they were at local drug stores where people would come and purchase soda drinks to aid with the curing of some of their ailments. Various plant extracts, cocaine, and caffeine were flavored to make them easier to drink. The "Harrison Act" of 1914 banned the use of cocaine for over the counter products, and that included the fountain drinks. The fountain drinks ended up having a bad reputation for serving intoxicating drinks. Therefore, the drug stores were more inclined to back away from the soda fountains all together.

There is evidence that as early as 400 BC the Greek physician Hyprocrites wrote a book pertaining the making of soda. In the late 17oo's it became popular to drink the healthy water from the natural springs. Many countries were drinking from these springs all over the world.

Joseph Priestly, an English scientist, began experimenting in order to find out how to stimulate fixed air that was found in natural waters. In 1767 he found that the water easily absorbed gas, or carbon dioxide as it is known to be today. This is what provided the fizz in soda then, and of course in today's world too. It is said that the first soda soft drink was made in Philadelphia in 1807. Dr. Philip Syng Physick asked a chemist to make a carbonated water for a patient, the chemist added flavor to make the water taste better. However, Jacob Baur set to put the drinks from the soda fountain back on the market by advertising the machines for the purpose of making soda alone. The bad reputation soon disappeared.

The problem at the time was adding natural juices to the carbonated water as there was a risk of fermentation. John Mathews invented devices for charging water with carbon dioxide gas in 1832, and this is when more popularity for the carbonated drinks began. The Crown cork bottle sealer was invented by a Baltimore man named William Painter in 1892. This was a very successful cork for keeping the "gas" in after the soda was bottled. For years glass bottles had all been hand blown, but in 1899 a machine was patented for the automatic production of glass bottles. Michael Owens was the inventor of the machine which at the time produced 1,500 bottles a day. However, within a few days the production had exculated to 57,000 bottles per day.

In Atlanta, Georgia Dr. John Smith Pemberton created Coca-Cola in 1886. He brought his invention to his pharmacy where he sold glasses of the soda for 5 cents each. He decided to advertise the new product, and his partner Frank M. Robinson came up with the famous name of Coca-Cola. Just before Dr Smiths death in 1888 he sold parts of his business to various partners. Asa G. Candler eventually bought all the rights to the soda and the Coca-Cola company.

1961 was the year that the lemon-lime soda Sprite was initially produced. This became a very productive part of the Coca-cola line. It contains high levels of vitamin c. Other ingredients include corn syrup, citric acid, sodium citrate, and sodium benzoate.

Caleb Bradham bought a pharmacy, and the soda drink Pepsi was created. It contained a mixture of phosphate and pepsin. By the year 1923 there was no longer pepsin in the soda. By 1907 there was an average of one million gallons sold per year. Megargel bought the company after Bradhams death in 1934. Charles G. Guth then proceeded to take over the company making Pepsi the great success it is today.

Charles Edward Barq came up with Barq's root beer when he studied chemistry in Paris, France. He was American born and returned to the country in 1890. He sold his first drink in Biloxi in 1898. With more carbs and less sugar his root beer was different from others of that time. By 1937 there was 62 bottling plants in 22 States.