Big Red (soft drink) facts for kids
A Big Red soda four-pack
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| Type | Cream soda |
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| Manufacturer | Big Red, Inc. |
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| Region of origin | Waco, Texas |
| Introduced | 1937 |
| Color | Red |
| Ingredients | Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Red 40, Citric Acid and Caffeine. |
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Big Red is a popular soft drink that started in 1937. It was created by Grover C Thomsen and R.H. Roark in Waco, Texas. When it first came out, it was called Sun Tang Red Cream Soda. Big Red is a special kind of cream soda from America. It's also known for its unique red color and taste.
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History of Big Red
The name of the soda changed a few times. In 1959, it became Sun Tang Big Red Cream Soda. Then, in 1969, it was shortened to "Big Red." This new name came from Harold Jansing, who was the president of the bottling plant in San Antonio at the time. He heard a golf caddy call the soda "Big Red," and the name stuck!
Big Red first became popular in Central and South Texas. It also became well-known around Louisville, Kentucky, and in Southern Indiana. This was because one of its creators, R.H. Roark, owned a bottling company in Louisville. So, Kentucky was the very first state where people could buy Big Red soda. In fact, on May 16, 2018, the mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer, even declared it "Big Red Day." This was to celebrate 80 years since Big Red first arrived in that city.
This drink is very popular in the Southern United States. People love its special taste and bright red color. Many people think it tastes like bubble gum, but its real flavor comes from a mix of lemon and orange oils. A touch of pure vanilla is added, which gives it a smooth, creamy taste at the end. Different companies, like Keurig Dr Pepper, help make and sell Big Red.
From 2002 to 2004, Big Red was one of the top-selling soft drinks in the United States. It was the sixth most popular, after big names like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. It is still the most famous red cream soda in the South.
In 2007, a person named Gary Smith bought Big Red Ltd. Later, in 2008, Keurig Dr Pepper also bought a small part of Big Red, Inc. Today, Dr Pepper helps deliver almost 80% of all Big Red soda each year. Even though Big Red is still made in Waco, Texas, its main office moved to Austin, Texas, in 2009.
In 2020, a brewery in San Antonio, Texas, called Islla St. Brewery, made a beer that tasted like Big Red. They called it Big Rojo, but later changed the name to Wild Rojo.
Flavors of Big Red
Big Red comes in several tasty flavors!
Current Flavors
- Big Red
- Big Red Zero (This used to be called Diet Big Red)
- Retro Big Red (This version is made with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup)
Current Flavors (Limited Availability)
Some flavors are harder to find, but they're still out there!
- Big Red Vanilla Float
- Big Honey Lemonade
- Big Blue
- Big Pineapple
- Big Peach
- Big Manzana (This one tastes like apple!)
Former Flavors
These flavors are no longer made, but they were once part of the Big Red family.
- Sugar Free Big Red Vanilla Float
- Big Punch Fruit Punch
- Big Orange
