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 known for its bright red color and unique flavor. It was first made in 1937 in Waco, Texas. The drink was created by Grover C. Thomsen and R.H. Roark, and was originally called Sun Tang Red Cream Soda. It is a special kind of cream soda from America.
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The Story of Big Red Soda
The name of the drink changed over time. In 1959, it became "Sun Tang Big Red Cream Soda." Then, in 1969, it was shortened to just "Big Red." This new name came from Harold Jansing, who was in charge of the bottling plant in San Antonio. He heard a golf caddy call the soda "Big Red," and the name stuck!
Where Big Red First Became Popular
Big Red first became popular in certain parts of the United States. It was mainly sold in Central and South Texas, and also around Louisville, Kentucky, and in Southern Indiana. The reason for the Louisville connection was that one of the creators, R.H. Roark, owned a bottling company there. This made Kentucky the very first state where people could buy Big Red soda. In fact, May 16, 2018, was even called "Big Red Day" in Louisville to celebrate the drink's 80th anniversary in that city!
What Makes Big Red Special?
Big Red is very popular in the Southern United States. People love it for its special taste and bright red color. Many people think it tastes like bubble gum, but its flavor is actually a mix of lemon and orange oils, blended with vanilla.
Big Red soda is made and sold by different companies. These include Keurig Dr Pepper, CCE, and Pepsi Bottling Group. They all have a special agreement with Big Red, Inc., which is based in Austin, Texas.
Big Red's Place in the Soda World
From 2002 to 2004, Big Red was one of the top-selling soft drink companies in the United States. It was the sixth biggest, after huge brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Dr Pepper/7Up. It is still the most popular red cream soda in the South.
In 2008, Keurig Dr Pepper bought a small part of Big Red, Inc. Today, Dr Pepper helps distribute almost 80% of all Big Red soda sold each year. Even though the soda is still made in Waco, Texas, the main office for Big Red moved to Austin, Texas, in 2009.
Big Red Flavors
Big Red comes in several different flavors. Some are always available, while others are special and only sold for a limited time.
Flavors You Can Always Find
- 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)
Special Flavors (Limited Availability)
- Big Red Vanilla Float
- Big Honey Lemonade
- Big Blue
- Big Pineapple
- Big Peach
- Big Manzana (This flavor tastes like apple!)
