Clamato facts for kids
341 mL can of Mott's Clamato. The Canadian package artwork includes English and French languages.
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| Type | Tomato juice/clam broth hybrid |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mott's (Keurig Dr Pepper) |
| Distributor | Grupo Peñafiel(Mexico)
Canada Dry Motts(Canada) Empire Bespoke Foods Ltd(UK) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1966 |
| Variants |
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| Related products | Kraut juice, Caesar |
Clamato is a popular drink made by Mott's. It mixes tomato juice with a bit of clam broth and special spices. The name "Clamato" comes from combining "clam" and "tomato." People sometimes just call it "clamato juice." This unique drink is enjoyed in Canada, Mexico, and parts of the United States. It's often used as a mixer for other drinks, like the famous Caesar.
Contents
History of Clamato
Clamato has an interesting history. In 1935, a company called The Clamato Corporation in New York made a drink that combined clam and tomato juice.
Later, in 1938, a magazine called House & Garden even shared a recipe for a "Tomato-Clam Juice Cocktail." This recipe used tomato juice, clam broth, and salt.
In 1940, a person known as "Lobster King" Harry Hackney got the official Clamato trademark. His restaurant in Atlantic City, Hackney's, sold Clamato juice in cans.
The Clamato we know today started being made in 1966. It was created by the Duffy-Mott company. A chemist named Francis Luskey and another employee worked together. They wanted to make a drink like Manhattan clam chowder but in a cocktail form. They mixed tomato juice, clam broth, and spices. They named their new drink "Mott's Clamato."
Over the years, the brand changed owners. First, Cadbury-Schweppes bought Mott's in 1982. Since 2008, Keurig Dr Pepper has owned the Clamato brand.
Recently, the Clamato label was updated. It no longer shows a picture of a clam. This was done to make the drink seem less like seafood.
How Clamato is Used
Clamato is mostly used as a mixer for other beverages. It is very popular for this in Canada and Mexico. It's also enjoyed in some communities in the United States.
In Mixed Drinks
In Canada, Clamato is mainly used to make a drink called a Caesar. In fact, a lot of the Clamato made in North America is bought by Canadians. Most of it is used to make Caesars. Since 2001, a special version of the Clamato Caesar has been sold in Canada.
With Other Beverages
Clamato is also added to other drinks. For example, it's used in different mixed drinks like the michelada. A simple mix is sometimes called a "beer 'n clam" or "Red Eye" in Western Canada. This drink adds Clamato to a light-colored beverage.
In 2001, a company introduced a premixed version of a Clamato drink in the United States. Adding more spices to Clamato, similar to a Caesar, creates a drink called sangre de cristo in Mexico. This means "blood of Christ."
Beefamato
Mott's once made a similar drink called Beefamato. This drink was made from beef broth and tomato juice.
See also
In Spanish: Clamato para niños
