Grape drink facts for kids

Grape drinks are sweet, purple-colored beverages with a yummy grape flavor. You might know them as grape soda, grape pop, or even "purple drink" in some parts of the United States. Some grape drinks have bubbles, like Fanta, while others are still, like Kool-Aid.

What Are Grape Drinks?

Grape drinks are popular because of their bright color and fruity taste. They get their deep purple color from special food colorings. The grape flavor often comes from artificial ingredients. These ingredients are made to taste just like Concord grapes.

How Grape Drinks Get Their Flavor

Most grape sodas you buy today use artificial flavors. One common flavor ingredient is called methyl anthranilate. This chemical helps make the drink taste like fresh Concord grapes. It's how companies can make grape drinks taste consistent every time.

A Sip of History: The Story of Grapeade

Grape drinks have been around for a long time! One of the first types was called Grapeade. It started appearing in the late 1800s. Back then, you could find carbonated (bubbly) Grapeade at soda fountains. These fountains were often inside drugstores in America.

Early Grapeade Brands

Some of the early brands that sold Grapeade included Miner's and Lash's. People loved to go to the drugstore and enjoy a refreshing glass of this new grape-flavored bubbly drink. It was a popular treat for many years.

Making Grapeade at Home

Did you know you could even make Grapeade yourself? Famous cookbook author Fannie Farmer included a recipe for homemade Grapeade in her popular cookbooks. This shows how much people enjoyed grape-flavored drinks even way back then.