Squirt (drink) facts for kids
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| Type | Soft drink |
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| Manufacturer | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Region of origin | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Introduced | 1938 |
| Color | Yellow-White |
| Flavor | Grapefruit |
| Variants | Grapefruit, Grapefruit Zero Sugar, Ruby Red |
Squirt is a popular soft drink that tastes like grapefruit. It's fizzy, like other sodas, and it doesn't have caffeine. This drink was first made in 1938 in Phoenix, Arizona. Squirt is often compared to another grapefruit soda called Fresca.
Contents
The Story of Squirt
Squirt was invented by a person named Herb Bishop in 1938. For many years, until 1981, Squirt was made in the Beet Sugar Factory in Glendale, Arizona.
Early Years and Popularity
In 1941, a small boy character called "Lil' Squirt" became the drink's mascot. This character helped advertise the soda. Squirt quickly became very popular, especially in the western and southwestern parts of the United States. In the 1950s, people also started using it to mix with other drinks.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, Squirt has been owned by different companies. In 1978, it was sold to a company called Beverage America. Then, in 1986, A&W Root Beer bought Squirt.
Later, in October 1993, A&W Beverages joined a larger company called Cadbury plc. In May 2008, Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages became its own company, called the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Cadbury plc then changed its name to Cadbury. The Dr Pepper/Seven Up brand is still around today.
More recently, on July 9, 2018, a company called Keurig bought the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. This was a very big deal! The two companies then combined and changed their name to "Keurig Dr Pepper".
Different Kinds of Squirt
Squirt has a natural grapefruit flavor, but it contains less than 2% grapefruit juice. Like many other soft drinks, its packaging has changed over time.
Diet and Special Versions
In 1983, Diet Squirt was introduced. This was special because it was the first soft drink in the United States to use aspartame as a sweetener. Aspartame is a sugar substitute that has fewer calories.
In the mid-1980s, a version called Diet Squirt Plus was sold for a short time. This drink had extra Vitamin C. In the early 1990s, a frozen treat called Squirt Sorbet was available in some supermarkets.
Ruby Red and Citrus Power
There are also other flavors like Ruby Red Squirt and Diet Ruby Red Squirt. Unlike regular Squirt, Ruby Red Squirt does contain caffeine.
In 2008, Squirt Citrus Power was released. This version is different because it has caffeine and ingredients often found in energy drinks, like taurine. It also doesn't have concentrated grapefruit juice.
External Links
- Official website: https://www.squirtsoda.com/
