Monday, July 1, 2013

Nesbitt's of California Orange soda

Nesbitt's of California Orange soda: Nesbitt's was founded in 1924 by Hugh S. Nesbitt. Initially, the company produced syrup for soda fountains. Syrup could also be mixed to make ice toppings (think sundae's). In 1927, the company began to focus on just orange. By 1938/39, the company began to bottle its own orange soda. What set Nesbitt's apart was that it was made with 10% real California orange juice (so it claimed, more coming on that). The brand was franchised, and began to be made all over the world. It was the largest selling orange soda, until Fanta surpassed it. Nesbitts Fruit Company, as it was known, was sold to Clorox in 1972 (yes as in bleach). 1975 it is then sold to Moxie Industries. Its passes through more than a few hands, and eventually, lands with Big Red limited, who makes Big Red soda. Big Red pushes Nesbitt's Honey Lemonade more heavily and now Nesbitt's Orange is licensed to several small independent companies, including Orca Beverage Soda works, where mine was from. 
     Some odd Nesbitt's facts: In 1943, Hugh Nesbitt was died as a result of injuries sustained from a fight at a soda drink bottlers convention. 
     There was a very large lawsuit in 1937. "Federal authorities" seized a shipment of Nesbitt's orange soda syrup. The claim was that Nesbitt labeled his product: "Nesbitt’s California Orange Juice Sweetened". The government claimed that because it was adulterated it could not be called juice. Problem was too much sugar to be called juice according to the government. Ruling ended up that if one followed the directions on the bottle of syrup, the beverage would be so diluted as not to constitute orange juice, and therefore amount of sugar did not matter. 
     Then there is the little problem of its coloring. One of the products used to achieve the orange color of the soda was coal tar. And still uses coal tar to this day. Coal tar is now called "Yellow 6" by the FDA, who says it is OK for human consumption. The coloring has been banned in Norway and Austria. 
     Elvis Presley loved Nesbitts orange. "Burnt bacon, olives, vegetable soup and peanut-butter and banana sandwiches." washed down with Nesbitt's Orange soda.
     There are many many other little factoids I could add, Nesbitts sponsored a drag racing car, was official orange drink at Disneyland in the 60's, Negativland has a song including mention of Nesbitts. The secret to the orange flavor is orange vest, not juice.  There are a lot of little trivia facts. 

The soda! 

Before drinking I would have said it has a pleasant orange color. After reading about the coal tar, may not be so pleasant. Strong orange scent when the bottle is opened. Very pleasing tart orange flavor. Right on that line of too tart vs too sweet. Drinks very smoothly. I said once before I'm not a fan of fruit sodas all that much, but if someone made me drink orange, I'd ask for a Nesbitt's. 

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