Popular and Unique Soft Drinks From Around the World Part 2

If there is a drink not found here, or on part one of the list, please let me know by leaving a comment.

Virgil's Root Beer. Developed by Jill Fraser Crowley and Edward Crowley, Virgil's Root Beer is a micro brewed gourmet root beer. The company was sold in the early 2000's and Virgil's is now made in Los Angeles, California by Reed's, Inc. It is sold in pint bottles and small kegs. Virgil's Root Beer contains cane sugar and a number of natural spices, including anise, licorice, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, sweet birch, molasses, nutmeg, pimento berry oil, balsam oil, cassia oil and citric acid.


Vimto. Vimto is a purple soft drink in the United Kingdom. It contains the juice of grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants (in a 3% concentration), flavored with herbs and spices. Vimto has also been made into a sweet (candy) and an popsicle. It is available in cans, bottles and as a fountain drink.


Vernors. Vernors ginger ale shares the title of America's oldest surviving soft drink with Hires Root Beer. It was invented in 1866 by James Vernor, a Detroit pharmacist. Vernors is a golden ginger ale with a robust flavor, more like a ginger beer, that historically was flavored and colored with caramel. This style was common before Prohibition when "dry" pale ginger ale, typified by Canada Dry, became popular as an alcoholic mixer. While Michiganders who grew up with it tend to like it, many other Americans are suspicious of it, as it doesn't taste like a "typical" ginger ale.


Vegitabeta. VegitaBeta is an orange-colored soft drink consisting primarily of water and sugar. The product contains 3mg of beta-carotene per 100ml serving; an entire bottle contains 4.8mg. Although the product contains less than 10% juice, the label is filled with pictures of vegetables such as carrots, and fruits such as oranges, apples, acerola, and, prunes that naturally contain beta-carotene. The label states “Easy way to obtain nutrition,” “VegitaBeta is a health-supporting drink that uses five materials [vegetables and fruits].” The beverage carries the trade mark “Daily Care” with an explanation that “Daily Care is a symbol of products that support a healthy lifestyle.” While VegitaBeta contains a small amount of juice from vegetables and fruits that contain beta-carotene, the 4.8 mg of beta carotene in one bottle of the beverage is added in supplement form according to company officials.


Sanbitter. Sanbitter is marketed as a non-alcoholic apertif, essentially a substitute for Campari, usually served over ice and possibly extra soda, maybe a lime or lemon, or with orange juice. http://www.sanpellegrino-corporate.it/Sanbitter/


Rivella. Rivella is a soft drink from Switzerland, created by Robert Barth in 1952, which is produced from milk plasma, and therefore includes ingredients such as lactose, lactic acid and minerals. It comes in four varieties:Red Rivella, the original version, Blue Rivella, a low calorie version of Red Rivella, Green Rivella, which is aromatized with green tea extract, Yellow Rivella, which is made with soya rather than dairy milk extracts.


Irish Red Lemonade. Red lemonade is a popular soft drink in Ireland. Lemonade in Ireland comes in two varieties - red and white. Both are officially lemon-flavoured, but there is a marked difference in taste between the varieties. Red lemonade is one of the most popular mixers used with spirits in Ireland, particularly whiskey. Major brands of red lemonade include: TK (Taylor Keith), Country Spring, Finches and Nash's.


Pop Cola. Pop Cola is huge in the Philippines. From what I hear, it is similar to the US Soft Drink, RC Cola.


Pocari Sweat. Pocari Sweat (ポカリスエット) is a popular Japanese soft drink and sports drink, manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.. It was first sold in 1980. Pocari Sweat is a mild-tasting, relatively light sweet drink and advertises itself as an "Ion supply drink." Ingredients listed are water, sugar, flavourings, acids, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium lactate and magnesium carbonate. It is sold in liquid form, in aluminium cans and plastic bottles, and also in powder form.


Pipi. An orange drink, popular in Europe.


Moxie. Before Coca-Cola and Pepsi, there was Moxie soda. Known for its strong, rich flavor, Moxie soda is the oldest continuously produced soft drink in the United States. Since 1884 Moxie has been a favorite of many and has over time cultivated a devoted following of fans loyal to the truly unique taste of Moxie soda.


Mezzo Mix. Mezzo Mix is a product of the Coca-Cola Company sold only in Germany and Austria. Its slogan, translated into English, is "Cola Kisses Orange". It is basically standard Coca-Cola with a light orange flavor, much like a Spezi, which is usually Coke mixed with orange Fanta. The ingredients of Mezzo Mix are: water, sugar, orange juice, carbonation, color: caramel coloring, citric acid, flavoring, caffeine, ascorbic acid, stabilizer.


Malta. Malta is a type of soft drink. It is a carbonated malt beverage, meaning it is brewed from barley, hops, and water much like beer; corn and caramel color may also be added. However, malta is non-alcoholic. It is similar in color to stout (dark brown) but is very sweet, generally described as tasting like molasses. Unlike beer, ice is often added to malta when consumed. A popular way Latin Americans sometimes drink malta is by mixing it with condensed or evaporated milk.


Lemon and Paeroa (L&P). Lemon & Paeroa, also known as L&P, is a sweet soft drink manufactured in New Zealand. Traditionally made by combining lemon juice with carbonated mineral water from the town of Paeroa, it is now manufactured by multi-national Coca-Cola.


Kvass. Kvass or kvas is a fermented mildly alcoholic beverage made from black rye or rye bread. It is popular in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland and other Eastern and Central European countries as well as in all ex-Soviet states, like Uzbekistan, where one can see many kvass vendors in the streets. Its origins go back 5,000 years to the beginnings of beer production. The alcohol content is so low (0.05-1.44%) that it is considered acceptable for consumption by children. It is often flavoured with fruits or herbs such as strawberries or mint.


Kolashampan. There is a bubble-gumish taste to it, but it's not as strong as the scent. Behind the bubble gum, and emerging slightly after, there is a very sweet yet slightly citrusy taste. It reminds me of candy orange slices, or maybe those weird circus peanut candies. The bubble gum is unpleasant, but the unusual semi-citrus which follows is kind of nice. The carbonation is strong, and adds bite to the citrus.


Kinnie. Kinnie is a soft drink that originated in the Mediterranean island of Malta back in 1952. It is produced and created by Simonds Farsons Cisk. Kinnie is different to other mainstream soft drinks because of its bitter sweet flavour. Kinnie tastes like a bitter-sweet long drink yet contains no alcohol. Kinnie looks and tastes like an Italian style alcoholic aperitif but is less bitter than a Sanbitter or Italian chinottos.


Jarritos. Jarritos is a popular brand of soft drink in Mexico. Jarritos was started by Don Francisco "El Güero" Hill in 1950. Jarritos is made in the following flavors: Fruit Punch (tutifruti), Grapefruit (toronja), Guava (guayaba), Roselle (jamaica),
Lime (limón), Mandarin (mandarina), Pineapple (piña), Strawberry (fresa), Tamarind (tamarindo), Mango (mango), Watermelon (sandía), and Lemon-Lime ("lima-limón").


Jaffa. Jaffa is a popular carbonated soft drink produced in Finland by Hartwall and in Sweden by Spendrups. Jaffa is usually orange flavoured, however different flavours are sold. Jaffa as a brand is not owned by any specific company, thus there is a range of Jaffa products from various manufacturers.


Inca Kola. Inca Kola (also known as Inca Cola or "the Golden Kola") is a Peruvian soft drink with a sweet fruity flavor sometimes compared to bubblegum. The maker is 60% owned by The Coca-Cola Company.


Guarana Antartica. Guaraná Antarctica is the most popular guaraná-flavored soft drink in Brazil, created in 1921 by Pedro Baptista de Andrade for Companhia Antarctica Paulista, now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev. It is the second soft drink brand most sold in Brazil, behind only Coca-Cola, and absolute leader in its segment. Currently, it is ranked among the 15 brands most sold in the world. The taste is mild, slightly apple-like, with a distinct berry after-flavor.


Faygo. Faygo or Faygo Pop is a soft drink brand headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It is distributed in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Central Southern regions of the United States. Faygo's products are notably less expensive than more widely distributed brands, such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi products. Faygo can be found throughout the United States and in over fifty flavors.


Afri-Cola. Afri Cola is a highly caffeinated cola soft drink made in Germany. Afri-Cola is famous for it's unusual bottle shape.


Bahamas Goombay Punch. A slightly carbonated, very sweet punch. Very popular in the Bahamas.