7UP

Created by the politely named Howdy Corporation, 7UP was launched two weeks before the great Wall Street Crash of 1929 (although that’s not related, just interesting).  Originally called “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda” and containing lithium citrate, a mood-stabilising drug.  Eventually shorted to “7UP Lithiated Lemon Soda” before they eventually got the message in 1936 and just called it “7UP”.  Does the name refer to the seven main ingredients and/or to the 7-ounce bottles it was originally packaged in, as the makers tell us, or to the lithium, which hasn’t been an ingredient in 7UP drinks since 1948 but has an atomic number of seven?  Honestly, we don’t care.

As well as their traditional cans of carbonated beverages – fizzy drinks, in layman’s terms – fine on their own or as a mixer (many 7Up mixes are available online, check them out), you may find some flavours of sugar free powdered drink mix packets here, not always available in the UK.