Soda and Fizzy Drinks: A Global History

Description

More than 80 years before the invention of Coca-Cola, sweet carbonated drinks became popular around the world, provoking remarkably similar arguments that they do today. Are they medicinally, morally, culturally or nutritionally good or bad? They have been loved - and hated - for being cold or sweet or fizzy or stimulating. Many of their flavours are international - lemon and ginger were more popular than cola until about 1920. Some are local: tarragon in Russia, cucumber in New York, red bean in Japan, and chinotto (exceedingly bitter orange) in Italy. This book looks at how something made from water, sugar and soda became big business but also became deeply important to people; fizzy drinks' symbolic meanings are far more complex than the water, gas and sugar from which they are made.

Judith Levin has worked as a book editor and writer. Her books include Ichiro Suzuki (Baseball Superstars series, 2008).

"A sweeping history of soft drinks . . . [that includes] coverage of patent medicines, the science of fizz, the politics and worldwide spread of Coke and Pepsi, and the wide range of ingredients, drugs, and sweeteners that have gone into these drinks." -- Mark Pendergrast, author of "For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It"