Dose of History - Hot Sodas - American Institute of the History of Pharmacy

As the weather grew cold, it was common for drugstores to sell “hot-sodas”, with one pharmaceutical trade magazine from 1919 stating that “Chocolates, beef bouillon, tomato puree, [and] malted milk with egg are among the hot-soda standbys”. Although some of these flavors may seem odd to the modern reader, hot-soda may have been closer to soup than modern-day soda. The article recommends that they be consumed with crackers, sandwiches, or cake. As time went on, the wide variety of flavors were increasingly supplanted with the staples we know today, like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. “While of course we feature hot chocolate as soon as the weather gets cold, and sometimes a few other bouillons and hot drinks, the list is not nearly so extensive as it used to be”, states an article published six years later in the same magazine.

Hot soda urns heated sodas before they were served.

This Dose of History was brought to you by Leo Ryan, AIHP Intern.

Bibliography:

“Good Soda–A Department of Fountain Helps”. Druggist’s Circular, November 1919. 521.
“Cold Weather Menus”. Druggist’s Circular, October 1925. 393.

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Dose of History – Hot Sodas

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