A history of carbonated milk drinks

Calpis, first sold in 1919, was the world’s first milk soda, even though it’s still. The name derives from a combination of calcium and ‘salpis’, a sanskrit word suggesting the ripening and fermenting of milk. The carbonated version – Calpis Soda – launch

As you’d expect from a still successful 30-​year-​old brand, Calpis Soda is now available in a Zero no-​calorie variant and has spawned a couple of new flavours: ginger and grape.

OK, this isn’t ready to drink, but this 1950s advert shows that the fruit-​flavoured carbonated drink and milk isn’t a new concept in the US. See also Pepsi and Milk.

White Soda was launched in 2001. It was targeted at children (5–12) and teenagers (13–17), and specifically to children who don’t like milk.

2001 saw the US launch of eMoo by Mac Farms of Burlington, Massachusetts. eMoo, marketed as ‘a drink for children of an internet age’, was sold in three flavours: Orange Creamsicle, Bubble Gum and Chocolate Raspberry.

In the UK, Britvic tried a carbonated milk in: Freekee Soda. With flavours such as Odd Orange and Strange Strawberry, the target 10–13-year-old consumers didn’t take to the concept and a name change to Tango Strange Soda didn’t help either. By early 2004,

Launched in 2005, Milkis from Korea’s Lotte is available in original, orange and strawberry flavours.

Launched in the US by Global Beverage Enterprises in 2006, Kool Cow Sparkling Drinks were designed for children ‘who love carbonated drinks, but hate milk’. The strawberry and peach-​mango flavoured hybrid drinks were packed in 16.9oz PET bottles and 6-​pac

Yoplait launched Dizzy in France in 2008. Its target market was the 15–25-year-old niche, with ‘citrus’ and ‘exotic fruits’ flavours and a purple aluminium bottle. Dizzy ran into trouble in June 2009 when The Coca-​Cola Company won a legal battle to ban pr

Launched at the end of 2008 and not strictly a carbonated milk drink (yet weird enough to make it into this gallery) is Pepsi Japan’s Pepsi White – Pepsi with yogurt flavour.

Also not in the ‘carbonated milk’ category, yet still in Japan and with a dairy theme, liquid cheese is produced by the Needs cheese factory in Hokkaido. The manufacturer notes that the drink “is also good as a salad dressing”.

Pepsi Milk was regularly enjoyed on US national TV by the character Laverne De Fazio, played by Penny Marshall in ‘Laverne & Shirley’. Rumour has it that Penny Marshall enjoyed the Pepsi and milk combination in real life and had it written into Laverne’s