Pondering - Kool-Aid

So I like to drink Kool-aid... well actually I prefer the great value sugar-free Wal-Mart brand.. But still I was thinking today as I pour myself a glass of the delightful drink... Who invented it and how long has the stuff been around? My guess would have been it was invented in the 1950's but I would have been wrong.




Kool-aid was invented by Edwin Perkins a man from the heartland of the United States, Hastings Nebraska. Edwin was an inventor/marketer of sorts who developed a number of products for sale. Kool-aid was inspired by a different product that Edwin's father had sold in his general store when he was growing up... Jell-O. In the early 1920's Edwin was selling a drink called "Fruit Smack", which as inspired by Jell-O came in six different fruity flavors. He sold the drink in small four oz. bottles, but shipping them by rail from Nebraska created one major problem... glass bottles often break if handled roughly, and rail travel isn't exactly smooth.



So in 1927 he figured out how to remove the liquid in fruit smack and sell it in a powder form.. this would be Kool-Aid! In 1929, Kool-aid would become a nationally distributed product, and its success would only continue to grow as in 1931 Perkins decided to drop his other products to focus only on Kool-aid sales and moved his distribution center to the big city of Chicago.



The six original flavors of Kool-aid you may wonder? Strawberry, raspberry, lemon-lime, grape, cherry, and orange.



In 1953 Edwin sold Kool-Aid to General Foods, who invented the giant pitcher Kool-Aid man we all know, and love, and added two additional flavors to the lineup in 1955... Lemonade and Root beer.



In 1964 Kool-aid with the sugar already added was first marketed.



Bonus Kool-Aid knowledge.



Edwin Perkins, first invention/creation was "Nix-o-tine" a product to help you end your tobacco addiction.



Kool-aid is the State Drink of Nebraska



Kool-aid was originally spelt Kool-Ade



Kool-aid was originally sold for 10 cents a packet, though it was cut to 5 cents a packet during the Great Depression.



Failed offshoots of Kool-aid were attempts to make pie fillings, and ice cream mixes.