Drinks

Some of our old favourites have fallen away over the years. I wanted to take a look at them for old time's sake.

According to Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand:

New Zealand production of soft drinks began in the 1830s with cordials and ginger beer. The first aerated (carbonated) water was made in Auckland in 1845. The drinks were popular, and small manufacturers proliferated, from Gisborne to Greytown and Akaroa to Alexandra. By 1918 there were 164 factories nationwide, and most towns of 500 or more people had an aerated water factory.
source

I remember when I was young we lived in Wanganui and we would often do a swap-a-crate of soft drink bottles at the local Thompson & Lewis bottling plant. You could choose to get a crate of mixed flavours, and I always hoped my favourites would be included. Taking a crate of empties would get you a small refund, which you could then put towards your next purchase.

There would also be the annual bottle drive, which my father would participate in as part of his club's fundraising efforts. The trucks would hit the streets around Wanganui and gather up hundreds upon hundreds of glass bottles - mostly of the brown variety (Lion Red or DB were certainly well-represented).

The wonderful days of the old
Milk Bottle

while milk hasn't disappeared from our shelves, the glass receptacle has
image source
Who else remembers trying to open the tops carefully but often still managing to get a thumb covered in milk as the foil caved in?

Cans!
Schweppes

image source
While the brand and the flavours may not have disappeared, I had certainly forgotten the pleasure of drinking them from cans.
Jucy
(by Schweppes)

the only one I remember is the Pinectar
image source

More cans!
Watties

image source
It is truly amazing just how many products have slipped away. It wasn't until I saw this picture that I began to remember several of the flavours (but still don't recognise others).
Watties also produced these ones.

I used to love Kandy when I was young.
image source

Frist was my other favourite soft drink during the 70s. I wonder if I'd still feel the same about Frist and Kandy if I tasted them today?
image source

Ballins
Ballins Breweries, Christchurch - although said to have started in Auckland, before 1876

image source
Stud Cola

I couldn't find any information on them.
image source

Teal

personally, I don't think I remember these at all - perhaps they were localised? the label says Wellington
image source

Spaceman drinks

Oh my, I swear I can still taste the cordial that was in these - along with the slightly 'plasticky' taste of the containers. Remember, they had those little red stoppers in the top?
image source

What actually started this nostalgia trip off was ....
Hansell's Jungle Juice

image source
Their stickers adorned my primary school lunchbox.

image source
They also made Quench

I remember the bottles my Nana always had in her cupboard, for us grandkids. To make glasses of cordial we'd measure out portions by the lidful before topping up with water.
image source

I am sure there are other beverages that have not been mentioned here, and yet are just as nostalgic. I haven't even touched on the alcoholic ones. Please feel free to add names & pics of any you remember that are long-gone and almost forgotten.

---

Mannabase UBI - sign up via referral link, and help spread the word:

image source