Nikole Stewart
When you think about American food, you probably think of a variety of classic options like burgers, BBQ, and more. But these staples are more than what meets the eye. Let’s dive into some iconic American foods with a weird history. From delicious lemonade to beloved breakfast items, take a trip through history to learn about these crazy origin stories.
5. Pink Lemonade
This iconic beverage is commonly associated with summertime, pool days, and parties. But where did that pink hue come from? While pink lemons are real, they’re a rare fruit, and the juices come out clear. Instead, the origin is a crazy story and involves a traveling circus.
In the 1850s, Pete Conklin got a job selling lemonade to patrons. When making a new batch, he used a tub he didn’t realize wasn’t clean, and used it to make said lemonade. What he didn’t realize until shortly after was that the same tub was used to rinse pink tights, causing the lemonade to turn pink. Conklin called “strawberry lemonade,” and it caught on as a circus-specific beverage.
4. Graham Crackers
Graham crackers are another delicious treat that is often associated with summertime, thanks to their amazing contribution to the S’more. But besides that, they’re great to make crusts for pies, used as a dipper for sweet treats, or eaten on their own.
Back in the day, though, they were one of the many American foods with a weird history, as they were created in the 19th century by Sylvester Graham, a Presbyterian minister. Apparently, these crackers were supposed to help cure people from… sexual urges. Apparently, Graham believed eating meat caused “primal instincts,” therefore, crackers were the cure.
3. Fanta
From pink drinks to orange, another delicious choice is Fanta, the classic orange-flavored soda. And while the brand hit stores in 1958, it was very different before then.
In fact, the formula before that was created during World War II when the United States joined. American companies were ordered to drop all ties to combatants, including Nazi Germany; however, Coca-Cola wasn’t a fan of that because Germany was a major Coke market. So instead of offering Germany Coke, they created this new drink just for Germany.
2. Rocky Mountain Oysters
While oysters are in the name, this isn’t the same as the shellfish you get with a spritz of lemon. In fact, Rocky Mountain Oysters are one of the many American foods with a weird history. Its origin story starts in Colorado back in the 1800s.
While travelers were making their way West, they needed a way to control cattle breeding, which meant castrating young bulls. Instead of throwing them away, they cooked them for an extra meal. Yes, it’s really that disgusting.
1. Pop-Tarts
Pop-Tarts are one of the amazing breakfast treats that you can grab and go, whether you cook them or eat them straight out of the package. The pastries with various fillings and icing might not be the most nutritious, but they’re beyond delicious. And, it’s one of those American foods with a weird history. It all started with Kellogg’s being the leading brand when it came to breakfast, thanks to cereal.
Their competitor, Post, in the late 1950s, worked on an idea of creating a non-spoiling jam inside a thin pastry. It began as Country Squares, and while Post advertised it and talked them up during industry events, Kellogg had time to create their own version. By the time Country Squares arrived, Pop-Tarts were already on shelves and selling well. Post looked as if they created a knock-off and quickly died off.