The Strange True Story Of Tang

Beer In Front Podcast – Tang: The Drink That Rode the Space Race

Everyone knows Tang was "the drink of the astronauts"...except that's not actually how the story began.This week, Beer In Front takes a detour from beer to explore one of the greatest marketing success stories of the 20th century. Long before astronauts carried it into orbit, Tang was a struggling powdered breakfast drink sitting on grocery store shelves. A timely connection to NASA, a little help from the Space Race, and some brilliant marketing transformed it into a household name.In this episode you'll learn:

• Why Tang was originally created by General Foods—not NASA
• The food scientist behind Tang, Cool Whip, Pop Rocks, and more
• How John Glenn's historic Mercury mission changed the brand forever
• Why astronauts actually used Tang in space
• The surprising truth behind one of America's most enduring food myths
• How Tang became an international success long after its popularity faded in the United States
• And, of course...does Tang still taste good today?

To wrap things up, I mix up a glass of the original orange Tang and find out whether this iconic drink still holds up after all these years.If you enjoy stories about food, drinks, advertising, and the fascinating history behind everyday products, this episode is for you.Thanks for listening, and we'll be back next week with a regular Beer In Front episode!

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Beer Media Group