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60’s Nostalgia- Tang, the space drink

John Glenn

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Enough is enough!

I have put this post off long enough. Several times over the last few months it crossed my mind to post about Tang- the breakfast drink of the astronauts. Each time, I was confused because  although Tang was created in the 50’s, it didn’t become a commercial success until the 60’s. So I dithered about should it be a 50’s post or a 60’s post. Dithering being what it is, the result was that I just put it out of mind altogether.

Then the last straw.

Then this week, Bob from Cantankerous Old Coots commented that Tang was one of the beneficial products developed under the US space program. I couldn’t wait any longer.  It is time to clear the air of this slander.  This myth has been circulated long enough.  It is true that some of the NASA launches carried Tang but Tang was developed and marketed independently from the space program. It was pure marketing genius that got Tang attached to the space program and made it a popular drink for kids in the 60’s not the science and knowhow of NASA.

Finally the Truth.

So what is the real truth? Tang predated the space program by several years and it was created by a big American food company, not NASA. So what made kids believe that they could be just like the astronauts when they chugged their morning glass of Tang. It was nothing but marketing hype. Tang was actually invented in the late 50’s by researchers at General Foods but did not become popular until the 60’s largely because of the association with astronauts.

The original idea for Tang was a citrus y, vitamin enhanced breakfast drink. It only became associated with the space program because the recycled water in the Gemini program had an unpleasant taste. Flavorings were used to mask that taste and Tang was one products that NASA used. But Tang wasn’t the only one and Tang wasn’t used for every launch.

Tang is now owned by Kraft Foods which still makes several versions of the product.

 

My Tang experience

When I was growing up, my mother bought Tang and my brothers and I happily mixed it up and drank it. It was easier than mixing up frozen concentrated orange juice which was messy and separated in the refrigerator. We thought it was cool to mix the powder with water.  It didn’t taste very good but neither did it taste bad and we were confident that it was good for us because the astronauts drank it.

Gradually the excitement over the space program died and Tang stopped being a part of my consumption.

 

{ 10 comments… add one }
  • Bill Murney March 3, 2011, 5:54 am

    Another victory for the marketing boys then.

    Bill
    Never Been Tanged, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
    Bill Murney’s last Blog Post ..Chuggers

    • Ralph March 3, 2011, 5:59 am

      Bill,
      You seemed to have turned out alright in spite of it.

  • Hansi March 3, 2011, 8:26 am

    Tang….what a crock of… well definitely not orange juice. We were so sold a bill of goods in the 50’s and 60’s with all the “new improved” and “better living through modern science” crap. Heck yes the astronauts drank Tang; they couldn’t bring a crate of oranges into space. Now we pay a premium for “organic” fruits, naturally grown, mess and all, just like our grandparents had.
    Hansi’s last Blog Post ..Alternative Advice

    • Ralph March 3, 2011, 8:41 am

      Hansi,
      Maybe you pay a premium for high priced, ugly organic fruit. I like the pretty stuff in the regular bins. Maybe Tang didn’t bring better living but it sure felt like it at the time.

  • Steve Skinner March 3, 2011, 9:15 am

    As a Boy Scout in the sixties, we drank Tang on every camping trip.
    Steve Skinner’s last Blog Post ..Is It A Sign

    • Ralph March 3, 2011, 9:21 am

      Steve,
      Did you ever drink it at home?

  • Steve Skinner March 3, 2011, 2:57 pm

    My mom was into frozen OJ but as a “special treat’ she kept a jar on the shelf.
    Steve Skinner’s last Blog Post ..Is It A Sign

    • Ralph March 3, 2011, 2:59 pm

      That’s the 60’s in a nutshell. Real juice was normal and Tang was a special treat. Nobody fooled you mom.

  • b March 3, 2011, 4:11 pm

    This is one cool post! I did not know that and have passed the Tang myth onto children,grandchildren and probably even students! BAD!!! As for Tang…well I just never really cared for it. Sorry!

    b

    http://www.retireinstyleblog.com

    I am going to twit this up…just for fun!
    b’s last Blog Post ..BETTER SLEEP TIPS- The Hot Round-up of the Web Link Suggestions!

    • Ralph March 3, 2011, 4:26 pm

      b,
      I have to confess not knowing either until I started researching. Glad to be setting the record straight.

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