Theo Nash
Milk is considered the first non-alcoholic beverage, created during the breeding and domesticating of animals in the primitive age. In ancient times, tea was used for medicinal purposes in China, and in Europe, it was consumed only by the high-level class, such as royalty or nobility. Coffee and hot chocolate are also considered traditional warm beverages, and caffeinated drinks containing caffeine have a long history. Fruit juices like apple juice and grape juice were also consumed in the 19th century, although they were more commonly turned into alcoholic drinks like cider or wine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First non-alcoholic beverage aside from water | Milk |
| When did milk become available as a drink? | During the primitive age, when animals were first domesticated |
| Other early non-alcoholic drinks | Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, apple juice, grape juice |
| Earliest evidence of wine production | Georgia (c. 6000 BCE), Iran (c. 5000 BCE) |
| Beer known in | Neolithic Europe as far back as 3000 BCE |
| First chemical drink | Soda water |
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What You'll Learn
Milk
The first milk, called colostrum, is produced by mothers and contains antibodies and immune-modulating components that strengthen the infant's immune system. In humans, breast milk is recommended by the US CDC for children up to 12 months of age.
The consumption of animal milk is a relatively new habit in the context of our species' 300,000-year history. Before around 10,000 years ago, milk consumption was rare, with the first regular drinkers being early farmers and pastoralists in western Europe, who lived with domesticated animals, including cows.
In ancient times, milk was recognised for its nutritional value. In the Middle Ages, it was called the "virtuous white liquor" as it was safer to consume than water, which was often contaminated. The perishable nature of milk initially limited its consumption to areas close to farms. However, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the production and distribution of milk became more challenging due to the emergence of urban cultures and larger-scale production methods. The distance from rural dairy farms to growing cities, coupled with unsanitary conditions, increased the risk of transmitting diseases such as typhoid fever and tuberculosis through raw milk.
The issue of milk safety was addressed in the 19th century by French chemist Louis Pasteur, who invented pasteurisation in 1863 or 1864. This process involves heating liquids to destroy harmful bacteria and was initially applied to wine and beer before being adopted for milk treatment. In 1908, Chicago became the first city to mandate pasteurisation for all milk sold within its limits.
The Civil War also played a role in the advancement of milk's role in diets, with the invention of condensed milk, which had 60% of its water removed and added sweetener. This became part of the Union Army's food supply and later entered the market as unsweetened evaporated milk.
The growth of urban populations and the expansion of railway networks in the mid-19th century facilitated the transportation of milk from rural areas to cities. This revolutionised milk production and supply, making it more accessible to city dwellers.
Today, milk consumption is widespread in northern Europe, North America, and various other regions. It has evolved beyond its traditional white and chocolate flavours, with popular additions such as strawberry, banana, root beer, and even adult-oriented flavours like coffee and vanilla. Milk is now enjoyed by over six billion people worldwide, showcasing its enduring popularity as a beverage and its transformation from a survival beverage to a nutritional staple.
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Tea
In Britain, the turning point in the history of tea came with the marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza. The British East India Company had a monopoly on importing goods from outside Europe since 1600, and it is likely that sailors on these ships brought tea back to Britain as gifts. The first dated reference to tea in Britain is from an advert in a London newspaper, Mercurius Politicus, from September 1658. It announced that a "China Drink, called by the Chinese, Tcha, by other Nations Tay alias Tee" was on sale at a coffee house in Sweeting's Rents in the City.
Today, tea is consumed all over the world, with India being the largest consumer of tea worldwide. Tea has a rich and fascinating history, and it continues to play an important role in many cultures and societies.
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Coffee
The business side of coffee history began on the Arabian Peninsula, where coffee cultivation and trade flourished for the first time. By the 15th century, coffee was widely grown in what is now Yemen, and it gained popularity in Iran, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey throughout the 16th century. Coffeehouses, known as "qahveh khaneh," emerged as thriving social hubs where people gathered to sip coffee, socialize, enjoy entertainment, and stay informed. These coffeehouses were integral to the exchange of information and were even referred to as "Schools of the Wise."
In the mid-1600s, coffee made its way to what is now New York City, and coffee houses began to spring up. However, tea remained the preferred drink in the New World until 1773 when King George III imposed a heavy tax on tea, sparking the Boston Tea Party revolt. This pivotal event not only altered American history but also shifted Americans' beverage preference towards coffee.
By the 1600s, most coffee beans originated from Yemen, and the seeds of the global coffee industry were smuggled out of Mecca by Baba Budan, a Muslim pilgrim returning to India in 1600. With the assistance of British colonizers, these seeds laid the foundation for the world's first commercial coffee industry outside of Africa and Arabia.
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Fruit juices
In the Middle East, one of the first regularly produced juices was lemonade, which gained popularity after being imported to 16th-century Italy and quickly spread throughout Europe. The 18th century saw an increased demand for citrus fruits, with lemon and lime linked to the prevention of scurvy. This was even incorporated into legislation with the Merchant Shipping Act of 1867, which required all ocean-bound British ships to carry citrus-based juice on board.
In the late 19th century, dentist Thomas B Welch developed a pasteurization method that prevented juice from fermenting into alcohol. He bottled grape juice, sealed the bottles with cork, and placed them in boiling water. He then sold his product as "Dr Welch’s Unfermented Wine," becoming the first known example of a juice company, with his products being manufactured and sold on a large scale.
In 1893, California citrus growers formed the Southern California Fruit Exchange, which later became Sunkist. Between 1907 and 1910, the cooperative launched a successful advertising campaign that made orange juice a popular daily American beverage. Consumption of orange juice increased from 8 million gallons in 1920 to 160 million gallons in 1940.
In the 1970s, Dave Otto opened the first Original Juice Bar in Manhattan Beach, selling fresh-squeezed orange juice and blended fruit drinks. Similar businesses soon sprouted across California, serving various juices and blended drinks. By 1979, California had over 200 dedicated juice bars, and the trend spread to health-conscious neighborhoods across the country.
Today, juice is commonly consumed as a beverage or used as an ingredient or flavoring in foods and other drinks, such as smoothies. Juice is prepared by mechanically squeezing or macerating (cold pressing) the flesh of fruits and vegetables without applying heat or solvents. Commercial juices are often filtered to remove fiber or pulp, and some may contain additives such as sugar, artificial flavors, or savory seasonings.
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Carbonated drinks
In 1767, Englishman Joseph Priestley found a way to reproduce carbonation by infusing water with carbon dioxide. Priestley discovered that by suspending a bowl of distilled water above a vat of fermenting beer, the water would absorb carbon dioxide, creating carbonated water. Priestley found that the treated water had a pleasant taste and offered it to his friends as a refreshing drink. Within a decade of Priestley's discovery, inventors in Europe had built on his concept to produce carbonated water in greater quantities. One such inventor, J. J. Schweppe, formed Schweppes in 1783 and began selling the world's first bottled soft drink.
The soda water sold by early companies like Schweppes was initially unflavored and unsweetened, but it wasn't long before flavors and sweeteners were added. The first flavored syrups were created in the early 19th century, with ingredients like ginger and birch bark chosen for their health benefits. At the time, people believed that soda had medicinal benefits, and various "health tonics" were created, such as ginger ale and sarsaparilla. In the 1830s, these healthy flavors were overtaken by fruit flavors, and by 1865, soda drinkers could choose from a variety of options, including orange, apple, black cherry, and lemon.
The temperance movements of the early 20th century provided a major boost to the carbonated soft drink (CSD) industry. These movements pressured people to stop drinking alcohol, and in the US, this culminated in the Prohibition Movement in 1919, which prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol. As a result, consumers in the US, UK, and other countries turned to carbonated soft drinks instead of alcoholic beverages. The industry continued to innovate, with RC Cola introducing canned soft drinks in 1954 and the first pull-ring tab in 1962. Today, the industry continues to adapt to changing preferences, with a growing demand for healthier alternatives, such as sparkling water and sugar-free drinks.
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Frequently asked questions
Milk is considered the first non-alcoholic beverage. It has been a basic drink throughout history, and was created during the breeding and domesticating of animals in the primitive age.
In the 19th century, non-alcoholic drinks included tea, coffee, lemonade, hot cocoa, and fruit juices like apple juice and grape juice.
Soda-water was invented in the late 18th century, but it wasn't until the 1810s that flavoured soda-pop became available. It became common by the mid-1800s and ubiquitous by the 1870s.
Tea is the world's most commonly consumed beverage, after water.
A cup of warm milk is said to promote a good night's sleep. Relaxation drinks, which are considered non-alcoholic beverages, often contain calming ingredients and are usually free of caffeine and alcohol.
