(The Forgotten Drink Only Our Grandparents Truly Knew)
If you grew up in America during the 1930s, 40s, or even the 50s, chances are you’ve heard of — or even tasted — the legendary Nehi Soda. But ask a younger person today about it, and they’ll probably look at you with confusion.
Nehi wasn’t just a soda. It was a cultural icon. A drink that lit up old-fashioned gas stations, country stores, and dusty vending machines across the U.S. Long before Coke and Pepsi completely dominated the market, Nehi was the “cool kid” of soda fountains, offering fruity flavors that made Coca-Cola’s plain cola seem a little… boring.
So, who’s old enough to remember Nehi Soda? Let’s take a fizzy trip down memory lane.
The Birth of Nehi: A Bold Idea in 1924
The story of Nehi begins in Columbus, Georgia. It was 1924, and the Chero-Cola company (which later became Royal Crown Cola, or RC Cola) decided it was time to create something different.
While Coca-Cola had cornered the cola market, there was still room for innovation. People wanted flavors beyond just cola. So, the company launched Nehi — a line of brightly colored fruit sodas.
The name “Nehi” (pronounced knee-high) was a cheeky play on words, suggesting the tall bottles the soda came in. And it worked. People loved the novelty of grape, orange, and peach sodas — flavors that were unique and exciting at the time.
