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Food History - Beverages and Drinks
By Mary Bellis

The History of Beer, Wine, and Alcoholic Beverages and Drinks

Cider

In a sense, the history of the apple is a history of our agrarian roots. Paleobotonists estimate that humans first discovered apples in the early Paleolithic period, some 750,000 years ago. The carbonized remains of apples have been dated at 7500 BC. Records describing the extensive planting of apple trees in elevated gardens along the Nile River Delta have been dated at 1300 BC. In Colonial times, Apple Cider was the alcoholic drink of choice. A young man by the name of Johnny Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was largely, if indirectly, responsible for spreading the cider.

Coffee 

Milk

  • 1964: Plastic milk container commercially introduced.
  • 1932: Plastic-coated paper milk cartons* introduced commercially
  • 1884: Dr. Hervey D. Thatcher of Potsdam, New York invents the milk bottle.
  • 1878: Dr. Gustav De Laval invents the continuous centrifugal cream separator
  • 1856: Gail Borden received first United States and English patents for condensed milk.
    *Victor W. Farris was the inventor of the paper milk carton.

More Milk Milestones
Mongols Invented Powdered Milk
Marco Polo arrived in Mongolia in 1275 and stayed in Kublai Khan's court for 17 years. During this time, he made written records of how the Mongols used powdered milk.

Soft Drinks and Beverages

Tea

Iced Tea
Iced tea was first sold at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 by Englishman, Richard Blechyden. Blechyden had a tea concession and invented the beverage on a very hot day.

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