Orangina: refreshing drink, is 75 years old

Those of you who know me, will know I have something of an obsession for France. So you might quite rightly think the most evocative thing for me would be a great meal, the landscape, the wine, the bread.

I have to confess that it is actually …. Orangina! This is someone who rarely drinks fizzy soft drinks too.

Orangina bottle

I have been to France more times than I can count. At a very early age, I can remember drinking Orangina from thick, slightly scratched bottles (which were in fact recycled and refilled). There was something just that bit magical when you shook the bottle to mix it rather like shaking a snow globe perhaps. I just love the slightly sparkling taste of orange (with a hint of lemon, grapefruit and mandarin).

I was somewhat of a surprise to learn that the Orangina was created 75 years ago and it is not exactly French.

It came about due to the meeting in 1935 at a fair in Marseille of Dr Trigo Miralles from Spain and Leon Beton. Dr Miralles had invented a process to conserve orange juice by adding carbonised water. This was “matured” in a round bottle shaped a little like an orange with rough sides topped with a special stopper. He called his invention Orangina, Naranjina soda (Naranjina means small orange in Spansih). Leon Beton took the formula back to Boufarik in Algeria with the intention of promoting the drink.

Orangina Poster – Bernard Villemot 1964

In 1947, Jean-Claude Beton relauched the product which met with disapproval from cafe owners as it wasn’t a conventional shape and took up too much space. Jean-Claude insisted he wouldn’t change a thing. By 1953, it was drunk on the Champs Elysees and by 10 years later it was one of the most popular drinks in France. It wasn’t until 1961 that Orangina moved its headquarters in Algeria to France. It’s also had many firsts. The first carbonated drink to be put into a can in France in 1977; the first “light” drink created in 1988. Now,

Orangina has always had a talent for publicity. From the now iconic posters many created by Bernard Villemot, to some edgy television adverts today and too celebrate its golden jubilee a 23 metre high version of the famous bulby bottle was created weighing 65 tons. If you’ve a minute, you’ve just got to check out some on YouTube – what can I say but very French.

Bottom line, for me Orangina was and still is the perfect drink when it is very hot and sunny.

Orangina Poster

Orangina Cocktails

Orangina a perfect cocktail mixer so why not whip up a refreshing cocktail ?

STRAWBINA

Suggested glass – Collins
Ingredients:
60ml white rum
30ml Orangina
15ml strawberry puree
Half a strawberry to garnish

Method:

Add 30ml of Orangina, 15ml of strawberry puree and 60ml of white rum to your cocktail tin
Fill up with a large scoop of cubed ice and shake
Pour into your Collins glass and top up with more Orangina if needed
Garnish with slice of half a fresh strawberry.

PASSINA

Suggested glass – Champagne flute/Sling

Ingredients:
60ml Orangina
30ml passion fruit puree
90ml champagne/sparkling wine
Slice of passion fruit to garnish

Method:

Pour 30ml of passion fruit puree into a pre-chilled champagne glass
Gently pour 60ml of Orangina down a bar spoon layering on top of the puree
Repeat this method with champagne/sparkling wine to leave a 3-tiered drink
Garnish with your choice of orange or passion fruit slice.

ORANGITA

Suggested glass: Collins

Ingredients:
60ml tequila
150ml lime juice
150ml Agave syrup (or sugar syrup)
Hand-full of coriander chopped
Small 1cm piece of chilli
Top up with Orangina
Basil leaf to garnish

Method:

Squeeze 1 lime wedge into a cocktail tin and add 150ml of agave syrup, a handful of chopped coriander and a small piece of chilli
Top up with 60ml of Tequila and then add one large scoop of ice
Shake vigorously until your tin is freezing, strain over a freshly prepared ice-filled glass and top up with Orangina and garnish with a basil leaf.

Thanks to Jean Watin-Augouard for his history of Orangina (in French).
Photographs, illustrations and cocktails are courtesy of Orangina.

@Orangina on Twitter
www.orangina.eu