Yoo-Hoo

A New York staple for many decades, Yoo-Hoo has long remained popular with both kids and their parents. Lower in calories than soda, and touted by the likes of Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle, this simple chocolate drink in the yellow can or bottle was a special part of any childhood.

 

It might surprise you to learn that Yoo-Hoo was invented way back in the 1920s, by a man named Natale Olivieri. His dream was to create a chocolate soft drink that would not spoil, nor require refrigeration.

He succeeded beyond his wildest expectations and Yoo-Hoo saw a significant surge in popularity in the 50’s and 60s, thanks to the help of some local Major League ballplayers to tout it as “the drink of champions!” The chocolate drink was here to stay.

 

In the 70s, other flavors were tried, including Strawberry, Banana and Double Fudge. None managed to knock the chocolate variety from its rightful place on top.

Yoo-Hoo was a perfect addition to lunchboxes, picnic baskets, the beach and any other place where refrigeration was sparse. And thanks to the inclusion of vitamins and minerals, it was always an easier sell than a can of Coke as far as parents were concerned.

Do you have fond memories of drinking an ice-cold Yoo-Hoo on a summer’s day? I hope you’ll take a moment to share them in our comments section.

You may also like...

5 Responses

  1. Rich says:

    It is getting harder to find especially cans…they may only make those juice box things now.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Invented in New Jersey. Still made in New Jersey. NY has no claim.

  3. JPK says:

    Had a glass bottle yoohoo after a long hot summer walk yesterday. Still perfection!

  4. Dave says:

    Yoo Hoos were part of my daily bag lunch going to school in the 1970s. I brought the cans, much safer than the bottles (in case I dropped it).

  5. tara says:

    i miss the original formula

Leave a Reply to Rich Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *