7 Up

Made by: Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Origin: USA

Imported into the UK: Britvic plc






7 Up was originally formulated in St Louis, Missouri, USA in 1929. Until 1950 the drink contained lithium citrate, a mood stabilising drug, and was marketed as a hangover cure. The choice of name remains a mystery the inventor refused to explain. Since 1986 the brand rights have been owned by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.

7 Up is a clear, bright colourless liquid. It is carbonated with medium sized, uneven bubbles that soon settle down in the glass after the drink is poured.

Fleeting but enticingly sweet on the nose, the aroma is a mouthwatering fusion of lemon & lime in a familiar dual role, all dusted with powdered sugar.

Light again but satisfyingly flavoured, the first sensation on the palate is an 'up-front' sweetness. Before the sugars can begin to threaten however, the acids cut through to bring things swiftly under control.

As with other lemon & lime flavoured drinks, it's the lime flavours that provide most of the running here, and appear to dominate, with the lemon in support and more closely allied to the sweetness underneath.

Despite 7 Up's modest finish, light feel, and undoubted appeal to sweeter tastes, there is enough balance between the elements and (critically) concentration of flavour to refresh and cleanse the palate.

Packaging claims: Natural Lemon and Lime flavour, no preservatives, no colourings, no caffeine

Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, natural flavouring, malic acid, acidity regulator (sodium citrate)

Price: Should be between £0.50-£0.60 for a 330ml can, widely available