- The soft drink was invented in 1893 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham
- It is made to aid digestion and boost energy. The name comes from dyspepsia, or indigestion
- Social media users were shocked to discover the meaning behind the name
The meaning of the name Pepsi goes far beyond a carbonated drink that provides an energy boost.
First invented in 1893 as Brad’s Drink by pharmacist Caleb Bradham, the popular soft drink was created in part to aid digestion.
Now people are shocked to learn that not only is Pepsi big on helping with digestion, but its name comes from the word “dyspepsia” – aka indigestion – and the help it provides with those gastrointestinal issues.
“I was a year old today when I heard that,” one social media user wrote via The US Sun, while another wrote, “I had no idea.”
Pepsi was invented in 1898 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham as a way to aid digestion and provide an energy boost
The drink was previously called Brad’s Drink and Pepsi-Cola before changing the name to Pepsi in 1961
Pepsi is currently the second most valuable soft drink brand in the world, ahead of Coca-Cola – the soft drink that is part of the long-standing rivalry called the Coke Wars.
Bradham was operating a soda fountain at his North Carolina drugstore, serving drinks he made himself.
The most popular drink he sold was Brad’s Drink – a soft drink that was a mix of sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, kola nuts, nutmeg and other additives.
He changed it to Pepsi-Cola in 1898, and by 1903 the soda syrup was selling like crazy in pharmacies across North Carolina.
Pepsi was specifically intended to aid digestion; the first slogan was ‘Exciting, stimulating, aids digestion’ in 1903.
Bradham dropped the Coke from the name in 1961 so the drink could reflect the health benefits of the drink.
Bradham’s soda was a mix of sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, kola nuts, nutmeg and other additives when it was first invented.
Bradham changed it to Pepsi-Cola in 1898, and by 1903 the soda syrup was selling like crazy in pharmacies across North Carolina.
Some people claimed that Pepsi was actually named after pepsin – the main digestive enzyme in the stomach that breaks down proteins.
Another theory is that when Bradham originally changed the name to Pepsi-Cola, it was because it is an anagram for Episcopal.
Episcopal is not a drink additive, but it is the name of a large church across the street from Bradham’s store.
PepsiCo denied that the coincidental anagram was the reason for the name change. Now drinkers know the real reason behind the company’s name.