Tang (drink)

Tang is a sugary, orange-flavored, non-carbonated soft drink from the USA. The original orange flavored Tang was formulated by General Foods Corporation in 1957 and first marketed (in powdered form) in 1959.cite web | title= Spinoff at STI.NASA.gov|url=http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinfaq.htm]

It was initially intended as a breakfast drink, but sales were poor until NASA began using it on Gemini flights in 1965 (researched at Natick Soldier Systems Center), and that use was heavily advertised. [cite web |title=Boomers collect artifacts, memories of NASA's heyday |url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/life.aspx?articleid=15198&zoneid=10] Since that time, it has been associated with the U.S. manned spaceflight program. [cite web |title=Food Timeline: popular American foods by decade |url=http://www.foodtimeline.org/fooddecades.html#tang] [cite web | title=Space Food: From Squeeze Tubes To Celebrity Chefs |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/061123_space_food.html]

Overview

The Tang brand is owned by Kraft Foods. It is available in 38 flavors (some region-specific), and is sold both in powdered form (in sachets and larger canisters) and in a ready to drink sachet. A single 8 fl oz serving of Tang provides 9 grams of sugar; 40 calories (167 kJ); 100% RDA of vitamin C; 10% RDA of vitamin A, Calcium, Vitamin E, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Vitamin B6; and no caffeine. Kraft also makes a sugar-free version of Tang, containing aspartame, which comes in individually-measured packets and was introduced in March 1985.

Tang is most commonly served as a cold drink, although some people prefer to heat it or add it to smoothies.

Original Tang

Tang usually comes in a plastic container with a screw-on lid that makes eight quarts. A larger nine-quart container (898 grams) is available. Tang is also available in larger institutional sizes.

The recommended usage is one tablespoon per 8 fluid ounces (U.S.) of water. The lid on the plastic container also acts as a measuring cup which may be used to make one or two quart quantities.

New Tang

In 2007, Kraft introduced a new version of Tang ("with Fruitrition") which has replaced half of the sugar with artificial sweeteners. The new packaging advertises "1/2 the Sugar of 100% juice." The artificial sweeteners used in the new formulation are Sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and Neotame. The new formula is more concentrated and distributed in smaller containers, with a 12.3 oz (348 g) container making 8 U.S. quarts.

The recommended usage is two and one-half teaspoons per 8 fluid ounces of water. The lid on the new smaller plastic container acts as a measuring cup which may be used to make one or two quart quantities, the same as the original Tang.

History

Tang was used by the NASA Gemini space program. A NASA engineer working with the Gemini Space Program on a life-support module explains the story of how and why it was used. Paraphrased:

"... There was a particular component of the Gemini life support-system module which produced H₂O (water) among other things. This was a byproduct of a recurring chemical reaction of one of the mechanical devices on the life-support module. The astronauts would use this water to drink during their space flight. The problem was, the astronauts did not like the taste of the water because of some of the byproducts produced, which were not harmful of course. So, they added Tang to make the water taste better ..." [cite web | title= The History Channel |url=http://www.history.com]

However, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin has stated that Tang was not consumed on his moon mission: "We... instead chose a grapefruit-orange mixture as our citrus drink. If Tang was on our flight, I was unaware of it." [Aldrin, Edwin E. and Warga, Wayne: "Return to Earth", Random House, 1973, p. 223]

The inventor of Tang, William A. Mitchell, also invented Pop Rocks.Fact|date=June 2008

It has long been believed that Tang got its name from China because of its high content of sugar. The Chinese name for sugar is Tang.Fact|date=March 2008

In 2008, Tang introduced seven new flavors formulated to appeal to the US Hispanic consumer. These include: Horchata, Jamaica, Pineapple, Lime, Strawberry, Mango and a reformulated Orange. These new flavors were made available in the Southwest US.

Other uses

*A household tip says Tang is an excellent dishwasher cleaning agent due to its high citric acid content, although Kraft does not recommend it or advocate such use. Kraft's web site says:
*:"We have heard that some consumers have used TANG Drink Mix to clean their dishwashers. TANG does contain citric acid which can act as cleaning agent. TANG Drink mix is intended to be a food product and Kraft Foods does not advocate its use for any other purpose." [cite web | title=Can I use TANG Drink Mix to clean my dishwasher? | work=Kraft Foods website | accessdate=2007-01-10|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070209043906rn_1/www.kraftfoods.com/main.aspx?m=contact_us/faqview&Faq_Question_ID=447]
*At one time, Philadelphia authorities attempted to deter addicts from misusing doses of methadone by packaging it in combination with Tangcite journal | author=Robert C. Wolfe, Marcus M. Reidenberg, Vicente Dinoso | title=Tang and Methadone by Vein | journal=Annals of Internal Medicine | volume=76 | year=1972 | month=May | pages=830 ] ; this was carried out under the reasoning that nobody would be foolish enough to intravenously inject the combination. This was not the case. There was also at least one reported case of accidental methadone overdose from family members who found a jar of mixed Tang in the refrigerator. [cite journal | author=A. Mitchell Smith, Michael B. Dratch, Solomon S. Mintz | title=Methadone in Tang | journal=Annals of Internal Medicine | volume=78 | year=1973 | month=Jan | pages=154 ]

* Tang is a featured ingredient in Instant Russian Tea (a variation of Wassail), a hot drink mix popular in the Southern US made with Tang, instant tea, ground cinnamon and cloves, and sometimes instant lemonade. Instant Russian Tea is often given as a holiday hostess gift.

* Tang was a component of the liquid explosive allegedly intended for use in the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot (along with hydrogen peroxide and Hexamine, to produce HMTD).cite web | title= 'Airliners plot': The allegations (BBC News)|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7329221.stm] cite web | title= 'Chilling Details Emerge'|url= http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/terror_plot_hearing.shtm]

In popular culture

In the Walt Disney motion picture "RocketMan", main character Fred Z. Randall is brought to a bar and bought a round of drinks called "Blast-Offs". The buyer of the drinks (William Overbeck) says that is a special drink only for astronauts. Randall replies "Oh, you mean like, Tang?"

Tang was frequently referenced as the drink of choice for the Bundy family on "Married with Children", particularly in the early seasons.

Tang was also frequently mentioned on "The Chris Isaak Show".

In the fifth season episode of "The Simpsons" "Deep Space Homer", Homer makes a phone call to President Clinton, alleging that "if anyone knows where to get some Tang, it'd be you". Having previously made a phone call to NASA to ask them to stop showing "boring space launches", NASA officials track down Homer during this phone call and ask him to enter training to become an astronaut.

In an episode of "That 70's Show", season 5 "When the Levee Breaks", Eric and Hyde make frequent puns about the slang phrase, "Tang," and the soft drink.

In an episode of "The Simpsons", "Summer of 4 Ft. 2", Marge attempts to offer Lisa and her friends Tang and Rice Krispie treats.

In "Sabrina The Teenage Witch" season one "Geek Like Me" Libby is the temporary leader of the Science Club because Mr Pool has gone to get Tang and Fig Newtons.

In "Family Guy" episode "Fast Times at Buddy Cianci, Jr. High", Lois and Peter were discussing a birthday surprise displayed by Peter, who shows up in nothing but a space helmet and moon boots. Lois asks, "Would you like some Tang Mr. Space man?"

References

External links

* [http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c212J.html Nutrition facts and analysis of Tang]
* [http://www.myspace.com/tangkraftfoods Unofficial Tang page on MySpace]
* [http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/Products/ProductInfoSearchResults.aspx?CatalogType=1&BrandId=108&SearchText=Tang&PageNo=1 Tang]