Baikal (drink)

Baikal is a Russian non-alcoholic beverage of dark-brown colour. The beverage's basis is water, but it also contains extracts of natural herbs, sugar, citric acid, carbon dioxide. Ingredients include black tea extract, Eleutherococcus senticosus, cardamom oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil,[1] licorice, St. John's wort[2] and laurel.[3]

A bottle and glass of Baikal

The History

Baikal's production started in 1969. It was developed as a Soviet counterpart of Coca-Cola. After the beginning of Pepsi Cola production in the USSR in 1973, the formula was revised.[4]

The drink was developed with Moscow 1980 Olympics in mind, as the western soda companies did not operate in USSR. The drink was named Baikal as a symbol of purity and unique nature. [5] The Baikal's formula was redesigned after Pepsi entered USSR markets in 1973.[6] Baikal was the official drink of Moscow olympics of 1980.[7]

In Moscow in the 1990s, it was nearly impossible to find Baikal; nevertheless, in Saint Petersburg the beverage's production was continued by the "Polustrovo" factory.

Baikal Today

Currently there are several generic carbonated soft drinks with guarana extract containing caffeine under the name Baikal made by various companies – for instance SLCO GmbH (Siberia Group) in Germany. The degree of their similarity to the original Soviet Baikal drink is unknown.

The rights to the Baikal formula are owned by Russian government's institute of Brewing, Drink and Wine research Всероссийский научно-исследовательский институт пивоваренной, безалкогольной и винодельческой промышленности – филиал ФГБНУ «Федеральный научный центр пищевых систем им. В.М. Горбатова» РАН, which licenses the production of Baikal. Currently the formula is licensed to Pepsi, Dohler and Ost-Aqua, amongst other smaller companies. The institute is developing new formulas for low calorie and diabetic friendly Baikal soft drink. [8]

One of the more known soda brands, which are inspired by the Baikal drink is WOSTOK (which means 'East' in Russian). According to the company, in 2009, a Dutch photographer who spent nearly two decades in Moscow relaunched the production of the drink in Germany having changed its design, taste and tradename.[9] Wostok's Tannenwald flavour claims to be based on the original 1973 recipe. [10]

OOO PK Aqualife currently manufactures several versions of Baikal soft drink, both in several brands of renewed recipes and also the original formula of 1977. The original recipe of the soda is sold under "Baikal 1977" trademark, where as the new improved recipe is sold as "Baikal". The company also manufactures multiple new versions which are based on the original 1977 recipe, such as vanilla and low calorie. [11]


References
  1. Thurman, Jim (October 31, 2016). "The Wild World of Russian Sodas". LA Weekly.
  2. "Baikal". Aqualife. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  3. "Chernogolovka / Черноголовка". Popkult. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  4. Zykov, N (1973). "Квас, ситро и "пепси-кола"". Nauka i Zhizn. 8: 30–32.
  5. "Baikal 1.5L Che Group Oy". Che Group Oy. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. Thurman, Jim (August 27, 2020). "The Wild World of Russian Sodas". LA Weekly.
  7. "Напиток Байкал 1977, 0,9л. ПЭТ". Aqualife. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  8. "Об институт филиал ФГБНУ "Федеральный научный центр пищевых систем им. В.М. Горбатова" РАН". Всероссийский научно-исследовательский институт пивоваренной, безалкогольной и винодельческой промышленности – филиал ФГБНУ «Федеральный научный центр пищевых систем им. В.М. Горбатова» РАН. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  9. "Wostok Dossier / Wostok". Wostok. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  10. "Tannenwald / Wostok". Wostok. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  11. "Купить лимонад Байкал в Москве по низкой цене - Аквалайф". Аквалайф. Retrieved 27 August 2020.


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