UK soft drink brand Ribena was founded in the late 1930s and rose to popularity as the primary ingredient was blackcurrants. During the Second World War, vitamin C was scarce, and it was difficult to track down oranges. Finding that blackcurrants were loaded with the stuff, founder Dr. Vernon Charley gave Ribena to young children and expectant mothers for free, and the rest was history.
While the beverage brand’s OG flavor was blackcurrant, it is now available in several other fruity offerings, such as raspberry, mango and lime, and pineapple and passion fruit.
