By Cassie Patton
In honor of August being the “Sunday” of the summer, what better way to go out with a bang then by slurping down the O.G. of smoothies…the deliciously bright Orange Julius!
Some may remember the excitement of meeting up at the mall after a harsh day of final exams in high school. That first sip of that sweet, slightly tangy, bright Orange Julius took all that anxiety away. For readers who don’t remember this classic drink, the base does in fact start with orange juice, and then add in milk, water, sugar, vanilla extract, and, in some instances, even raw eggs have been noted to be a staple of the original recipe, giving it a creamsicle-like flavor. So, for all the curious cats that are interested in how this drink became one of the top summer drinks of the century, let’s dive down this rabbit hole together.
The year is 1926, when a guy by the name of Julius Freed opened an orange juice stand in Los Angeles. Freed hoped he could take advantage of the extraordinary output of the citrus production that occurred throughout the 1920s. For the first few years, Freed’s vision of his idea of an orange juice stand had not been as hopeful as intended as the standard orange juice is quite acidic and can lead to stomach distress in certain individuals. However, in 1929 Freed once again got together with an old business associate by the name of Willard “Bill” Hamlin, who would go on to be the chemist of the juice-making company. Hamlin experimented with palatable staples that would rarely be found in a 21st century kitchen, such as sweetened syrups, milk powder, and egg whites. These ingredients would help create a frothier milkshake-like consistency. Because of Hamlin’s help, Freed’s Orange Julius company kicked off with massive sales daily, leading to the beloved drink today, which is still a fan favorite, no matter one’s age.
By the 1950s and 1960s, the Orange Julius was booming everywhere, from county fairs to the malls, even being recognized as the official drink of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. It’s safe to say the Orange Julius was just as much a part of American life as the poodle skirt and classic Swanson TV dinners. By the late 1980s, Orange Julius intertwined with the Dairy Queen franchise, incorporating the popular drink into the Dairy Queen menu, and marking the end of an era for stand-alone Orange Julius stores. While the Orange Julius can still be found at select DQ locations (Hello, last minute trip to Spokane!), new, healthier recipes are making it easier to whip up this classic summer treat right from your own kitchen counter.
