Dr. Pepper Prices

Yes, it’s spelled without the period after the “Dr” but it’s still pronounced as “Doctor”. The period is among the most common misconceptions in pop culture, especially in areas where the brand may not be as prominent as Coke and Pepsi.  But like these two giants in the food and beverages industry, Dr Pepper is a brand of carbonated soft drink with a more distinctive taste.

Below are the latest Dr. Pepper prices.

Overview

Charles Alderton, a Brooklyn-based pharmacist then based in Morrison’s Old Corner located in Waco, Texas, in the 1880s. He first offered his new soft drink to the owner, Wade Morrison, and soon afterwards to the patrons of the store’s soda fountain.

He didn’t have a name for it but it was called Waco after the town by customers. Alderton gave his soda formula to Morrison who, in turn, named it as Dr. Pepper – with a period – although it was later stylized such that the period was removed but the pronunciation remained.

In 1904, the soft drink was first distributed in the United States. This was followed with expansions into other areas including Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, Mexico, and South America where there were local manufacturing facilities.  In South Africa and New Zealand, Dr Pepper is marketed as an imported brand.

Drink Profile

The Dr Pepper formula is a tightly-guarded secret, as is the case for Coke and Pepsi, as can be expected from a leading brand in the soft drinks industry. The recipe itself is supposedly written in two separate halves, which are then kept in secure safe deposit boxes in two different banks in Dallas, Texas.  But it’s all conjecture since the company refuses to directly comment on the allegation.

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The flavor profile of Dr Pepper has been likened to prune juice with carbonation added. This has given rise to the persistent rumor that the soft drink actually has prune juice as one of its ingredients. In this case, the company has strongly refuted it by stating that it contains a unique mixture of natural and artificial juice without an ounce of prune juice.

Unlike many of its competitors, the Dr Pepper brand has been relatively slower in introducing additional flavors. But when it was introduced at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, there were actually 23 flavors of the new soda pop.

The new flavors in recent years were only added starting in the 2000s. The flavor variations include but aren’t limited to the following examples. The data in parenthesis refer to the period of release and specific areas.

• Dr Pepper Cherry (2009-present) has a stronger cherry taste
• Dr Pepper Heritage (2009-present) contains sugar so it’s a re-release of the original
• Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla (2004-present, selected areas in the U.S.), a drink with a stronger cherry and vanilla profile
• Dr Pepper Vanilla Float (2014-present) has the distinctive vanilla ice cream taste
• Dr Pepper Zero (2013-present) has reduced sugar and calorie content but with the Dr Pepper taste still intact
• Dr Pepper Red Fusion (2002–2004, U.S. only), a cherry-flavored drink with a red color
• Dr Pepper Berries and Cream (2006–2007, most U.S. and Canada locations)
• Diet Cherry Chocolate Dr Pepper (2007–2008, U.S. and Canada), a Dr. Pepper with a similar taste to Canfield’s Diet Cherry Chocolate Fudge Soda

There are also several dietary brands including the Dietetic Dr Pepper, Pepper Free, and Dr Pepper TEN.

Interesting Facts

Did you know that when the general public first enjoyed its taste in 1885, Coca-Cola wasn’t invented yet? In fact, Dr Pepper’s creation preceded Coca-Cola’s invention by a year!

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The origin of the name itself is subject to debate with multiple theories related to it. First, it may have been due to the prevailing custom at the time of including the doctor appellation to convey a sense of healthful consumption. While many of the drinks were marketed as a cure for a wide range of illnesses, from constipation and diarrhea to anxiety, these weren’t exactly true because of their unhealthy ingredients and formulation, such as high sugar content.

Second, it may have been named after a real-life doctor although the identity still remains a subject of debate, too. The possible candidates include a Charles T. Pepper from Rural Retreat, Virginia and a Dr. Pepper from Christiansburg. Whoever that doctor was, the name for the soft drink definitely stuck and Dr Pepper has become a modern pop culture institution in its own right.

The period in the Dr Pepper brand name was only used on an intermittent basis until the 1950s. This was permanently discarded when the company decided to redesign the logo, both for legal and style purposes. The removal of the full stop also made the name more distinctive from the rest of the soft drinks that have come before it or will come after it bearing the doctor appellation.

Did you know also that Dr Pepper isn’t legally considered as a cola? This was due to a 1963 ruling by a federal court where the judge ruled that its unique flavor meant that it cannot be considered a cola product in the legal sense.

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Dr Pepper can also be enjoyed warm or hot! While it doesn’t have the popular following as ice-cold Dr Pepper, you will find people with an addiction to it.