Beer In Front

The Strange True Story Of Tang

July 19, 2026·11 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Beer In Front Podcast – Tang: The Drink That Rode the Space RaceEveryone knows Tang was "the drink of the astronauts"...except that's not actually how the story began.This week, Beer In Front takes a detour from beer to explore one of the greatest marketing success stories of the 20th century. Long before astronauts carried it into orbit, Tang was a struggling powdered breakfast drink sitting on grocery store shelves. A timely connection to NASA, a little help from the Space Race, and some brilliant marketing transformed it into a household name.In this episode you'll learn:Why Tang was originally created by General Foods—not NASAThe food scientist behind Tang, Cool Whip, Pop Rocks, and moreHow John Glenn's historic Mercury mission changed the brand foreverWhy astronauts actually used Tang in spaceThe surprising truth behind one of America's most enduring food mythsHow Tang became an international success long after its popularity faded in the United StatesAnd, of course...does Tang still taste good today?To wrap things up, I mix up a glass of the original orange Tang and find out whether this iconic drink still holds up after all these years.If you enjoy stories about food, drinks, advertising, and the fascinating history behind everyday products, this episode is for you.Thanks for listening, and we'll be back next week with a regular Beer In Front episode!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beer-in-front--5704447/support.Beer Media Group

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Beer In Front and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.