Type Citrus Soda Country of origin Mexico | Manufacturer Novamex | |
Introduced 1950; 67 years ago (1950) Related products | ||
Jarritos is a popular brand of soft drink in Mexico, founded in 1950 by Joseph Lopez "El Güero" and now owned by Novamex, a large independent-bottling conglomerate based in Guadalajara, Jalisco, property of the Hill & ac. Co. although it is also distributed in some areas of Mexico by the Pepsi Bottling Group or Cott.
Contents
Jarritos is made in fruit flavors and is more carbonated than popular soft drinks made in the United States or Canada. Many Jarritos varieties are naturally flavored. The word jarrito means "little jug" in Spanish and refers to the Mexican tradition of drinking water and other drinks in clay pottery jugs. Jarritos comes in 12.5 and 20-ounce glass and plastic as well as 1.5 liter bottles.
History
Jarritos broke with Mexican soft drink standards by offering a larger 400 ml bottle with a coffee-flavored drink. Shortly after launching the first Jarritos in Mexico City, Francisco Hill developed a process to remove tamarind juice extract to create the first tamarind-flavored soft drink in Mexico: Jarritos Tamarindo. Hill quickly followed with Mandarin, Lemon, and Fruit Punch flavors gaining greater market share and becoming the national soft drink of Mexico. In 10 years, Jarritos became available in 80 percent of Mexico.
Exports to the United States began in 1989. By 1997, Jarritos became the most popular soft drink in the U.S. among Latino consumers. According to the 2009 edition of the book Mexico Greatest Brands, 6000 bottles of Jarritos are shipped across the border each minute.
Flavors
Jarritos is or was available in fifteen flavors: