Have they ever changed the recipe for Hawaiian Punch?

[Hoover]

When I was a little kid -- we're talking like 1966 or so -- I used to drink a lot of Hawaiian Punch.

Just recently I found some in the fridge at a studio where I work so I started drinking it again for the first time in ~45 years. And it just tastes...I dunno, different.

Perhaps it's just the inaccuracies of nostalgic recollection. Or expectation bias. Or my taste buds have changed over time.

Does anyone know for certain whether they ever changed the formula?

[Popbumper]

Not for certain, but the first thing that comes to mind would be SUGAR. Back in the 60's, sugared soft (and other) drinks were the norm, until those poor, delightful crystals were deemed evil by the (insert name here) church and corn syrup became the rage.

If indeed it uses corn syrup as the main sweetener, it WILL taste different than it used to!

Chris

[fenderhutz]

Probably more sweet, food dyes, and corn syrup. The stuff you drank probably wasn't half as chemical as the new stuff.

What is Ester of Wood Rosin anyway? (I know the answer but why it ever got approved for food use).

[jp58]

I got a bottle today, and it tasted different from what I remember too. Granted, I was young in the early 90's, but you are not alone in thinking it tastes different.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by Hoover

When I was a little kid -- we're talking like 1966 or so -- I used to drink a lot of Hawaiian Punch.

Just recently I found some in the fridge at a studio where I work so I started drinking it again for the first time in ~45 years. And it just tastes...I dunno, different.

Perhaps it's just the inaccuracies of nostalgic recollection. Or expectation bias. Or my taste buds have changed over time.

Does anyone know for certain whether they ever changed the formula?

Probably has to do with artificial sweeteners. Dunno what they used to begin with, or even use now... but I *bet* probably Splenda or Aspartame. Because we all know those are healtheir than sugar.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by jp58

I got a bottle today, and it tasted different from what I remember too. Granted, I was young in the early 90's, but you are not alone in thinking it tastes different.

The last time I had it was a few years ago and it definitely tasted different from when I was a kid. It wasn't nearly as good.

Then again, I don't care for those kinds of drinks these days so that could be why.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I swear, I had the exact same thought today when drinking some. Weird. It's less sweet to me though- tastes more like Crystal Light than the sugary mess it was when I was young.