“T” is for Ting!
Ting is a delightfully refreshing grapefruit soda which has its roots on the island of Jamaica. It was named by the island pronunciation of “thing,” as in “Give me a ting.”
When growing up as a kid in Wisconsin, I remember a soda called Ting which had a funky, 60’s retro logo. It came in bright colors, with flavors such as “blue” (I think it was blue raspberry, but we called it “blue”). Wikipedia suggests that there was a trademark dispute which caused the disappearance of Wisconsin’s version and the emergence of Jamaica’s. From my research, that does not appear to be accurate. There was a trademark lawsuit between Ting and Tang, the drink made famous by U.S. astronauts. In the early 90’s, Kraft Foods, the maker of Tang, sued Jamaican Ting, claiming that there was market confusion given the similarity in the names. Anyone who has had a Ting knows that it is nothing like Tang, the orange-flavored sweet powdered drink. Ting survived and thrives, standing alone as a delicious soda, or along with a “sting.”
Whatever happened to Wisconsin’s Ting? Wisconsin’s colorful soda was last bottled by the New London Kist Bottling Company, which went out of business on January 8, 2008. A few years ago, there were rumors that it was coming back, but we have yet to see it. There is a Facebook page devoted to Wisconsin’s version. If you’re interested in news on its revival, or just want to reminisce with photos of the great logo and colorful offerings, check it out here.
If you are not in the islands, and have a craving, you can order it online here. I love it mixed with rum and cranberry juice. That combination is called the “Refreshing” at Sunshine’s Nevis, and is a nice change of pace from the famous Killer Bee.
For the whole series of “The Caribbean from A to Z,” click here!