A Sparkling Vintage Life

Originally called “Ovomaltine” (“ova” for egg and “malt” for, well, malt) the classic drink Ovaltine was invented in 1909 in Switzerland. When it was brought to England, the name was shortened to Ovaltine (later said to be an anagram of “Vital One). The original formula contained malt, eggs, cocoa, and milk. Today it’s changed somewhat, but is still a comfort drink for many people worldwide, whether served hot or cold.

In the 1930s, Ovaltine sponsored several children’s radio programs including Little Orphan Annie and Captain Midnight. Children wrote the company eagerly to get toys such as the iconic “secret decoder ring” that would help them decipher codes given during the programs.

Have you ever tried Ovaltine?