HASTINGS, Nebraska (Achieve3000, July 3, 2019). Rainbow Punch. The Great Blue-dini. Sharkleberry Fin. Rock-a-dile Red. Yabba-Dabba-Doo-Berry. Although this may read like a list of cartoon superheroes or video game characters, it's not: It's actually a roster of Kool-Aid flavors. And though you can buy the most current varieties at your local grocery store for about a quarter a packet, many discontinued flavors go for top dollar on online auction sites and in collecting communities.
So what's so great about collecting envelopes of old powder? It's a combination of things. Kool-Aid, the flavored soft drink with a destructive talking pitcher mascot, may not seem like a collector's item. However, the hobby has gained popularity in recent years, spurred by nostalgia, variety, and convenience.
Commonly collected items like Funko Pops, model airplanes, or even stamps, which are often kept in large albums, require storage. Kool-Aid packets, however, take up very little physical space. They are also relatively inexpensive. These elements make Kool-Aid an attractive item for collectors who may not have room to spare, nor the extra funds to devote to a recreational activity. An entire collection can be housed in a small shoebox!
Because Kool-Aid was creative in its production, a collector can choose from a wide variety of packet art and flavors. From an unsweetened version featuring Bugs Bunny to Bedrock Orange, a Flintstone-themed flavor found in boxes of Fruity Pebbles cereal, the Kool-Aid collector may never run out of items to search for. That kind of infinite thrill is the backbone in any collecting hobby.
Another big draw for the pocket-sized pouch is the power punch of memory. Every generation alive today can recall drinking Kool-Aid. At the very least, everyone recognizes the iconic Kool-Aid Man from his breakthrough performances over the years. No wonder adults will pay good money for a chance to relive their childhoods.
Unlike other classic collectors' items, such as Beanie Babies or baseball cards, Kool-Aid packets do not have a set price. In other words, the value is driven purely by the collectors' individual taste or memory. For instance, while one collector may view a packet of special issue Eerie Orange as the most valuable in a collection, another may prefer a packet of original Cherry from the 1930s.
That's right, Kool-Aid has been around for nearly a century! In 1927, Edwin Perkins, of Hastings, Nebraska, extracted the essence from his fruit juice concentrate, Fruit Smack. This resulted in the flavored powder that we now know as Kool-Aid. To this day, Kool-Aid remains Nebraska's official soft drink. The Kool-Aid Days festival is celebrated in Hastings every August.
Perkins' drink gained popularity during the Great Depression, when he slashed prices from ten cents to five cents per packet. Kool-Aid Man, originally known simply as Pitcher Man, was born in the 1950s. The idea came from the image of a smiley face drawn in condensation on a glass pitcher. Since then, Kool-Aid Man has been a hero to generations of thirsty kids. He bursts through the walls of classrooms, roller rinks, gymnasiums, and any other place where kids need some hydration in a hurry, shouting his catchphrase, "Oh yeah!"
To make Kool-Aid using the original recipe, just add the unsweetened powder to sugar and cold water, then mix well. However, the fruity beverage can now be enjoyed in several forms, such as Jammers, a juice box; Bursts, a single-serve plastic bottle; and Liquid, a concentrated version that's still added to water.
But Kool-Aid is good for more than just hydration. There are many additional uses for the colorful powder. For example, it's been used to make hair dye, popsicles, a Southern delicacy known as Koolickles (pickles soaked in Kool-Aid), and even household cleaner!
So whether you're drinking it, cleaning with it, soaking pickles in it, or collecting it, it's safe to say that Kool-Aid is here to stay. The Kool-Aid Man can testify to Kool-Aid's staying power: "Oh yeah!"
TO-DO
NOTES
VOCABULARY
QUESTION 2
QUESTION 2 OF 8
2 / 8
Which of these should not be included in a summary of this Article?
A.The brainchild of distributor Edwin Perkins, Kool-Aid was an affordable alternative to his fruit juice concentrate during the Great Depression.
B.Amateur collectors appreciate Kool-Aid packets because they are readily available, affordable, and require little storage space.
C.Consumers have developed a variety of uses for Kool-Aid over the years, including hair dye, cleaning agents, pickling brine, and popsicles.
D.Kool-Aid remains the official soft drink of the state of Nebraska, and the town of Hastings hosts an annual festival to celebrate the unique beverage each summer.