I’m interested in different brands of sodas and juice and saw Kickapoo Joy Juice as I was checking some of the more unusual and weird sodas available over on Reddit.
I didn’t know what it was so I did some research and here’s what I found.
So, what is Kickapoo Joy Juice?
Kickapoo Joy Juice is a brand of soda that is eccentric and is based on a drink featured in the 1940’s comic strip Li’l Abner.
All of their flavors are fruit juice flavors that are carbonated.
They have 4 different flavors and have been selling sodas since 1965.
You may be wondering whether they still make Kickapoo Joy drinks, what flavors they have, whether it contains caffeine, and where you can buy it.
Below, I’ll explain all of that and more.
Is Kickapoo joy juice still made?
It’s sold in kickapoo joy juice bottles and cans, and in packs of 6 and 12.
The social media pages for Kickapoo Joy Juice have not been updated in 3 years.
The Li’l Abner comic strip ran from 1947 to 1977 – some 40 to 70 years ago.
And in my opinion, the people who would remember this soda from the 1940s are in the older years now.
Therefore, people that would actively seek it out or know about it are specialist collectors, and people who have a fond memory of the comic, since you can’t buy it at your local convenience store.
Kickapoo vs Mountain Dew
Kickapoo Drink and Mountain Dew are two popular energy drinks, each with its own unique flavor and characteristics. Kickapoo is known for its natural ingredients, such as ginseng and guarana, and its low-calorie count. Mountain Dew, on the other hand, is well-known for its bold and sweet flavor but contains a high amount of sugar and caffeine. Both drinks are marketed as energy boosters, but Kickapoo is a more health-conscious option for those who are looking for a more natural alternative. On the other hand, Mountain Dew is perfect for those who enjoy a sweeter taste and a caffeine boost. Ultimately, the choice between these two drinks comes down to personal preference, as each drink serves a different purpose for different consumers.
What flavor is Kickapoo Joy Juice?
Kickapoo Joy Juice is a crisp citrus flavor and is carbonated.
So, Kickapoo is a Citrus-Flavored Soft Drink Brand. It is some kind of Fictional Beverage.
Kickapoo also makes 3 other flavors available in international markets as well as Asian markets:
- Kickapoo Fruit Shine
- Kickapoo Malibu
- Kickapoo Fuzzy Navel
The Kickapoo Joy Juice that’s in the comic strip Li’l Abner is an alcoholic drink.
But the real-life version doesn’t contain any alcohol.
The other flavors of Kickapoo have the following flavor profile:
Kickapoo Fruit Shine
On the Kickapoo website, they say that Kickapoo Fruit Shine tastes in apples, mangos, and oranges, and it doesn’t contain any alcohol.
Kickapoo Fruit Shine is inspired by the Spanish and Portuguese drink Sangria, which is a mix of red wine, chopped fruit, orange juice, and brandy, according to Isabel Eats.
Kickapoo Malibu
Kickapoo has the same taste as the popular tropical alcoholic drink Piña Colada, which is a mix of pineapple juice, and coconut cream.
But, the version sold today doesn’t contain any alcohol and has added caffeine.
Interestingly it’s bright blue in color.
Kickapoo Fuzzy Navel
Kickapoo Fuzzy Navel is peach-flavored and also peach-colored.
Does Kickapoo have caffeine?
Kickapoo has around the same amount of caffeine as well-known sodas that contain caffeine like Pepsi and Mountain Dew.
But, interestingly this is an extremely high amount of caffeine relative to the recommended daily intake of caffeine.
Coffee has 0.15g of caffeine, as stated by Healthline, whereas sodas that contain caffeine have around 30g to 50g.
Therefore, sodas that contain caffeine have around 30 times as much as a cup of coffee.
Here’s a table that shows the caffeine content of the popular sodas, as well as, Kickapoo soda:
| Soda | Caffeine content per 12 oz – 1 can (354 mL) | Caffeine converted to mg (1g = 1000mg) |
| Coca Cola | 34g | 34,000 |
| Pepsi | 35g to 38g | 35,000 to 38,000 |
| Mountain Dew | 54g | 54,000 |
| Kickapoo | 38g to 40g | 38,000 to 40,000 |
| Fanta Orange | 0 | 0 |
| Sprite | 0 | 0 |
| 7Up | 0 | 0 |
Data provided by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the USA and the doctors at the Mayo Clinic have stated the recommended daily intake of caffeine is 400 mg per day.
Therefore, if you drink sodas like Mountain Dewmountain dew, Pepsi, etc. that contain caffeine there’s no way you’ll be able to keep them under the recommended daily limit.
Health effects of long-term overconsumption of caffeine
A long-term study of people who drink a lot of caffeine showed that people who regularly consume more than 1g of caffeine a day (about 8 cups of coffee) are 22% more likely to develop cardiovascular issues.
So, it’s a good idea to drink sodas that have a lot of caffeine only every now and then or switch to sodas that don’t have caffeine such as Fanta or Sprite.
Coca-Cola has said that they include caffeine in Coke and Mountain Dew because it improves the flavor.
Interestingly cola got its name from the kola nut, which grows in tropical regions, and naturally contains caffeine.
I wrote more it in an article about why Coca Cola is brown, which you can read why Is Coca Cola Brown?
Where can I buy Kickapoo Joy Juice?
On well-known online stores like Amazon, I could only find vintage bottles that are sold for around $20 a bottle.
But, the online stores listed on the Kickapoo website, sell them for around $1 to $2 a bottle.
Not all of the online stores that they list sell Kickapoo.
The stores where you can actually buy it through the website are:
- Soda Emporium
- Summit City Soda
- Pop Soda – you have to submit and enquiry
- Soda 4 U
- Antiqology
- Orca Beverages
How much sugar does Kickapoo Joy Juice have?
Kickapoo Joy Juice has 48g of sugar per 12 fl. oz. (355 mL). It is quite similar proportion of sugar to soft drink like mountain dew.
All of the other Kickapoo soda flavors – Fruit Shine, Malibu, and Fuzzy Navel also have the same amount of sugar.
Kickapoo soda also contain 190 calories (kcal) per 12 fl. oz. (355 mL).
The amount of sugar that Kickapoo soda have is about the same as what’s found in sodas like Pepsi and Dr Pepper.
However, it is much less than what’s found in Coca-Cola.
Here’s a table comparing the calories of the flagship sodas from the biggest soda companies:
| Per 3.4 oz (100 mL) | Coca Cola | Pepsi | Dr Pepper | Kickapoo sodas (all flavors) |
| Calories (kcal) | 280 | 43 | 42 | 54 |
| Sugar (g) | 77 | 11.6 | 10.6 | 10.8 |
Links to the data provided by the US Department of Agriculture’s Research Service (USDA) are available here: Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper.
Kickapoo joy juice history
Below is a summary of the main points I covered in this article:
Kickapoo Joy Juice or Kickapoo soda is a citrus-flavored soda that contains caffeine and is named after a drink featured in the popular comic strip Li’l Abner.
Li’l Abner was famous from the 1930s to the 1970s.
Kickapoo soda is owned by Monarch Beverages. And comes in both bottles and cans.
Kickapoo comes in 4 different flavors, but each has similar ingredients.
Kickapoo soda contains around the same amount of sugar, and caffeine as other popular sodas.
And you can buy Kickapoo soda (citrus drink) at selected online and physical stores. But, isn’t sold in big supermarket chains like Walmart.
I’m the owner and blogger here at SodaPopCraft.Com. I’m a soft drinks enthusiast, bringing you all I know and research from the world of Beverages, Soda Pop, Soft Drinks, and many more.
I hope it inspires you to make Healthier, and Creative Drinks at Home.
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