Creamola Foam

Creamola Foam is a British soft-drink brand sold as coloured, effervescent crystals rather than as a ready-mixed beverage. Consumers dissolve the crystals in cold water, where acids react with sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide and create a fizzy drink with a foaming surface. The format combines the convenience of a dry mix with the novelty of preparing a drink at home, and the product has historically been associated with brightly coloured liquid, sweet fruit flavours and distinctive illustrated packaging. The brand was manufactured in Glasgow and became available in the United Kingdom from the 1950s. Its original format was a small metal tin with a tight-fitting lid, a paper seal and a label depicting a cartoon girl and boy drinking through straws. The packaging stated that one container could make ten large drinks and presented the product as fully sweetened. Early flavours included raspberry, orange and lemon, with cola added later. The original formulation used sugar, fruit acids, sodium bicarbonate, gum acacia, saccharin, saponin, flavouring and colouring. The acids and bicarbonate produced the carbonation, while stabilising and foaming ingredients helped prolong the bubbles. The packaging and recipe were revised during the 1980s. The later presentation used a plastic lid and updated Creamola Foam branding. Citric and tartaric acids replaced the earlier broad description of fruit acids, and quillaia extract was used as a foaming agent. The product's flavour and appearance remained closely connected to artificial fruit flavourings and colourings, giving the drink a vivid, nostalgic character. Creamola Foam was initially associated with Rowntree's and later became part of Nestlé UK. Nestlé ended production in October 1998. The brand subsequently became the subject of revival efforts. In 2005, Allan McCandlish of Cardross began making a recreation under the name Kramola Fizz. In April 2019, his daughter Agnes and son Andrew, trading through McCandlish Farmhouse Confectionery, relaunched the drink under the original Creamola Foam name with the stated intention of producing it for worldwide markets. The revived range contains 17 flavours, including the original raspberry, orange, lemon and cola varieties. Today, Creamola Foam is primarily available in Scotland and is positioned as a nostalgic, preparation-at-home soft drink with a strong connection to Scottish popular culture. Its differentiation comes less from a conventional packaged-beverage proposition than from the ritual of mixing crystals with water, the visible fizz and foam, the colourful flavours and the survival of a mid-twentieth-century brand identity through a small confectionery-led revival.

Creamola Foam emerged as a distinctive British powdered soft drink during the postwar era. Manufactured in Glasgow, it was sold in the United Kingdom from the 1950s in the form of dry, coloured crystals. Rather than being purchased as a bottled or canned beverage, the product was prepared by dissolving the crystals in cold water. The reaction between sodium bicarbonate and organic acids generated carbon dioxide, producing the drink's characteristic fizz, while foaming and stabilising ingredients helped the bubbles persist after mixing. The early product was packaged in a small metal tin with a tight lid that was commonly prised open with a teaspoon. A paper seal protected the contents, and the label used a cartoon image of a girl and boy drinking through straws. The packaging promoted the contents as Creamola Foam Crystals, claimed that one tin made ten large drinks and described the product as fully sweetened. Raspberry, orange and lemon were the original flavours. Cola was added later, expanding the range beyond fruit profiles. The original ingredients included sugar, fruit acids, sodium bicarbonate, gum acacia, saccharin, saponin, flavouring and colour. A later formulation and packaging revision in the 1980s used a plastic lid and modernised the Creamola Foam label. Citric and tartaric acids were identified in the revised ingredient list, along with quillaia extract as a foaming agent. The drink's vivid appearance and sharp, sweet taste were created through the combination of acids, artificial flavourings and colourings. Ownership changed during the brand's established commercial life. Creamola Foam was originally owned by Rowntree's before coming under Nestlé UK's banner. Nestlé discontinued manufacture in October 1998. The end of production did not eliminate the product's cultural recognition, particularly in Scotland, where the drink retained a nostalgic following. In 2005, Allan McCandlish of Cardross attempted to recreate the drink under the name Kramola Fizz. A more formal revival followed in April 2019, when Agnes and Andrew McCandlish of McCandlish Farmhouse Confectionery relaunched the product using its original name. The revived brand was described as intended for worldwide production, although its principal availability remains in Scotland. The new range comprises 17 flavours and includes raspberry, orange, lemon and cola, preserving the core flavour heritage while extending the selection. Creamola Foam's historical importance lies in its unusual product format and continuity of identity. It is not simply a soft drink flavour but a preparation ritual: opening a tin or packet, adding crystals to water and watching the mixture effervesce and foam. That ritual, together with the illustrated packaging and bright colours, has supported the brand's nostalgic positioning and enabled its return through a smaller confectionery producer after the product's discontinuation by a multinational owner.

1. 2019Original brand name restored

   McCandlish Farmhouse Confectionery relaunched the product as Creamola Foam in April 2019.

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2. 2005Kramola Fizz recreation begins

   Allan McCandlish began producing a recreation under the Kramola Fizz name.

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3. 1998Nestlé discontinues production

   Nestlé ended production of Creamola Foam in October 1998.

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4. 1980Packaging and formulation revised

   An updated version introduced a plastic lid, refreshed branding and a revised ingredient list using citric and tartaric acids and quillaia extract.

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5. 1950Commercial availability begins in the United Kingdom

   Creamola Foam was manufactured in Glasgow and sold in the United Kingdom from the 1950s as effervescent crystals mixed with water.

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A nostalgic British powdered soft drink distinguished by colourful effervescent crystals, home preparation, sweet fruit flavours and a foaming drinking experience.

• Original Creamola Foam rangeEffervescent powdered soft drink

  The classic product consists of coloured crystals that are stirred into cold water to create a sweet, fizzy and foaming drink. Early flavours were raspberry, orange and lemon, with cola introduced later. Historic packaging used a small tin featuring cartoon children drinking through straws.

• Relaunched Creamola Foam rangeEffervescent powdered soft drink2019

  The revived range retains the original preparation method and core flavour identity while offering 17 flavours. Raspberry, orange, lemon and cola are included among the available varieties. The product is primarily distributed in Scotland, with the relaunch also described as intended for worldwide production.

• Kramola FizzPowdered soft-drink recreation2005

  Kramola Fizz was Allan McCandlish's recreation of the discontinued Creamola Foam drink. It preceded the 2019 relaunch under the original Creamola Foam name.

• 2019Relaunch under the original Creamola Foam nameProduct launch

  Following the earlier Kramola Fizz recreation, McCandlish Farmhouse Confectionery sought to bring back the recognised brand identity.

  What changed. Agnes and Andrew McCandlish relaunched the drink in April 2019 under the Creamola Foam name and expanded the range to 17 flavours.

  Aftermath. The revived drink became primarily available in Scotland, with the producer describing the relaunch as intended for worldwide production.

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• 1998Production discontinued by NestléStrategy

  Nestlé UK controlled the brand after its earlier association with Rowntree's and ended manufacture in October 1998.

  What changed. Commercial production of Creamola Foam was stopped.

  Aftermath. The drink became a discontinued product and was later subject to independent recreation and revival efforts.

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• 2019Creamola Foam relaunched by McCandlish Farmhouse Confectionery

  Agnes and Andrew McCandlish relaunched the product under its original Creamola Foam name in April 2019, with a 17-flavour range and an ambition to supply international markets.

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• 2005Recreation produced under the Kramola Fizz name

  Allan McCandlish of Cardross began producing a recreation of the discontinued drink under the name Kramola Fizz.

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• 1998Nestlé ends Creamola Foam production

  Nestlé ended production of Creamola Foam in October 1998, bringing the original commercial run of the drink to a close.

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1. Creamola Foam