Tang (drink)

Tang

Tang drink mix packets in grape, orange and hibiscus tea flavors.
Product type	Drink mix
Owner	Mondelēz International
Introduced	1963
Markets	Worldwide
Previous owners	General Foods Kraft Foods

Tang is a fruit-flavored drink. Originally formulated by General Foods Corporation food scientist William A. Mitchell in 1957, it was first marketed in powdered form in 1959. The Tang brand is owned by Mondelēz International.

Sales of Tang were poor until NASA used it on John Glenn's Mercury flight in February 1962, and subsequent Gemini missions. Since then, it was closely associated with the U.S. manned spaceflight program, leading to the misconception that Tang was invented for the space program.

Tang was used by early NASA manned space flights. In 1962, when Mercury astronaut John Glenn conducted eating experiments in orbit, Tang was selected for the menu; it was also used during some Gemini flights. In 2013 Buzz Aldrin said: "Tang sucks."

The creator of Tang, William A. Mitchell, also invented Pop Rocks, Cool Whip, a form of instant-set Jell-O, and other convenience foods.

Tang is sold both in powdered and ready-to-drink form; they have similar tastes. The recommended usage of original powdered Tang is two tablespoons per 8 US fluid ounces (240 ml) of water. A single 8 US fl oz (240 ml) serving of Tang provides 9 grams (0.32 oz) of sugar; 40 calories (167 kJ); 100% RDA of vitamin C; 10% RDA of vitamin A, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B₆, and no caffeine.