Pink Lemonade was a Circus Accident

Has the circus ever resulted in anything negative? That is, except from clowns, animal cruelty, and the exploitation of those with impairments. Pink lemonade, a summertime favourite that is essentially identical to regular lemonade but is, you know, pink, can also be credited to the circus.

Lemonade as we know it has a very lengthy history. Drinks with sugar and lemon have been around for ages. In 1630, lemonade made with only lemon, water, and honey was discovered in Paris. The first time pink lemonade is mentioned in print is in 1879, when it is associated with the circus, where it was initially served.

Strangely enough, there are two tales that can be used to explain how pink lemonade came to be. Although they are both accidents, one is more unsettling than the other. According to one tale, Henry Allott, a circus employee, accidentally spilled red cinnamon candy into a vat of lemonade and decided to sell it nevertheless.

In the second rendition, circus employee Pete Conklin makes lemonade while pulling a rat out of the water. He retrieved a neighbouring washtub from which pink tights had been washed, and he used that instead.