Illinois & Wisconsin's Best Regional Sodas Are Pure Nostalgia

The best regional sodas in Illinois, Wisconsin, and the rest of America have been announced.

For Illinois, it was one that I have heard of and Wisconsin's, um, not so much.

It may have to do with me growing up and calling The Land of Lincoln home for most of my life, but I digress.

Pop Culture: The Quest for America’s Favorite Fizzy Drink

Anyway, Taste of Home looked at all fifty states in America and came up with a definitive soda, pop, soft drink, or whatever you want to call it.

Keep Reading: Shocking Details: Is Chicago Fire FC About to Land a Global Superstar?

For this exercise, we'll refer to the liquid in question as pop, which is easier for everyone.

Shining Bright: Green River Takes the Spotlight

Illinois' choice was relatively clear when you think about it for a second: Green River. Remember Green River?

Taste of Home:

Green River was introduced to Chicagoans back in 1919 and it remains popular even a century later. This regional soda isn’t just any lemon-lime...this Illini pop is mostly lime with just a hint of lemon—but we bet you knew that judging from its signature bright green color!

I remember Green River in those glass beverage dispenser machines. They used to have their own spot opposite the pop machine back in the day.

Keep Reading: Mass Amtrak Train Cancellations in Illinois Due to Historic Cold Snap

Dive into the Uncharted: Discovering Jolly Good in Wisconsin

Get our free mobile app

For Wisconsin, again, it's one I've never heard of:

Jolly Good is known for putting the pop in Wisconsin, as the slogan used to go. This vintage brand recently got a reboot in 2016 and offers a handful of flavors like cream, pina colada and grape, but perhaps Sour Pow’r—a grapefruit and lime combination—is the brand’s biggest claim to fame.