145 years of Horlicks – world’s favorite drink since 1873 was first patented as baby food in the United States of America by two Chicago based brothers, James and William Horlick. Their patent combined the nutritive parts of the cereals with milk which was readily soluble in water. In other words, they had created a nutritious powder from barley malt, ground wheat (or oats), and milk that would not easily spoil and could be mixed with water as a healthy drink.
On 5th June 1883, the brothers obtained the US patent no.278,967 for their drink’s ability to mix up in liquid – and so it became the first malted milk to be patented. They were quite the pioneers back then.
This malted milk gained unexpected popularity with explorers who found it ideally portable, and the drink made its way to both the North and South Poles on expeditions. As a lightweight, non-perishable, high-calorie food supplement, Horlicks was perfect for emergency packs. In fact Mountaineer Richard Byrd even named the “Horlicks Mountains” on the Ross Ice Shelf in honor of the company.
During World War II, Horlicks tablets were sold as a candy and used as an energy-booster by US, British and other soldiers, as well as being a component of aircrew escape kits.
From the 1930s the advertising campaigns for Horlicks seemed to suggest that not only was it a satisfying night-time beverage but a glass of horlicks could help you get a good night’s sleep too…
145 years of Horlicks – world’s favorite drink since 1873
