Nicosia, Cyprus. A new book examines how locally produced carbonated drinks once shaped everyday life across Cyprus before foreign brands came to dominate the market. Roys Kassapis traces the industry’s development from its early years to its decline linked to globalisation.
Local sodas as part of daily life
Before foreign brands took over, locally produced sodas—once referred to as “aerated waters”—were a routine presence in village coffee shops, markets, schoolyards, movie theatres and sports stadiums. The drinks were also associated with children opening bottles to retrieve marbles from inside.
Book details overlooked period
The topic is the focus of Gazoza: The History of Cyprus Soft Drinks by Kassapis, an amateur historical researcher and bibliophile. He said he decided to document the evolution of the soft drinks industry on the island from its beginnings until its eventual decline as a result of globalisation.
“I spend my free time away from my accounting office researching Cypriot history, which has many neglected parts,” Kassapis said. He described the project as part of a broader effort to study aspects of Cyprus history that have not been widely examined, particularly those involving everyday life and local enterprise.
Social reach and advertising
Kassapis said Cyprus-made sodas became nearly universal at their peak, crossing social classes and settings. He said they were a “novel but cheap luxury” in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and “quickly replaced most other drinks,” appearing in locations ranging from hotels, restaurants and bars to village taverns, cinemas, stadiums, open-air fairs, street markets, schools and coffee shops.
He also highlighted how advertisements, including poster art, became part of the visual landscape of towns and cities.
Economic opportunities
Kassapis said the soda industry provided ways for people across Cypriot society to earn a livelihood, beyond the brands and brightly coloured bottles associated with the products.
What role do you think local products played in shaping everyday life in your community?
