Creamola Foam returns to the shelves - sort of

A CHILDHOOD favourite of sweet-toothed shoppers of a certain age is making a comeback – of sorts – in the Capital.

After more than 12 years, the iconic Creamola Foam drink is back on the shelves in shops in Muirhouse and Tranent.

Not in its original metal packaging and with a slight name change, the iconic fruity drink crystals, popular with youngsters from the 1950s through to the late 1990s, have nevertheless returned.

Kramola Fizz, as it is now known, has been brought back to the 21st century by an independent sweet-maker from Dumbarton, who is supplying tubs of the drink crystals to Cost Less Express in Muirhouse and Sweet Treat in Tranent.

The latter has sold about 600 tubs in the past week as word spread through the East Lothian village of the product's return.

Tariq Ali, who works in the Muirhouse Gardens shop, said: "The sweet-maker supplies us with lots of old-fashioned sweets, such as Chelsea whoppers, macaroon bars, tablet and toffee doddles.

"Lots of customers seem to get very excited about these older sweets and they have been the same about the Kramola Fizz, too. They talk about how they used to have it when they were younger."

Creamola Foam was the drink of choice for generations of children across Scotland who would enjoy making "big glasses" using the flavoured crystals and water.

But the production of the brand ceased in 1998, sparking a wave of disappointment and a growing campaign for its return ever since.

Online forums brimming with nostalgic reflections of the drink are common and hopes for its return reached a peak last month when Rob Gibson MSP announced in the Scottish Parliament the drink was to make a comeback.

The Highlands and Islands SNP politician said: "I can remember it from my youth. I would go hill-walking, taking a tin with me and then making it up with water from a burn. It was great."

Sweet-maker Alan McCandlish, from Cardross, is the man behind the return of the drink, supplying small orange-flavoured tubs, retailing at about 1.50 each.

His spokesman said: "The labels and branding for the product are still being designed – this is almost like a prototype to see what response it gets.

"Mr McCandlish has been working on this for around six years, experimenting with different ingredients and finally launching this a couple of weeks ago."

Kramola Fizz is made from sugar, tartaric acid, extract of quina, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, stabilisers and natural colour.

Drinks are created by mixing two teaspoons of the crystals with cold water until they dissolve.