Dr. Brown's sodas arekosher, are often sold inJewishdelicatessens andrestaurants, and can also be found in specialty grocers and grocery stores that specialize in American food inIsrael.[2] The flavor, derived fromcelery seed extract, is reminiscent ofginger ale but with a pronounced celery flavor that is more pungent or peppery than ginger ale.
Dr. Brown's Celery Tonic was, according to the company, first produced in 1868 inBrooklyn, New York. It was served in New York delicatessens starting in 1869 and sold as a bottled soda starting in 1886.[3] TheFood and Drug Administration objected to its being called a "tonic", and in the 1900s the name was changed to Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray (soda). Cel-Ray was so popular in the 1930s among New York City's Jewish community that it earned the nickname "Jewish Champagne". Dr. Brown's briefly produced a diet Cel-Ray, but it was discontinued due to low sales. Other "celery tonics"/"celery sodas" were produced in the 1890s, but only Dr. Brown's celery product remains today.
In the 1954 children's novelHalf Magic byEdward Eager, the children are intrigued by the "celery soda" available at their localsoda shop.
The character of Billy Rose (played byJames Caan) in the 1975 filmFunny Lady habitually drinks celery tonic as an alternative to alcohol.
In the 1982 filmTootsie, not referred to as "Cel-Ray", rather "celery tonic" as the reason of what was spilled on the video tape and hence why a live performance of that day's show was required.
In the 1989 novelWeetzie Bat, Weetzie has a "Cel-Ray tonic" with her father while visiting him in New York City
In theSeinfeld season eight episode "The Pothole", Jerry says that he bruised his lip drinking a Cel-Ray.
In the 2013 novelBleeding Edge byThomas Pynchon, Cel-Ray is referred to as "Jewish champagne" and served at "a possibly make-believe Jewish delicatessen, Bagels 'n' Blintzes".
