Coca-Cola: the Real Thing?

In 1885, John Pemberton invented a product that we came to know as “Coca-Cola‘, first known as ‘cocawine’. Originally, this was called “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca.” Prohibition legislation in Fulton County and specifically Atlanta, Georgia where the product was invented was the cause to switch to non-alcoholic the following year.

Its original recipe was with non-carbonated water. A mixing mishap by Pemberton included carbonated water, much to the delight of his friends whom tasted it. From that time onwards the recipe has included carbonated water.

Originally, this was concoction was sold for five-cents per glass as a patent medicine for curing many diseases including morphine addiction (which Pemberton later suffered from), headache, impotence and other maladies. The drink didn’t catch-on as marketed and during first the eight months; fewer than ten servings were sold daily. -A testament to perseverance for the corporate giant that Coke is today!

The original formula included five ounces of coca leaf per every gallon of syrup. The coca leaf when chewed has a breath-freshening effect and well as being a stimulant, and Coca-Cola was marketed as such. In 1903, the coca leaf ingredient was removed from the recipe but the kola nut and cocaine-free leaf extract are still used for its flavoring to this day. The kola nut is the source of the drink’s caffeine.

New Recipes, New Coke, Nostalgia for the Old

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It was in April 1985 that a change of the original formula was released under the name “New Coke.” Taste tests had shown that consumers preferred the taste of “New Coke” over the original formula and more telling, preferred this taste over that of chief rival Pepsi Cola. With the likes of none other that Bill Cosby promoting the product in television commercials, the marketing campaign was highly lucrative.

This change was short-lived however, lasting just three months. A reminiscing stirred in America for the ‘original flavor’ and protests were heard. America demanded the old Coca-Cola be returned. The Coca-Cola Company responded by returning to the original or ‘classic’ formula in July of that same year, under the appropriate name of “Coca-Cola Classic.”

The Bottom Line. A Minor Flavor Change Went Unnoticed?

The switch to high-fructose corn syrup in the ingredients to sweeten Coke were a cost-savings measure in the U.S. back in 1985 that is criticized highly today because the corn could come from genetically-altered plants. Nutritionists say health concerns are possible; links between the use of high-fructose corn syrup and Type-2 Diabetes and obesity are often cited.

Coca-Cola made in Mexico uses sugar instead of corn syrup and is often brought back into the U.S. by visitors to that nation south of the border. The Coca-Cola Company probably does not approve of this action by the citizenry as there is a definite flavor difference in the sugar-based product and a loyal fan-base is developing for it. Importing Coca-Cola from Mexico is not prohibited as it is not a regulated substance.

The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta makes their product using sugar at certain times of the year for certain consumer markets such as some strict sects of Judaism that cannot consume products made from corn during Kosher season. This fact fact is kept suspiciously quiet lest the general populace try it and begin to demand this Coke made with sugar throughout the year.

Make Your Own Cola?

I sometimes make a ‘quickie cola’ faux-cola drink using a glass of either sparkling or tonic water, add a tablespoon or two of lemon juice (lime juice works too) and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. A quick stir and gulp it down. The colder this is, the better. It sort of tastes like Coke. Weaker and not as ‘bitey,’ some other flavor elements are still missing in my version. Citric acid sure, and I am told that nutmeg is one of the flavors missing.

  There is a slight ‘cola’ flavor to this nonetheless. I think that I have learned at least two and possibly three of the ingredients of the real Coke.

Its Real Again!

Here is Canada this last summer (2008) my wife noticed a flavor change in Coke Classic and upon reading the label we discovered that Canadian Coke now uses sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. The transition was as abrupt as it was quiet. We neither heard nor read anything of this change. I welcome the change whole heartily and while I did not really notice this flavor change at first, a recent visit back to my home state of New York made it apparent to me that yes there IS a definite flavor difference.

If you live in the States and ever get an opportunity to try Coca-Cola while traveling abroad, notice the flavor. It is better, huh? Do you remember that taste from your youth? We need to get that wonderful Coca-Cola flavor back. We need “The Real Thing” brought back again.