It's official: this is Coca-Cola's real origin and it's not what you thought

Coca-Cola is the most famous beverage in the world and has a history that goes beyond its bubbles and unique flavor. Its name, as we know it today, comes from two key ingredients that were part of the original formula: the coca leaf and the kola nut.

The history of the name Coca-Cola dates back to 1886, when pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia, created a carbonated drink that was intended to be a remedy for various ailments. Pemberton, at first, had no idea that his invention would change the course of beverage history.

Coca: The Real Story

The coca leaf was one of the main ingredients in the drink's initial formula. This plant, native to South America, contained alkaloids, including cocaine, although in small amounts. In its early years, Coca-Cola contained a minimal dose of this alkaloid, which gave it a stimulating touch.

Over time, due to growing social concerns and regulations, cocaine was completely removed from the formula. This happened at the beginning of the twentieth century, but the drink's name remained unchanged.

Pemberton chose this ingredient for its energizing properties and its supposed health benefits. At that time, many drinks and tonics were promoted as solutions to improve energy and health. Cocaine was used in small percentages in patent medicines.

Cola: The Kola Nut, a Flavor and a Source of Caffeine

The name "Cola" comes from the kola nut, another of the original ingredients. This nut, from a tropical tree, is rich in caffeine, which provided the drink with a stimulating effect. The kola nut, like the coca leaf, had a history of use in medicine and as a source of energy.

Kola nuts were mainly cultivated in West Africa, and at that time, the caffeine market was beginning to boom. In fact, the mixture of coca and kola represented a cocktail that combined the best of both ingredients to create an energizing drink.

The Birth of Coca-Cola

Pemberton decided to combine these two ingredients with carbonated water and sugar syrup. The result was a refreshing drink that, despite its beginnings as a medicine, soon captivated consumers as a refreshing and revitalizing beverage.

The Coca-Cola recipe was patented in 1887, and the Coca-Cola brand was registered in 1893 by accountant Frank M. Robinson, who also designed the iconic logo with its distinctive cursive typography. It was Robinson who suggested the name "Coca-Cola," due to the presence of coca and kola in the formula.

Today, Coca-Cola is one of the most valuable and recognized brands in the world. The ingredients have changed over time and cocaine is no longer part of the recipe. However, the name remains a symbol of refreshment, tradition, and energy. The company has managed to adapt its formula and marketing over the years, but the origin of its name remains a key element of its identity.

Coca-Cola, born from the combination of two exotic ingredients, has remained the most famous refreshing drink in the world. Its name, which at first had a medicinal connotation, is now a universal symbol of refreshment and enjoyment.