Buzz
Soda is a massive industry, with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo alone generating over $100 billion in revenue last year. This is impressive, especially when you consider that a soda usually costs only a dollar or two. Coca-Cola, one of the most recognized brands in the world, has deeply integrated itself into culture, its long history now filled with stories, myths, and legends collectively known as 'cokelore.'
Most people can't go without soda for more than a day or two. Though it is often viewed as an unhealthy indulgence in the West, in parts of the world where drinking water is unsafe, sodas are a vital lifeline. Below are ten fascinating facts about one of the world's most popular beverages.
10. Brand Identity
If you were to take a look at the refrigerated section of your local convenience store, you might assume there are only a few hundred varieties of soda. But in reality, Coca-Cola offers around 3,500 different soft drinks worldwide. If you tried one every day, it would take you 9 years to try them all (and by then, there would likely be more). Around the globe, there are some truly unique sodas, especially in Japan, where the love for innovative beverages runs deep. Some of the more exotic soda flavors in Japan include yogurt, green tea, octopus, wasabi, kimchi, cheese, cucumber, and eel, among others.
9. 7-Up and Lithium
Lithium citrate is a mood-stabilizing drug commonly used to treat depression and bipolar disorder, sold under brand names such as Litarex and Demalit. While it now requires a prescription, years ago it was an ingredient in several medicinal drinks, including 'Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon Soda.' Today, this drink is known as 7UP, though the true origin of the name remains a mystery. It contained lithium until 1948.
8. Dr. Pepper
The 23 ingredients that make up Dr. Pepper have long been one of the greatest culinary enigmas. For years, there has been speculation about what those ingredients might be. A popular, though inaccurate, rumor claims the soda contains prune juice. While prune juice is not one of its components, the exact ingredients remain a mystery, with some of the most likely being cola, vanilla, cherry, orange, caramel, and lemon. On the company's FAQ page, the question of its flavor is answered with a cryptic message: 'Dr. Pepper is a unique blend of 23 flavors. The exact formula for Dr. Pepper? That's top secret proprietary stuff.'
7. Grossest Soda
Taste is highly subjective, but there is one soda that has earned a reputation as one of the worst-tasting drinks in the world. Beverly, a non-alcoholic aperitif made by Coca-Cola for the Italian market, has been described as absolutely vile. It can be found at the World of Coca-Cola museums in Atlanta and Las Vegas, and those brave enough to try it are often left shocked by its extremely bitter and astringent taste. There are numerous YouTube videos of people’s hilarious reactions to tasting it.
6. Passover Coca-Cola
During the weeklong Jewish holiday of Passover, which commemorates the escape from slavery in Egypt, Jews are prohibited from eating leavened bread (chametz grains). Ashkenazic Jews (those from Eastern Europe) also avoid corn, beans, and rice during this time, while Sephardic Jews may consume these. Coca-Cola, which typically uses high fructose corn syrup in the U.S., is not kosher. However, a special version called kosher Coke is made in March and April for Passover. This version is sweetened with pure cane sugar and can be recognized by its yellow cap. Even non-Jews enjoy the slight flavor difference, and the limited-time product is often bought in bulk.
5. Variable-Price Coke Vending Machines
In the late 1990s, Coca-Cola came up with the idea of vending machines that adjusted their prices based on temperature. The concept was simple: as the temperature increased, so would the price of a soda, driven by a temperature sensor within the machine. The idea quickly turned into a public relations disaster; it was widely criticized as an example of price gouging and corporate greed, forcing Coca-Cola to quickly abandon the plan.
4. Magican
In 1990, as part of their "Magic Summer" promotion, Coca-Cola launched the Magican program. Designed to appeal to people's desire for instant rewards, the company created special cans with spring-loaded mechanisms containing prizes like cash and concert tickets. To prevent people from spotting the prize-winning cans without purchasing them, they added chambers filled with chlorinated water. However, the mechanisms often malfunctioned, causing people to drink the foul-smelling water instead of winning prizes. Though not harmful, it led to at least one hospital visit, and Coca-Cola issued warnings advising customers to check their cans carefully. The campaign was short-lived, lasting only three weeks.
3. Nazi Fanta
During the trade embargoes against Nazi Germany, the separation of Coca-Cola Deutschland from Atlanta led to a shortage of ingredients necessary to produce Coca-Cola. Max Keith, the German-born head of operations, created a new beverage using the limited ingredients available. The result was 'Fanta,' a name derived from the German word 'Fantasie.' It was crafted from a mix of beet sugar, orange juice, leftover apple fiber, and even whey byproducts from cheese making. The original recipe would likely taste much less appealing to modern tastes, but the formula has since been updated. It's worth noting that despite the political pressures of the time, Keith never aligned himself with the Nazi party and remained faithful to Coca-Cola. After the war, he returned control of operations to the headquarters in Atlanta.
2. Diet Soda Cocktails
Recent research from Northern Kentucky University has shown that cocktails made with diet soda can cause a greater alcohol effect compared to those made with regular soda. The study revealed that participants who consumed the same amount of vodka, one mixed with Squirt and the other with diet Squirt, had higher blood alcohol levels after 40 minutes. This phenomenon occurs because the sugar in regular sodas slows alcohol absorption, but with diet sodas, there is no sugar to delay this process. This information is particularly crucial for women, as they are more likely to choose diet cocktails and are generally more sensitive to alcohol's effects than men.
1. Pepsi Points
In 1996, Pepsi launched a promotion that quickly became infamous. Their points program was simple: purchasing Pepsi products would earn you points that could be redeemed for various merchandise like t-shirts and hats. However, a commercial unveiling the concept included a satirical twist — a Harrier military jump jet was listed as available for 7 million points. Although this amount of Pepsi would be impossible to consume in a lifetime, business student John Leonard found a loophole: Pepsi points could be bought directly from the company for 10 cents each. This meant that the $33.8 million Harrier jet could be acquired for only $700,000. Leonard and his group of investors sent a check for the jet, but Pepsi refused to honor it. The case went to court, and in 1999, the judge ruled that 'no reasonable' person would have expected the jet as a prize.
