I believe it was M. F. K. Fisher, or someone of her ilk, who said that onions were so delicious that if they were expensive, people would still pay any price to get one. I feel the same way about Coca-Cola. I grew up with it—it was the de rigueur tipple with fries and a burger—and when I had a tummy ache my mother would dose me with Coke syrup. I don’t drink it so much these days, for the soda has been debased by substituting corn syrup for sugar (you can still get sugar-based Coke in Mexico), and there are few chances to get the best version—the one made at soda fountains. (Pity that Generation Y gets no chance to sample a fountain-made vanilla or lime Coke!)
The recipe for Coke was, of course, always secret, said to be known to only a handful of employees. Now, however, as Time magazine reveals, the recipe is apparently out. The drink was invented in 1886 by a Civil War veteran, and purchased by drugstore owner Asa Candler a year later. The secret recipe was always part of the mystique of Coke—but Ira Glass, host of NPR’s “This American Life,” stumbled upon the recipe by accident while researching a story. The list of ingredients was visible in an old photograph reprinted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1979.
Here they are, should you wish to make your own:
The recipe:
Fluid extract of Coca: 3 drams USP
Citric acid: 3 oz
Caffeine: 1 oz
Sugar: 30 (unclear quantity)
Water: 2.5 gal
Lime juice: 2 pints, 1 quart
Vanilla: 1 oz
Caramel: 1.5 oz or more for color
The secret 7X flavor (use 2 oz of flavor to 5 gals syrup):
Alcohol: 8 oz [JAC: alcohol is no longer used!]
Orange oil: 20 drops
Lemon oil: 30 drops
Nutmeg oil: 10 drops
Coriander: 5 drops
Neroli: 10 drops
Cinnamon: 10 drops
Spokeswoman Kerry Tressler denies that “This American Life” cracked the code. Coca-Cola‘s archivist, Phil Mooney, participated in the broadcast and tasted a batch brewed according to the recipe. He said it didn’t quite replicate the soda.” ‘This American Life,’ along with many other third parties, have tried over time to crack our secret formula,” Tressler said. “At the end of the day, there is only one ‘real thing.’ “
Since they don’t have a patent on the recipe, presumably now they’re going to face some serious competition from copycats.
I doubt that. Seems to me that supermarket brands of cola already try to replicate the Coke flavor rather than Pepsi or others. Coke has its reputation pretty well sealed and it’s not likely anybody is going to make a cola that people will flock to rather than Coca Cola.
Frankly I prefer Pepsi.
Very interesting recipe. I would have never guessed. I never got in the habit of drinking soda (unless there is booze in it), but that sounds pretty good.
Don’t fall for the “real sugar” Coke trick. “It’s all in your head.”
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/11/the-taste-of-coke-is-all-in-your-head/
When I drive home to my parents house, I always splurge on a couple Mountain Dews on the way there and back.
One time I accidentally got the ‘Mountain Dew: Throwback’, made with sugar, not HFCS. I didnt notice until I tried to drink it. BLECH!!
I had to stop at the next exit and buy a real one.
Mmmm…HFCS. Don’t let any health nuts hear you say that!
🙂
I could swear that sugar has a slightly different sweetness than HFCS (much more subtle than with aspartame)… but I really don’t have any preference. The Mt. Dew “throwback” has a few more grams of carbs I think? Not that you should care if you’re drinking non-diet soda.
Fructose is sweeter than Sucrose, so even though HFCS is only about 55% Fructose/45% Glucose (vs 50/50 for Sucrose), I could see there being a detectable difference between the two. I’ve had both, and much prefer the sucrose Cokes… for some reason I don’t feel the same after taste that I get from normal coke.
That being said, the only times I’ve had sucrose coke is in Europe, and most of the time I’ve been marching around in the hot sun, so I’d probably be predisposed to be happy with whatever I’m was given. Sometime I need to do a proper challenge with it.
I don’t think so…I’ve tasted both recently and the cane sugar version is vastly different than the high fructose corn syrup version.
I have highly sensitive taste buds, though. My dad, who hasn’t had a sense of taste for 20 years, wouldn’t know the difference.
I suspect there is a continuum. Much like wine tasting — there are only so many Robert Parkers in the world. The rest just rely on his judgment.
There’s really a difference? I used to do a bit of work in sweeteners, and I rememember seeing the HFCS is taste-tested as a final check (on top of a lot of analyticals).
If anything, it’s much more refined than typical table sucrose, so maybe you can taste that trace of molasses in regular sugar?
For many years, the big drink manufacturers reserved the right to use either sucrose or HFCS, although in practice HFCS came to win out because it was cheaper (with large corn subsidies, import tarrifs on sugar, etc.)
Sugar tastes better than corn syrup for a simple reason, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the glucose/sucrose/fructose combination. It’s about how the product is refined. As you mentioned, corn syrup is much more refined than sugar. It is refined using harsh chemicals and metals and these chemicals leave a taste in cheap HFCS.
Interesting read, Chris. Thanks for posting the link!
So basically it’s caffeinated sugary lime juice with a dark coloring agent?
Coffee substitute or supplement! Does diet coke have aspartame?
Hm, knowing the ingredients, it actually sounds more tasty. But then, I like orange, coriander, nutmeg, & cinnamon.
You forgot that Coca-Cola contains phosphoric acid, unlike most sodas. Was that in the original, or have they added it to enhance the tartness?
They added it to remove the patina from copper coins…
I was never a big fan of fizzy drinks – have not had any for years, apart from champagne which I do not really like but will have if forced… sigh
The Neroli is interesting – that is a new one to me –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neroli
I was interested in what you say about the use of corn syrup. Is that used outside the US? Would we have sugar beet syrup in northern Europe? In East Anglia we grow loads of beet.
The UK version of Coke, and as far as I know in the rest of Europe, uses sugar. Actually I know some European versions do use sugar since they are sometimes sold in the UK.
It seems there is a quota on production of High Fructose Corn Syrup within the EU which is set very low compared with EU sugar production (presumably a mix of beet and cane).
Given the limited availability food manufactures do not seem to bother swapping sugar for HFCS.
It’s a question of subsidies and import tarrifs. HCFS is not so economical without both.
Neroli oil is used in some of the “ecological”, non-poisonous, political correct creams/serums I indulge in (The Organic Pharmacy – I’m looking at you), and it is a swoonworthy soft/bittersweet smell. Together with the vanilla-aroma it is … goodness.
Thanks to both of you – I knew I could rely on the collective wisdom of WEIT-ers. Sometimes ‘just Googling it’ does not get to the nub.
🙂
Hmmm – I only drink Colas of any kind once in a blue moon – but when the need arises I swear by Coca Cola.
Totally off topic, but did any of you really listen to the text of the old Genesis hit “Jesus He Loves Me”? Well obviously I didn’t until yesterday. That song is still absurdly relevant (and atheistic – or at least preacher-bashing)
here’s a link to the lyrics:
http://www.risa.co.uk/sla/song.php?songid=16831
Had to paste the link in for some reason – never heard the song, not being a Genesis fan (or the one in the book!), but yes – it hits the nail on the head.
Man, I NEVER seem to get this link-thing to work properly. Anyone care to reveal how it’s done?
I checked your code. (In Firefox, mark the whole link, right click and choose “View Selection Source”. Try it on a working link and study how they are made!)
Unless there is some auto markup routine involved: Where it says url, paste your url for the link (i.e. http://www.risa.co.uk/sla/song.php?songid=16831 in your case).
And in my case an auto markup routine took my url and simply made it a good link (without a good tag name, natch). I now see Dominic figured it out below.
Tak Torbjörn!
I’ll try it with another link when I get home from work, to see if I can get it to work.
(Next up is the lesson on how make name tags on the links…)
[]
See the section near the top of the page named “HTML Link Syntax” HERE
Also to simplify things google this Firefox (and maybe other browsers) addon:
“BBCodeXtra”
It will put these codes into your right-click mouse context menu
Michael
You can download here:
http://download.cnet.com/BBCodeXtra/3000-11745_4-10508189.html
Thank you Michael Fisher. That link is now bookmarked – and it seems it even taught me to make a link with a title.
Very helpful.
hmmm
does this work?
http://www.risa.co.uk/sla/song.php?songid=16831
Yes – so press return after adding the link, & that should work.
Well, Thank you! 🙂
Det var ingenting!
I like måte.
Whoa … Er du også skandinav, Dominic?
Please ignore following experiments
Genesis
oohhhh it works! it works! 🙂
(At least when I try it)
Studied Norwegian at UCL & a year in Tromso…! We have just got Forbrydelsen on TV here – very good!
Well, that explains the Norwegian spelling 😉
Yes everybody loved/loves Forbrydelsen here (have no telly, so I never saw it.) Is it the Danish or the new UK/US-version you’re watching?
Danish! with subtitles – why remake something in English?! Oh yes, cultural blinkers. Sorry about that, non-English speaking world, I would that it were otherwise.
You have done well to avoid the goggle box Trine (my sister also has none), but you have replaced it wit a Google box!
😉
I most certainly have. And found WEIT in the process. I’m not complaining.
I always liked Coke best in those little (12 oz?) glass bottles… totally out of the habit now of drinking soda, though. Last time we were home, my dad introduced the kids to chocolate Coke floats…(I have not let on to them that it would be possible to make those in Japan. They can just keep on thinking they can only have those if Grandpa makes one for them…;-))
Some drinks do taste better if drunk from a particular type of cup, glass or mug.
Fine delicate teas are nicest out of a porcelain cup with saucer, but builders tea needs a mug, as large as possible.
When I was growing up, Coke came in 6-1/2 oz glass bottles. There were also “large” bottles of 10 oz. The small bottles were said to be sweeter (a bit more syrup?).
Then, cans came at 12 oz. Then larger bottles at 16 oz. Then 1 liter, 2 liter bottles, etc.
Portions have gotten a lot bigger.
Ray (showing his advanced age)
They ruined a perfectly good beverage when they stopped adding cocaine (benzoylmethyl ecgonine).
I guess that would have made it crack Coco Cola.
very good!
A good number of yrs ago 60Min did a piece about the presence of cocaine-free coca extract in Coca Cola. The cocaine is extracted in a nondescript, heavily guarded building in an industrial park in New Jersey.
From what New Yorkers say, that would explain a lot about people in New Jersey!
Sorry!
That was the funnier part of Ira Glass’ story about his attempt to recreate the recipe: Glass wanted the non-cocaine-extracted variant of the coca, but the company you mentioned stopped returning his calls.
Jerry. Have you forgiven the Coca Cola Company ?
http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/shoot-me-now-coca-cola-an-official-partner-of-the-creation-museum/
Michael
Just tell them Darwin endorsed it & they will soon tip it down the drain.
In no particular order:
It is the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.
I remember when playing middle and high school basketball in the late 60’s & early 70’s that the fountain Cokes in the smaller red Coke paper cups were particularly pleasing to the palate. I assume this was because of sucrose. On the other hand, maybe it would inescapably taste good to us hot and sweaty young ‘uns no matter the sugar. And, it may have been the tang of the acid.
Anyway, Coke is not what it used to be.
One thing I do know, it is culinary blasphemy to put HFCS-based syrup on ones pancakes. I don’t know off the top of my head the specific molecular configuration of maple sugar (i.e., is it mostly/all sucrose?) but it is Nirvana to partake of Vermont maple syrup on ones pancakes.
Also meant to mention that right now at BookTV.org are two books about slavery and sugar, one by Dan Rasmussen about the largest U.S. slave rebellion, and the other by a couple giving a broader world history of the misery sugar hath wrought on slaves, serfs, and endentured servants.
http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/sugar_cane_history_slave_trade.html
C’mon, I don’t want the traditional recipe, I want the New Coke recipe. I’m betting it was Coke with more sweetener and no vanilla. It was Coke’s effort to get away from fluctuating commodities after everybody went to HFCS.
Gnu Coke?
Gnu coke is just like old coke – except while drinking it you are allowed to mock Pepsi drinkers.
…1…2…3…AT CONSERVATION EVENTS
Well, I still put alcohol in my coke. Actually, I rarely drink any kind of soda, but when I do it is Ginger Ale. Normally I’ll drink water, sparkling water and hot or cold tea. No sugar.
I find Coke Zero to be more like the taste of “real” Coke than “real” Coke.
There’s a certain richness that was lost some years ago in Coke. Coke Zero has that.
Diet Coke, on the other hand, is just bleh. Maybe that’s why I switched to Diet Pepsi a while back. Or Diet Dr. Pepper, which surprisingly DOES taste like regular Dr. Pepper.
I find the American obsession with cola nearly as strange as its obsession with religion. I drink cola maybe three or four times a year but I’ve never found it better than passable.
Well OK, I *do* like it when it’s well diluted with rum.
There is one way you can get hold of sugar-based Coke in the US – kosher stores before Passover – this certainly shouldn’t be too hard in Chicago, and Passover is in April.
No,not Coke–although its syrup is a remedy for upset stomach.Far better is ginger ale (my summer camp once dosed a heap of us, ptomaine sufferers [what food did they poison? we never asked. Today, our parents would sue, wouldn’t they? Shouldn’t they?].
Fresh ginger ale is heaven in a glass. In NYC you can have it at Noho Star (Bleecker and Lafayette). Run over immediately.
Or go to Lilac Chocolate (a branch is in Grand Central Station) and get their dark chocolate wafers filled with ginger.
In 1969 a Heinz company executive/engineer told me he had duplicated Coca Cola just to see if he could.
There’s no mention of cola in the recipe– it can’t be complete. And it still mentions coca– long ago deleted. This is not the current recipe, and it seems unlikely to be a complete former recipe.
It’s there, but for some reason this article leaves it out.
The photo sez 0.4 ounces extract (US Pharmacopoeia).
Of course, Pepsi is objectively better (in randomised double blind tests), but noöne cares. It’s all in the image.
I recall going to Russia in 1981 – there was no Coke, only Pesi, who must have done a deal…
PEPSI! sigh…
I never drink Coke, I hate it. Like many American recipes it’s far too sweet. The Australian one is made of sugar, we have half of Queensland growing the stuff so it’s cheaper than HFCS, but Australians are still fat. Getting rid of corn syrup won’t save you from obesity, sorry. Climbing world food prices might, hard to say, could make things worse.
If comments here (and many other places) are to believed, Coke (and many other things, including grandma’s stuffed cabbage) were better years ago.
Since this patter is so consistent, my guess is that it has more to do with changing tastes sensitivity and aging taste buds rather than a downward pattern of prepared foods.
Or simply that perspectives and experiences change with age…