Soda History: Coca-Cola and Fanta

In May 1886, Coca-Cola was invented by Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist based in Atlanta, Georgia. The so-called “soda fountains” or saturators were in every pharmacy, as it was believed that it has medicinal properties. Over time, water turned from a medicine into a dessert: syrups and essential oils were added to it.

It was the soda syrup that Pemberton invented, mixing it in a copper kettle in his backyard. The syrup, diluted with soda, became the main ingredient for an invigorating and refreshing drink. Consider that the syrup then included coca leaves – cocaine was not yet considered a dangerous substance, and cola tree nuts containing caffeine.

The name of the drink was invented by Pemberton’s accountant Frank Robinson. In addition, he was a master of calligraphy and wrote the name “coca-cola” in curly letters: the image is still used in the company logo.

Two years later, Pemberton, who has failed to “spin” sales, sells the drink formula to businessman Asa Candler. It was he who founded The Coca-Cola Company, which still produces the legendary soda. Under his leadership, sales of Coca-Cola grew 4000% from 1890 to 1900. Then Candler began selling licenses to bottling companies around the world, and this is the case today.

Many are trying to replicate Pemberton’s syrup, but North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradem did the best. Among other things, he added vanilla to the syrup, and began to sell it to soda vendors. Over time, he organized a company that became the main competitor of Coca-Cola – PepsiCo. I use the same aggressive marketing and advertising, and they are doing well today.

In 1915, designer Earl Dean, as part of a competition from the company, came up with a new cola bottle that we know well. The look was inspired by the shape of the cocoa fruit: according to one version, the designer confused the words “coca” and “cocoa”.

Historical sources show that Coca-сola contained not too safe components for a long time, until the beginning of the 20th century. Until the manufacturer learned to remove all psychoactive substances from coca leaves.

Soda fountains, including cola, were very popular until the 1960s, when the era of fast food came, putting the sale of drinks on stream. Until that time, people liked to meet in establishments where they could drink soda and exchange news.

As of 2017, Coca-Cola is a company with more than $ 41.3 billion in annual revenue, 94% of people have heard of the legendary drink at least once. Today, over one billion drinks are consumed a day around the world.

Fanta also has an interesting history. It was not invented in the USA, but in Germany in 1940. The import of syrup was banned due to the country’s policy, and the issue had to be regulated by our own means. The chief chemist of the plant, Shetelig, decided to try to make a drink based on products that are in the country and with which there will be no problems during the war. Surprisingly, the first Fanta was made from apple pomace, saccharin and whey: there is no shortage of that in Germany. “It was a drink made from waste,” wrote Max Keith, director of the German Coca-Cola plant that made Fanta.

The name of the beloved orange drink comes from the German word “fantasie” – imagination. There were many options, including “quirl” – a thirst quencher. It is important that for a while the owners of the plant even managed to bypass the military quotas for sugar: they replaced saccharin. Thanks to this, Fanta was so popular in Germany: it was added to dishes, used as a flavoring agent. This is where imagination came in handy.

At the same time, according to the Favor portal, Soviet soldiers were among the first to try the new lemonade. In the memoirs of Lieutenant General Ivan Varennikov, who fought at Stalingrad, there is a mention of a German chemical-colored drink. However, our fruit drink, writes Varennikov, is tastier.

In 1960, the rights to the drink were bought by the head division in America: everything worked out very well for the Germans.