Cola is a carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus oils, and other flavorings. Cola became popular worldwide after the American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, a trademarked brand, in 1886, which was imitated by other manufacturers. Most colas originally contained caffeine from the kola nut (Cola acuminata), leading to the drink's name, though other sources of caffeine are generally used in modern formulations. The Pemberton cola drink also contained a coca plant extract.[1][3] His non-alcoholic recipe was inspired by the coca wine of pharmacist Angelo Mariani, created in 1863.[3][4]
![]() A glass of cola served with ice cubes | |
Type | Soft drink |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Various |
Country of origin | United States |
Introduced | May 8, 1886[1][2] (as Coca-Cola) |
Color | Caramel (with certain exceptions such as Zevia Cola and Kola Román) |
Flavor | Cola (Kola nut, citrus, cinnamon and vanilla) |
Most modern colas have a dark caramel color and are sweetened with sugar and/or high-fructose corn syrup. They come in numerous different brands, with Coca-Cola and Pepsi being among the most popular.[5] These two companies have been competing since the 1890s, a rivalry that has intensified since the 1980s.[6][7]
Flavorings
editThe primary modern flavorings in a cola drink are citrus oils (from orange, lime, and lemon peels), cinnamon, vanilla, and an acidic flavorant.[8][9] Manufacturers of cola drinks add trace flavorings to create distinctive tastes for each brand. Trace flavorings may include a wide variety of ingredients, such as spices like nutmeg or coriander. Acidity is often provided by phosphoric acid, sometimes accompanied by citric or other isolated acids. Coca-Cola's recipe is maintained as a corporate trade secret.
A variety of different sweeteners may be used in cola, often influenced by local agricultural policy. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is predominantly used in the United States due to the lower cost of government-subsidized corn. In Europe, however, HFCS is subject to production quotas designed to encourage the production of sugar; sugar is thus preferentially used to sweeten sodas.[10] In addition, stevia or an artificial sweetener may be used; "sugar-free" or "diet" colas typically contain artificial sweeteners only.
In Japan, there is a burgeoning craft cola industry, with small-scale local production methods and highly unique cola recipes using locally sourced fruits, herbs, and spices.[11]
Clear cola
editIn the 1940s, Coca-Cola produced White Coke at the request of Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov.[12][13]
Clear colas were again produced during the clear craze of the early 1990s. Brands included Crystal Pepsi, Tab Clear, and 7 Up Ice Cola. Crystal Pepsi was repeatedly reintroduced in the 2010s.
In Denmark, a popular clear cola was made by the Cooperative FDB in 1976. It was especially known for being the "Hippie Cola" because of the focus on the harmful effects the color additive could have on children and the boycott of multinational brands. It was inspired by a campaign on harmful additives in Denmark by the Environmental-Organization NOAH, an independent Danish division of Friends of the Earth. This was followed up with a variety of sodas without artificial coloring.[14] Today many organic colas are available in Denmark, but, for nostalgic reasons, clear cola has still maintained its popularity to a certain degree.[15]
In June 2018, Coca-Cola introduced Coca-Cola Clear in Japan.[16][17][18]
Health effects
editA 2007 study claimed that consumption of colas, both those with natural sweetening and those with artificial sweetening, was associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease. The phosphoric acid used in colas was thought to be a possible cause.[19]
One 2005 study indicated soda and sweetened drinks are the main source of calories in the American diet and that of those who drink more sweetened drinks, obesity rates were higher.[20] Most[how?] nutritionists advise that Coca-Cola and other soft drinks can be harmful if consumed excessively, particularly to young children whose soft drink consumption competes with, rather than complements, a balanced diet. Studies have shown that regular soft drink users have a lower intake of calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, riboflavin, and vitamin A.[21]
The drink has also aroused criticism for its use of caffeine, which can cause physical dependence (caffeine dependence),[22] and can reduce sleep quality.[23] A link has been shown between long-term regular cola intake and osteoporosis in older women (but not men).[24] This was thought to be due to the presence of phosphoric acid, and the risk for women was found to be greater for sugared and caffeinated colas than diet and decaffeinated variants, with a higher intake of cola correlating with lower bone density.
Many soft drinks in North America are sweetened mostly or entirely with high-fructose corn syrup, rather than sugar. Some nutritionists caution against the consumption of corn syrup because it may aggravate obesity and type-2 diabetes more than cane sugar.[25]
Regional brands
editAsia
edit- Air Koryo Cocoa Honeydew, a 'Coca-Cola-style product' manufactured by the national airline in North Korea[26]
- Amrat Cola, popular in Pakistan
- Big/Real/Royal Cola, popular in Indonesia, Thailand, Nigeria and throughout South America
- Campa Cola, India's most popular brand prior to the reintroduction of Coca-Cola and Pepsi to the Indian market in 1991
- Chi Forest (formerly known as Genki Forest) sparkling water cola flavor, a local brand in China
- Est Cola, a local brand in Thailand
- Future Cola, a local brand in China
- KIK Cola, a local brand in Sri Lanka[27]
- Laoshan Cola, a local brand in China
- Mecca-Cola, sold in the Middle East, North Africa, as well as parts of Europe
- Meadows Classic Cola, a DFI brand in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Kampuchea
- MyCola, a local brand in Sri Lanka[28]
- Pakola, popular in Pakistan
- Parsi Cola, popular in Iran
- Red Bull Cola, popular in Thailand
- Sparkling Super Cola, sold by the A.S. Watson Group (PARKnSHOP, Watsons) of Hong Kong
- Terelj Cola, sold in Mongolia.[29]
- Thums Up, popular in India
- Topsia Cola, popular in Iran
- Vita Cola, produced by Vitasoy of Hong Kong
- Zamzam Cola, popular in Iran and parts of the Arab world
Europe
edit- Afri-Cola, a German brand, was relaunched in April 2006 with the original formulation with the higher caffeine content.
- Baikal, a cola-like drink popular in Russia
- Barr Cola made by A.G. Barr (the makers of the popular Irn-Bru drink) in the United Kingdom
- Breizh Cola is a local brand from Brittany (France).[30]
- Brisa Cola is a local brand from Madeira, Portugal and produced by Empresa de Cervejas da Madeira.
- Cola Turka is a local brand in Turkey
- Cockta is a local brand from former Yugoslavia, which does not contain any caffeine or phosphoric acid.
- Corsica Cola is a regional cola distributed by the Corsican brewery Pietra.
- Cuba Cola is a brand from Sweden.
- Dobry Cola, a Russian brand which replaced Coca-Cola after the departure of global companies from Russia in 2022, produced in the same factories as the original products.[31]
- Evoca Cola is a cola made with mineral water made by Evoca Drinks.
- Fentimans Curiosity Cola, is an upmarket botanically brewed cola produced by Fentimans, from the UK.
- Fritz-Kola, a cola soft drink from Hamburg, Germany, uses the highest possible concentration of caffeine for beverages allowed by German law.[clarification needed]
- Green Cola is a brand from Greece that is available also in Germany, Spain, Cyprus, the Baltic states, Romania, the Middle East, Slovenia etc.
- Hofmuhl Cola is a local brand from Bavaria, made by a regional brewery.[32]
- Jolly Cola, which had a 40% share of the cola drink market in Denmark from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s.[33]
- Kofola is the primary rival to Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and does not contain phosphoric acid.
- Kristal Kola is a local brand in Turkey
- LOCKWOODS Cola,[34][35] a UK cola brand introduced in the 1960s produced by Lockwoods Foods Limited at their canning factory site in Long Sutton, England, the drink is not on the market anymore, it was sold nationally and also exported.
- Maxi-Cola was sold by Mac's Brewery in England as a rival to Coke and Pepsi. Production ended in the early 90s.
- Polo-Cockta, a Polish brand.
- Qibla Cola was a British cola brand active from 2003 to 2005.
- Red Bull Simply Cola has been available throughout Europe since 2008.
- Sinalco cola is a German cola brand sold and produced in Europe
- Tøyen-Cola is a Norwegian cola brand, based on the open Cube cola recipe.
- Ubuntu Cola is a fair trade cola from the United Kingdom available in parts of Western Europe.
- Virgin Cola was popular in South Africa and Western Europe in the 1990s but has waned in availability.
- Vita-Cola is a German cola brand with a distinct citrus flavor; nowadays it is mostly sold in eastern Germany.
- XL Cola was a Swedish cola brand introduced in 1985, but the drink is not at the market anymore.
North America
edit- Coca-Cola, often referred to simply as Coke, is produced and manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company. It is one of the most popular cola brands in North America and worldwide, as well as being the original cola.
- Pepsi, produced and manufactured by PepsiCo, is also one of the most popular cola brands in North America and worldwide. Pepsi is the main competitor and rival of Coca-Cola.
- RC Cola, short for Royal Crown Cola, is now produced by Keurig Dr Pepper
- Cott produces many house brand beverages as well as its own line of products, most notably its Black Cherry and Bubba cola.
- The Double Cola Company, Double Cola
- Faygo Cola is distributed in the Eastern United States and can be found in some regions of Canada.
- Fentimans Curiosity Cola, originating from the United Kingdom in 1905, now sold across Europe and North America
- Jarritos Cola is a brand of cola from Mexico, native to Mexico and widely distributed to Latino residents of the United States.
- Jolt Cola is sold by Wet Planet Beverages of Rochester, New York.
- Jones Soda also makes a cola using cane sugar.
- Nuka-Cola, produced by Jones in collaboration with Fallout series developer Bethesda Softworks and Target Stores from 2009 to 2010, 2014 to 2016 and 2020 to present.
- Polar Beverages of Worcester, MA produces its own brand of cola under the Polar name.
- Red Bull Simply Cola was available in the United States from 2008 to 2011.
- Shasta Cola, produced by Shasta
- TuKola and Tropicola are brands from Cuba (also sold widely in Italy).
- Zevia Cola is a zero-calorie soft drink sweetened with Stevia.
- Bec Cola is produced in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, sold across Quebec and Ontario. It is sweetened with primarily maple syrup
- Big 8 Cola is a brand of colas and other flavored sodas that can be found in Atlantic Canada
South America
edit- Inca Kola, created by Lindley bottler to compete with Coca-Cola. It is still the best selling cola in Perú.[36]
- Big Cola, a cola produced by Peruvian company Ajegroup which operates in 14 countries in Latin America.[37]
- Perú Cola, created by Peruvian bottler Embotelladora Don Jorge S.A.C. to compete with Coca-Cola and Kola Real.[38]
- Kola Román, a cola that was invented in the city of Cartagena, Colombia in 1865 by Don Carlos Román.
Oceania
edit- Export Cola was an Australian carbonated cola drink Manufactured by Cadbury Schweppes (now Cadbury plc)[39] during the 1970s and early 1980s. A series of TV advertisements for the drink featured the Australian cricketer Jeff Thomson. It enjoyed a brief resurgence in popularity when it was re-launched in 1993, but the drink was discontinued in 1999.
- LA Ice Cola is an Australian cola owned by Tru Blu Beverages, similar to Coca-Cola and Pepsi, its rivals.
- Billson's produces a Heritage Cola, inspired by recipes dating back to the Temperance movement in Australia.
- Foxton Fizz is a New Zealand soft drink company which produces a cola-flavored soft drink beverage, manufactured in Foxtown.
Defunct brands
edit- Hansen's Natural Soda, Original Cola, made with cane sugar
See also
edit- Cola chicken – Hong Kong chicken dish
- Peanuts and Coke – Snack from the Southern United States
- Open-source cola – Cola produced according to a published and shareable recipe
- List of brand name soft drinks products
- List of soft drink flavors
- List of soft drink producers
- List of soft drinks by country
- Soda geyser – Eruption caused by mixing Diet Coke and Mentos
References
edit- ^ a b "The 132nd Anniversary of the Day Soda Pop Was Invented - the Happy Daze Blog takes an amusing look at wacky holidays, weird holidays, and happy holidays found in every month, and tells how to celebrate them". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "History of Coca-Cola · InterExchange". Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- ^ a b "Coca Wine". Cocaine.org. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ 최재원 (April 2015). "코카콜라의 스토리텔링을 통한 감성마케팅 응용". 마케팅 (in Korean). 49 (4): 19–28. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ 김덕호 (November 2002). "2차 세계대전과 코카콜라의 전지구화(Globalization)". 미국사연구 (in Korean). 16: 219–249. Archived from the original on 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ Kim Bhasin (January 1, 2013). "COKE VS. PEPSI: The Story Behind The Neverending 'Cola Wars'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ "1975: Cola wars heat up with launch of Pepsi Challenge". The Drum. Archived from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
- ^ DeNeefe, Janet (March 13, 2008). "The Exotic Romance of Tamarind". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ "Cola 2". Sparror.cubecinema.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ M. Ataman Aksoy; John C. Beghin, eds. (2005). "Sugar Policies: An Opportunity for Change". Global Agricultural Trade and Developing Countries. World Bank Publications. p. 329. ISBN 0-8213-5863-4.
- ^ Wallin, Lisa "Japanese Craft Cola is the Beverage You Didn't Know You Needed Archived 2021-11-26 at the Wayback Machine", Japanese Food Guide
- ^ 김덕호 (May 2005). "냉전 초기 코카콜라와 미국 문화산업의 세계화". 미국사연구 (in Korean). 21: 105–140. Archived from the original on 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ Braswell, Sean (April 23, 2015). "Coke made especially for a communist". Ozy. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- ^ Samvirke. "Samvirke - Rød sodavand - uden farve!". classic.samvirke.dk. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ^ "Husker du? Kult-colaen vender endelig tilbage". BT (in Danish). 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-09. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ^ 김덕호 (November 2006). "미국화인가 세계화인가 :코카콜라를 통해서 본 글로벌리즘". 미국사연구 (in Korean). 24: 171–206. Archived from the original on 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ "Coca-Cola Clear launches in Japan". beveragedaily.com. 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ^ "Coca-Cola Pulls a Pepsi and Launches Clear Coke". esquire. June 6, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-06-08. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ^ Tina M. Saldana; Olga Basso; Rebecca Darden; Dale P. Sandler (2007). "Carbonated beverages and chronic kidney disease". Epidemiology. 18 (4): 501–6. doi:10.1097/EDE.0b013e3180646338. PMC 3433753. PMID 17525693.
- ^ "Preliminary Data Suggest That Soda And Sweet Drinks Are The Main Source Of Calories In American Diet". Sciencedaily.com. May 27, 2005. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ Jacobson, Michael F. (2005). "Liquid Candy: How Soft Drinks are Harming Americans' Health", pp. 5–6. Center for Science in the Public Interest. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
- ^ Center for Science in the Public Interest (1997). "Label Caffeine Content of Foods, Scientists Tell FDA." Retrieved June 10, 2005. Archived July 24, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ O’Callaghan, Frances; Muurlink, Olav; Reid, Natasha (2018-12-07). "Effects of caffeine on sleep quality and daytime functioning". Risk Management and Healthcare Policy. 11: 263–271. doi:10.2147/RMHP.S156404. ISSN 1179-1594. PMC 6292246. PMID 30573997.
- ^ Tucker KL, Morita K, Qiao N, Hannan MT, Cupples LA, Kiel DP (October 1, 2006). "Colas, but not other carbonated beverages, are associated with low bone mineral density in older women: The Framingham Osteoporosis Study". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 84 (4): 936–942. doi:10.1093/ajcn/84.4.936. PMID 17023723.
- ^ "Single food ingredient the cause of obesity ? New study has industry up in arms" Archived 2008-05-08 at the Wayback Machine. (April 26, 2004). FoodNavigator.com. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
- ^ "Air Koryo showcases expanded soft drink range at Rason Trade Fair | NK News". 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Elephant House KIK Cola - Lankan to the Last Drop". Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "MyCola". Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Terelj - Silver Quality Award 2021 from Monde Selection". Archived from the original on 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
- ^ "Le Breizh Cola sera intégralement produit en Bretagne". Ouest France (in French). 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2017-07-24. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Davidoff, Victor (2022-11-03). "Are Western Brands as Serious About Withdrawing From Russia as They Appear?". The Moscow Times. Archived from the original on 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ "Sortiment". Privatbrauerei Hofmühl (in German). Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ^ Sørensen, Nils Arne; Petersen, Klaus (November 2012). "Corporate Capitalism or Coca-Colonisation? Economic Interests, Cultural Concerns, Tax Policies and Coca-Cola in Denmark from 1945 to the Early 1960s". Contemporary European History. 21 (4): 597–617. doi:10.1017/S0960777312000392. ISSN 0960-7773. S2CID 163347256.
- ^ "LOCKWOODS-Cola-330mL-Great Britain". CanMuseum.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "LOCKWOODS-Cola (diet)-326mL-Great Britain". CanMuseum.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Branding Lessons from Inca Kola, the Peruvian Soda That Bested Coca-Cola". ©2023 Knowledge at Wharton. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ "Ajegroup" (in Spanish). Ajegroup. Archived from the original on 2007-01-04. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ "Grupo Perú Cola - Hoy el Perú sabe mejor" (in Spanish). Donjorge.com.pe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ "Sales Representative". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 May 1980. p. 67. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
External links
edit- OpenCola recipe (originally published by Cory Doctorow)
- Straight Dope article about caffeine levels on soft drinks