Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drinkmanufactured by The Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drinkand intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton and was bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led Coca-Cola to its dominance of the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.[1] The drink’s name refers to two of its original ingredients: coca leaves, and kola nuts (a source of caffeine). The current formula of Coca-Colaremains a trade secret; however, a variety of reported recipes and experimental recreations have been published.
The Coca-Cola Company produces Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton and was bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led Coca-Cola to its dominance of the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.[1] The drink’s name refers to two of its original ingredients: coca leaves, and kola nuts (a source of caffeine). The current formula of Coca-Cola remains a trade secret; however, a variety of reported recipes and experimental recreations have been published. Coca-Cola Coca-Cola logo – see “Logo design” section Coca-Cola bottle – see “Contour bottle design” section Coca-Cola has retained many of its historical design features in modern glass bottles Type Cola Manufacturer The Coca-Cola Company Country of origin United States Introduced May 8, 1886; 134 years ago Color Caramel E-150d Variants Diet Coke Diet Coke Caffeine-Free Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Coca-Cola Cherry Coca-Cola Vanilla Coca-Cola Citra Coca-Cola Life Coca-Cola Mango Related products Pepsi RC Cola Afri-Cola Postobón Inca Kola Kola Real Cavan Cola Website coca-cola.com The Coca-Cola Company produces
19th century historical origins
Confederate Colonel John Pemberton, who was wounded in the American Civil War and became addicted to morphine, began a quest to find a substitute for the problematic drug.[6]In 1885 at Pemberton’s Eagle Drug and Chemical House, a drugstore in Columbus, Georgia, he registered Pemberton’s French Wine Coca nerve tonic.[7][8][9][10] Pemberton’s tonic may have been inspired by the formidable success of Vin Mariani, a French-Corsican coca wine,[11] but his recipe additionally included the African kola nut, the beverage’s source of caffeine.[12]
It is also worth noting that a Spanish drink called “Kola Coca” was presented at a contest in Philadelphia in 1885, a year before the official birth of Coca-Cola. The rights for this Spanish drink were bought by Coca-Cola in 1953.[13]
In 1886, when Atlanta and Fulton Countypassed prohibition legislation, Pemberton responded by developing Coca-Cola, a nonalcoholic version of Pemberton’s French Wine Coca.[14] It was marketed as “Coca-Cola: The temperance drink”, which appealed to many people as the temperance movementenjoyed wide support during this time.[1] The first sales were at the Jewish owned establishment[15] Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 8, 1886,[16] where it initially sold for five cents a glass.[17]Drugstore soda fountains were popular in the United States at the time due to the belief that carbonated water was good for the health,[18]and Pemberton’s new drink was marketed and sold as a patent medicine, Pemberton claiming it a cure for many diseases, including morphine addiction, indigestion, nerve disorders, headaches, and impotence. Pemberton ran the first advertisement for the beverage on May 29 of the same year in the Atlanta Journal.[19]
By 1888, three versions of Coca-Cola – sold by three separate businesses – were on the market. A co-partnership had been formed on January 14, 1888, between Pemberton and four Atlanta businessmen: J.C. Mayfield, A.O. Murphey, C.O. Mullahy, and E.H. Bloodworth. Not codified by any signed document, a verbal statement given by Asa Candler years later asserted under testimony that he had acquired a stake in Pemberton’s company as early as 1887.[20] John Pemberton declared that the name “Coca-Cola” belonged to his son, Charley, but the other two manufacturers could continue to use the formula.[21]
Charley Pemberton’s record of control over the “Coca-Cola” name was the underlying factor that allowed for him to participate as a major shareholder in the March 1888 Coca-Cola Company incorporation filing made in his father’s place.[22] Charley’s exclusive control over the “Coca-Cola” name became a continual thorn in Asa Candler’s side. Candler’s oldest son, Charles Howard Candler, authored a book in 1950 published by Emory University. In this definitive biography about his father, Candler specifically states: ” on April 14, 1888, the young druggist Asa Griggs Candler purchased a one-third interest in the formula of an almost completely unknown proprietary elixir known as Coca-Cola.”[23] The deal was actually between John Pemberton’s son Charley and Walker, Candler & Co. – with John Pemberton acting as cosigner for his son. For $50 down and $500 in 30 days, Walker, Candler & Co. obtained all of the one-third interest in the Coca-Cola Company that Charley held, all while Charley still held on to the name. After the April 14 deal, on April 17, 1888, one-half of the Walker/Dozier interest shares were acquired by Candler for an additional $750.[24]