How Has Coca-Cola Kept It's Formula a Secret for All These Years?

Weird History Food is giving you the secrets to the Coca-Cola formula. Since its invention by John Pemberton in 1886, Coca-Cola has become the most well-known soft drink in the world. Yet who actually knows the Coca-Cola recipe?
On its website, Coca-Cola claims the company's "secret formula for making Coca-Cola has remained a trade secret for 130 years." Shrouding the drink's ingredients in secrecy "creates a natural curiosity about the product itself," according to social psychologist and marketing expert Ben Voyer.
#cocacola #coke #weirdhistoryfood

[@stebbenwolfe]

I’m not sure why Pepsi would even care if someone did bring them the Coke recipe. What are they going to do, change their recipe or sell a new cola with the recipe? That’s just admitting that you have the inferior product. Which would be incredibly stupid from a marketing standpoint.

[@Watch-0w1]

What u say and setting a example as being a "good" guy and what would happen if they're employees backstab them

[@Epic_C]

We need a movie with Nicholas Cage on an adventure to steal the original coca cola formula.

[@zombiegamer2012]

“I’m going to steal the Coca Cola secret formula”

[@lawrencetalbot8346]

“National Thirst Quencher”

[@registereduser]

Yeah, not even going to pretend I wouldn’t be in on that in a heartbeat.

[@glennso47]

Get the guy who played Indiana Jones to search for it.

[@glennso47]

Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby 🎵 Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell.

[@daddynunya9045]

The formula has changed more than once over the years. I am not old enough to know what the original formula tasted like because the first change was of two ingredients in 1935 in order to be labeled Kosher and vegetarian. In 1985 the Company stopped producing the "original" formula completely, and introduced New Coke as a replacement, not made with coco leaves and sweeter. It tasted a lot like Pepsi. The public pretty much as a whole rejected the New Coke and in a mear 77 days the Company capitulated and restarted production of Classic Coke. I can personally attest that Classic Coke did not taste the same as the prior Coke. The Company had used the interim 77 days to complete the change from cane sugar to corn syrup, again changing the recipe. This is not a complete list. There were many more changes in individual markets over the years. At this point the "original" formula is just an urban legend and possibly a marketing point. Anyone who obtained, made, and marketed it would have a cola with a completely different taste than what Coke drinkers experience now. Not to mention Federal drug charges from the cocaine content found in the original soda.

[@Kerndon]

It should be mentioned that the Coca-Cola base syrup does in fact not contain sugar. Yes, it's made with corn syrup today in the US. But, for example, in Germany it's made with cane sugar. Coca-Cola producers all over the world receive the base syrup, and then add some kind of sugar and carbonated water to it.

[@greywater3186]

I think Mexican Coke is what Cole used to taste like. Here in Arizona, Mexican Coke is widely available.

[@RitzStarr]

Yeah in this day and age literally anyone could pay a 4 figure sum to completely dissect coke with 100% accuracy and easily know the ingredients. It's not a secret, as was said it's simply not profitable because it's the brand that sells not the drink itself.

[@MysteryMii]

Coke did not use New Coke as a ploy to switch the sweetener from cane sugar to HFCS. They were already allowing their bottlers to replace up to half the sugar in Coke with HFCS back in 1980 (5 years before New Coke launched), and by the time New Coke launched, most bottlers had already fully replaced sugar with HFCS as the sweetener for the original formula.

[@Grinningfartking6969]

Water, bubbles, sugar, cocaine and food coloring. Ezpz

[@BillyReplies]

This "secret recipe" lore is so laughable. No one has ever locked up a recipe in a bank vault. It's all theatre.

[@rgerber]

you are a clever boy

[@melissacooper8724]

They couldn't anyway if they told everyone where they kept it! Otherwise, you would have people trying to steal it all the time!

[@IantheKid125]

When you realize your great grandma was alive when Coke had Cocaine in it

[@sakurakitsunestar]

I actually recommend the coke museum it's actually kinda cool they also have a ton of old memoblia and theres a area where you can try global coke products like stuff only sold in other countries ( just avoid tasting the Beverly its nasty its a black licorice drink that tastes like licorice cough syrup) i recommend the korean fantas smoked plum and winter melon When i went last year they were doing a test run of some new smart water flavors too clarity ( gensing) renew ( danilion) tranquility (strawberry) and giving samples to the guests to test

[@Kanyewest3]

The also have the original “new coke” or coke 2.0 as well

[@corkbulb2895]

Everyone and their mother has a mass spectrometer nowadays. Just stick a drop of coke in there and it will tell you the molecular composition of all ingredients down to the parts per billion. Anyone with an undergraduate in chemistry could probably figure out exactly with what it is made out of.

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

Do it

[@corkbulb2895]

​@@OhGeeWillickersMister Unfortunately, I do not have access to a mass spectrometer at this time. However, countless people do. Pretty much every major university has one and most students can access it with permission and supervision. Many private labs have them too. They are no longer multi-million dollar pieces of equipment and are relatively affordable due to better manufacturing technology. Ever hear of the dude who put KFC breading in one back in 1983? He worked at a private lab. What he got was salt, pepper, breading and oil. That's it. No other ingredients were detected and they were all accounted for. So nothing extra was found. He published the exact proportions but I don't know them off the top of my head. Anyway, that was back in 1983. Today it could certainly be done easily. I suspect that nowadays nobody does it because they are afraid of the wrath of the Coca-Cola legal team. Regardless, I'm sure *somebody* did it just for kicks and just never officially published any results. EDIT: typos

[@Phonixrmf]

Dew it

[@RinnovaRaine]

Coke is so well known that there are parts of the US where ANY soda is known as a coke. Friend has a ice chest full of pepsi? "Gimme a coke will ya?" Friend has an ice chest full of Mountain dew? "Gimme a coke from there please?"

[@registereduser]

Maybe it’s getting old, but for someone who hates tourist stuff I’d go to the Coke museum no question.

[@xpatsteve]

I visited the World of Coca-Cola a few years ago. On one hand, you're paying to walk through a giant Coke commercial. On the other, it's entertaining, informative, educational, really fun, and easily worth the price of admission.

[@btetschner]

A+ video! Fascinating! Awesome video and so glad we have Coke!

[@tyneishalewis9917]

Another awesome video, Weird History Food! I would love to see more soda videos

[@mikeytappe]

Cokes like $8 a 12 pack now…

[@TheKiddingStar]

Sometimes 9 or 10 even, crazy prices

[@BeyondDaX]

If yer lucky, you can find a 16 pack for 9 bucks

[@RealBigBadJohn]

$8.99 at Publix. Plus tax.

[@marvingecko1232]

Lol Don't know where you're shopping for Coke but where I live. You Can get a 24 pack for $9.

[@RealBigBadJohn]

@@marvingecko1232 That certainly isn't common nationwide. The 24-pack is $13 to $16 in my area.

[@CloroxBleach-ms7eo]

Coke formula: 1) three teaspoons of pure caramel 2) five teaspoons of corn syrup 3) quarter teaspoon of lime juice 4) a can of coca-cola 5) three cubes of white sugar 6) a quart of distilled water Stir for thirty seconds

[@btetschner]

2:16 The film Detroit Rock City (1999) is a comedy about a group of friends going to a Kiss concert. We used to watch it all the time at Doane University, it's hilarious!

[@joshuafletcher598]

It’s one of my fav films

[@CwL-1984]

I have not had a coke in years, I'm a diet Dr Pepper man myself.

[@btetschner]

3:03 Poor RC Cola, they are the perfect example of a Distant 3rd Place!

[@glennso47]

The icon we know as Santa was originally a commercial for Coca Cola.

[@untrainedtalent]

Plot twist: the off brand colas taste way better than the literal name brand.

[@TheKiddingStar]

They're not so bad tbh

[@BeyondDaX]

I dunno, the walmart brand of those colas still a bit flat. The prices are better though

[@Kartak965]

Nah they all taste worse

[@highnoon9333]

i would say most people would beg to differ.

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

Kroger is a solid choice, Meijer was too RIP meijer soda

[@saisamsuri]

They go through such great lengths to keep Coke's formula a secret yet most people can't even tell it apart from Pepsi

[@e3vL1]

I can

[@toledochristianmatthew9919]

I can and it tastes way better than Pepsi. I don't know why but Pepsi has been tasting worse over the years. I can somewhat at least still enjoy Coca Cola.

[@blunderingfool]

Dr Pepper wins out in my book... Or Orangina.

[@BeyondDaX]

Pepsi is sweeter but Coke is bolder if that makes any sense. Well it does to me.

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

Pepsi tastes more like cinnamon, Coca tastes more like coffee.

[@aanchaallllllll]

0:48: ! The recipe for Coca-Cola has remained a secret for over 130 years, with only a few people knowing it. 2:35: ! The Coca-Cola Museum offers an immersive journey through the history and secrecy of the Coca-Cola formula, which holds great significance for many people. 4:32: 🥤 Coca-Cola's signature beverage is safeguarded by an exclusive deal and the secret formula has never been patented. 6:45: 🥤 The Indian government required foreign companies to give equity and disclose sensitive information, leading to Coca-Cola leaving India in 1977, but they made a comeback in 1993. 9:04: 🥤 The recipe for Coca-Cola remains a secret, and attempts to sell it to Pepsi have been unsuccessful. Recap by Tammy AI

[@Ken_Scaletta]

That whole "secret formula in a vault" thing is really just a marketing gimmick. you can rest assured that Pepsico knows exactly how to make Coca Cola. It's not like anybody can't do a chemical analysis. There would be no reason for anyone to try to copy it, and the whole idea is really kind of silly, but having the high tech looking vault is good kayfab.

[@robertgibbs65]

My favorite soda is the cheapest one, a 20 oz. Coke or Pepsi is now over $2.00 , absolutely ridiculous.

[@johnmcgaw2753]

I'd venture to say that Fentimans Curiosity Cola is far superior to any of the others. Sadly it is several times more expensive than our weak substitutes and is sometimes nearly impossible to find in the US. One of the first things I do when I get to the UK is to find a bottle of it (or sometimes several) just to remind myself and then I hope that I can find some when I get home. Oh, and their ginger beer is fantastic too.

[@emilyverock-isrow1467]

​@@buffys3477❤❤AA❤¹❤a1aa1

[@BeyondDaX]

That a tough sell when bottled Mexican coke is still among the better colas out there. But its a curious thought to see brits doing anything like that

[@makb_the_striker]

They didn't "get to Santa" they created Santa, at list a public image of a modern one.

[@highnoon9333]

I know this is kinda dickish, but the video title shouldn't have an apostrophe in it. It's not a contraction of "it is," but possessive. I absolutely love all your work!

[@MrRezRising]

Good catch. 👍

[@xtheunknown4662]

Dickish😂

[@mattyt1961]

not dickish...pedantic and I approve :)

[@greywater3186]

Jolly made a video where Olly whipped up a batch of “Coke”. Apparently it did taste like the real thing. It was also incredibly expensive to purchase the ingredients.

[@bobbygermain9635]

I love weird history food

[@abdelali9279]

Imagine with how intense the EU is, going like, if you want to sell your products within our borders you have to disclose those natural flavours, forcing Coke out of the region with McD's selling Dr. Peppers instead, and then making a booming spree of british crime gangs trafficking Coke within Europe, finally seeing an opportunity after Brexit, that could make a fun movie

[@rgerber]

just a minute of respect to the Aussies with their "Coca Coler"

[@NASCARFAN93100]

“A Coke a day keeps the blues away.”

[@The38alt]

Yeah and gives heart problems years later. I still drink it but still loo

[@btetschner]

1:53 That vault is like something off of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning!

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! ㊙ #WeirdHistoryFood #BeverageHistory #SecretFormula #CocaCola #Coke

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@GroundersSourceOfficial]

I recently visited the World of Coca-Cola, and it was a very thrilling adventure. I recommend tasting the German Orange Spezi. It's vibrant in orange.

[@gisellegrey5343]

Amazing please do heineken next!

[@theodore6548]

One part wet dog hair to one part potato?

[@haydenmillholland4496]

I wanna know why McDonald's has the best coke

[@markmcdonald6039]

They did an episode on it didn’t they? If Weird History didn’t there is an explanation on KZbin. Secret is unique pre chilled syrup for the McDonalds dispenser machines McDonalds and Coca Cola have a long-standing agreement.

[@timbert4672]

Indeed, there is a video on it. Pre chilled like you say and filtered water is used.@@markmcdonald6039

[@BeyondDaX]

@@markmcdonald6039 Yeah they did an episode on that

[@Diwasho]

9:53 I'd buy it as a boycott statement. Doesn't matter if it costs more, the point is that Coca-Cola Company isn't getting my money while I'm still getting their product.

[@Diwasho]

Also, Coca-Cola is sneaky, most of the fake colas are produced by CCC itself under different names and through a subsidiary company to fool you into thinking you're buying a competitor brand. You have to do a lot of research before you buy, otherwise you're just overpaying for the actual real coke.

[@TallTrees420]

What happened to the Weird History Food video about McDonald's Coke? I wanted to rewatch it but it's no where to be found? Could someone upload it at least?

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

At .62 a can, heck yes I want to make my own Diet Coke, it's as expensive as beer was a few years ago! Gimme dat recipe!!! Especially for the blueberry diet Coke, RIP

[@TheKiiS]

I’m already subscribed

[@mrmurray7610]

ITS not IT'S

[@DMacB42]

RIGHT?? People are so pointlessly mad at the narrator, they don't even care about an actual problem: homophones.

[@RealBigBadJohn]

If elected president, I will fight to make Coca-Cola's 1886 formula legal again! Big Bad John '24 ⬆

[@NewMessage]

Eddie Murphy said all I need to hear about Coke.

[@LuciusHogglefart]

Well? What was it lol

[@WagwanHappyPappyHapPap]

I don't like cocaine but I like the smell

[@susanrobinson910]

As a massive Coke fiend (the beverage), I look forward to hearing this!

[@greywater3186]

Did you ever try Cinnamon Coke?

[@Pendragon981]

Vanilla Coke with freshly cut lime.. nectar of the gods.

[@imustbecrazy5626]

When did it change from sugar to high fructose corn syrup.

[@highnoon9333]

1984

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

Cheaper industrial byproduct

[@treelimb1520]

The price keeps going up

[@andyinsdca]

nutmeg? Someone call Townsend!

[@newmexicoballer3867]

Imagination is the secret. Imagination.

[@joelly7824]

A hot homemade batch of sink coke...haha..

[@ArtDocHound]

It cleans toilets!

[@angelasieg5099]

It's Coke for me, my late Grandmother's favorite was RC Cola maybe because us kids wouldn't drink it

[@vuksmiljic6772]

I stop drinking Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite and uder soft drinks 6 years ago and, I fil good

[@greywater3186]

Cinnamon - this is why Cinnamon Coke was so natural and delicious, the ingredient is already part of the recipe! Bring back Cinnamon Coke!

[@melissacooper8724]

I wish they would bring Cinnamon Coke back for the holiday season.

[@greywater3186]

@@melissacooper8724 It was so good!

[@physicals]

Never give a coke lover a Pepsi

[@candice_ecidnac]

The title should say its formula, not it's

[@btetschner]

5:34 The seventh episode of Ducktales ("Sphinx for the Memories") was "missing" from Disney + for unknown reasons. Some think it is because Donald Duck undergoes a type of spirit possession and mesmerization.

[@deserteagle7032]

Great , informative video as always. Just curious how they manage keeping the formal a secret- ingredients have to be procured and then prepared . On that large scale it must be difficult to hide anything. Also , wonder how Pepsi got so close to the Coke taste.

[@Yngdady]

The formula was leaked a while back

[@btetschner]

4:17 Vanilla and coca leaves are New World foods, both originated in the Americas.

[@briammojica1385]

Please Burger's from the 90s, and wierd history of burger, to compleeete this great channel.

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

Fuddruckers

[@madi7929]

I’d say the original Coca Cola recipe is more secret than this

[@annasahlstrom6109]

I love San Pellegrino Aranciata and Limonata. Coca Cola will always be my favorite cola but I can't have all the sugar and the diet version just isn't good for my health. (I drink Diet Coke anyway.) I loved orange Fanta when I was a little girl and I'd drink it now, but too much sugar.

[@joshuafletcher598]

I wood like to go back in time and try coca cola when it was first invented i bet it wood knock your socks off

[@CannonKnight]

I'm actually shocked there hasn't been a real-life attempt to break into that vault. Or a movie with some old-timers doing one last hit on that vault before retiring from the game.

[@TonyGearSolid]

The vault is more than likely just for show, although I'm surprised the attraction doesn't have a gimmick where they let people try to guess the code or something more interactive.

[@ZOMBIEHEADSHOTKILLER]

john pemberton is over 130 years old?! geez the guy still looks like he just hit puberty. ha!

[@Heartwing37]

I feel like if the masses converged and tried, we could get the Coke recipe and snatch the one for KFC while we’re at it!

[@seanst.ledger8909]

Look into original New York seltzer. Now that a bizarre story.

[@JoJoJoker]

Coca-Cola’s “formula” changes constantly based on location and commodity prices. The *Coke Formula* is *a law* granting an international coca monopoly (1961 UN Treaty on Drugs)…. “New Coke” was an attempt to remove the coca from Coca-Cola (hence the name change - must contain coca to call it Coca-Cola)…

[@rgerber]

thats some solid PR - every mystery loses its charm as soon it is lifted- so- what do you do?

[@burymebelowawillowtree9243]

Mexico has bootleggers selling Koke.😂 for real.

[@ZombieLogic101]

....seeing as how much Coca-Cola ads n sound n video transmissions we've made of it I bet aliens think we need it to live at this point.

[@glennso47]

Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell

[@runoflife87]

Coca cola kept that formula so well that every country can make now its own coke tasting better than the original drink.

[@WagwanHappyPappyHapPap]

Subjective

[@runoflife87]

@@WagwanHappyPappyHapPap nope, just reality. Even in 1970's Socialist countries replicated coke with great success.

[@darrylpotter8255]

You have not had the horrific thing the call coke in Ireland…. It’s half the sweetness…. Terrible

[@jocko_]

I’m a Orange Fanta guy.

[@gatsby201041]

Coca Cola belongs in a mechanics garage…

[@tremorsfan]

The formula hasn't been the same since they switched from sugar to HFCS.

[@nathanramstorf1033]

Not all tongues taste the same way...some people choose RC and Sam's Choice colas over "the red and the blue". RC has a rich American history, maybe moreso over C.

[@ryanbrothers5377]

*its

[@mrmoshpotato]

Green River me, mate!

[@rogerszmodis]

Even if another company got the leaves they would still need to develop a process to remove the cocaine from the leaves without destroying the flavor. That would be expensive. Also they can’t really go and advertise their knock off Coca Cola so it would be just like any other competing cola and that company would also have to deal with Pepsi for market share. Keeping the recipe secret is just a marketing tactic.

[@GrayBlood1331]

"How Has Coca-Cola Kept It is Formula a Secret for All These Years?"

[@LudiCrust.]

People have uncovered the formula or at least figured it out. I tasted a clear homemade version that tasted exactly like it & I drink a ton of coke so I’m a pretty good judge.

[@QWERTY-gp8fd]

but u dont have the marketing. secrets to coca cola is marketing that u dont have.

[@burnsidepdx]

Now do Nuka Cola

[@elmorbs7641]

i'm reserching coke soooooooooo... this is for me RIGHT...T...T..t...

[@rmccombs66]

They act like the formula hasn't changed in over 86 years. They gloss over New Coke > Coke Classic and all of that.

[@mikesands4681]

False question. What if the could make coca cola cheaper without the enormous markup to cover the advertising and govt payouts?

[@Shanker420]

Coca-Cola isn't as cheap as this video makes it out to be, like everything it's getting too ridiculous to justify buying.

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

Agreed! Pop has inflated at a RIDICULOUS rate, the price for a 20oz bottle at one local high school cafeteria went from $1.75 to $2.50 from 22/23 to 23/24 school year. And that's more than the $2.39 cost of the same bottle at a nearby gas station, and gas stations usually have at least a 50% markup according to a friend who stocked one. Shouldn't it be cheaper under the school contract? In the school cafeteria it is all diet soda too now, which I personally love, even if it is an unconscionable price.

[@happyfuntimepewpew]

coke is the best!!! the beverage isn’t bad either.

[@Spockston]

Whats the deal with Mt dew? LOVE it, but dont know too much about the weirdness

[@lilitharam44]

I'm a Dr. Pepper person myself but Coke is my 2nd choice.

[@EllRiver]

What if some one made coke cheaper the coke

[@TonyNikolovski]

Formula is known …….

[@misaeljoelvera6631]

A&W Root Beer.

[@chacalacalacaxd6538]

Long live Coca-Cola

[@Arlecchino_Gatto]

I'm a DrPepper drinker.

[@DavidS22003]

What about the recipe for coke 2 was that recipe kept a secret too

[@DMacB42]

It's easy to keep a secret when no one wants it

[@cgraham6]

I wish Coca-Cola would keep its politics as much of a secret as its formula.