I was watching TV a while ago when in the middle of the advertising the new Coca-Cola ad appeared, the one they dedicate to the generation of the 80s with a fairly catchy little song and the usual style of the North American company. The fact is that at that moment a question came to mind: What would Coca-Cola originally be like?
Presto, as soon as I got to the PC I started visiting Wikipedia to investigate a little about this drink and what was my surprise when I discovered a very surprising piece of information.
The documents attest to its history, in 1885 a pharmacist named John Pemberton devised a mixture of coca leaves and cola seeds (indeed the name made sense, it was originally a drug) whose curative purpose, similar to aspirin, gave way to its triumph as a soft drink that exceeded all expectations, since in just one year the formula was purchased for $2,300 and its distribution began nationwide. As additional information, it maintains the logo designed by its creator.
But the real reason for my curiosity about this drink is not its history itself, but the secret of its formula. There has been a lot of speculation about it and even more are the rumors, myths and legends that surround it (it is corrosive to the teeth, it calms stomach pain, it has a worrying PH level, only two people know the formula and they can never agree in the same place, etc.) but the reality seems to be less interesting, or so they want us to believe, since said recipe is found in the safe of a bank in Atlanta.
In addition to the mysteries of its composition, there is a facet of this soft drink that fascinates me: the ability to launch different flavors depending on the commercial areas. Thus, as we travel, we can taste everything from a Coca-Cola with a touch of fruits as varied as cherry, lemon, lime, orange or raspberry to the same drink with a more exotic touch (vanilla or coffee).
And even though we may like it more or less, the truth is that all of us have grown up with the spots of Coca-Cola, and today we continue to delight our palates with it (even if it is as a base for gadgets), while the company dedicates the latest advertisement to a generation that, if they had known that this soft drink was actually a syrup**, perhaps would never have tried it.