Coca Cola, Pepsi and Coke are carbonated soft drinks which began with two original ingredients: coca leaves, and kola nuts – which was the source of caffeine in the drinks.
Although the formula has changed, the name has stuck ever since they were introduced in 1886.
Unlike the early days, the drink companies now produce concentrate for the drinks, with the completed drinks made from the concentrate after mixing in filtered water and sweeteners. A typical 350 ml contains 38 grams of sugar from high fructose corn syrup in the US.
Watch how Coca Cola/Coke and other Cola drinks like Pepsi are made below.
Fun fact: The formula was originally intended as a patent medicine. Actually, it’s sometimes used for the treatment of gastric phytobezoars.