The exact Coca-Cola formula is a legendary trade secret. The original copy of the formula is held in SunTrust Bank's main vault in Atlanta, the underwriter for the Coca-Cola Company's incorporation. An urban legend states that only two executives have access to the formula, with each executive having only half the formula.
The truth is that while Coca-Cola does have a rule restricting access to only two executives, each knows the entire formula, and others, in addition to the prescribed duo, have known the formulation process.
Coca-Cola cans from around the world all retain a common appearance due to the red and white colour scheme coupled with the trademarked swirl, as demonstrated by this example from Thailand.
Coca-Cola's name is derived from the coca leaves and kola fruits used as flavoring. The main ingredients are water and sugar. Other suggested ingredients include caramel, caffeine, phosphoric acid, coca leaf and cola nut extract, lime juice or oil, and vanilla.
The distinctive "cola" flavor comes mostly from the mix of sugar and essential orange, lemon and vanilla oils. The other ingredients change the flavor only very slightly. In the United States, however, Coca-Cola is now sweetened with corn syrup, causing the flavor to be "blunted". Coca-Cola with sugar is still available in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and in certain American markets during Passover.
In the original formula, the natural cocaine content of the coca leaves, and caffeine from kola nuts, provided the drink's stimulant effect. Shortly after the turn of the century (1929), cocaine was removed from the coca leaves by processing (leaving a physiologically insignificant trace), and the quantity of caffeine was reduced but not totally eliminated. The company's web site states that "Coca-Cola does not contain cocaine or any other harmful substance, and cocaine has never been an added ingredient for Coca-Cola".
It should be noted that such a statement is entirely consistent with the presence of cocaine in the coca leaves in the original formulation, though it could be considered misleading.
Today Coca-Cola is manufactured as a syrup, and is then supplied to various franchises which reconstitute, bottle, and distribute it.
The truth is that while Coca-Cola does have a rule restricting access to only two executives, each knows the entire formula, and others, in addition to the prescribed duo, have known the formulation process.
Coca-Cola cans from around the world all retain a common appearance due to the red and white colour scheme coupled with the trademarked swirl, as demonstrated by this example from Thailand.
Coca-Cola's name is derived from the coca leaves and kola fruits used as flavoring. The main ingredients are water and sugar. Other suggested ingredients include caramel, caffeine, phosphoric acid, coca leaf and cola nut extract, lime juice or oil, and vanilla.
The distinctive "cola" flavor comes mostly from the mix of sugar and essential orange, lemon and vanilla oils. The other ingredients change the flavor only very slightly. In the United States, however, Coca-Cola is now sweetened with corn syrup, causing the flavor to be "blunted". Coca-Cola with sugar is still available in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and in certain American markets during Passover.
In the original formula, the natural cocaine content of the coca leaves, and caffeine from kola nuts, provided the drink's stimulant effect. Shortly after the turn of the century (1929), cocaine was removed from the coca leaves by processing (leaving a physiologically insignificant trace), and the quantity of caffeine was reduced but not totally eliminated. The company's web site states that "Coca-Cola does not contain cocaine or any other harmful substance, and cocaine has never been an added ingredient for Coca-Cola".
It should be noted that such a statement is entirely consistent with the presence of cocaine in the coca leaves in the original formulation, though it could be considered misleading.
Today Coca-Cola is manufactured as a syrup, and is then supplied to various franchises which reconstitute, bottle, and distribute it.