Did you know that Coca-Cola Originally Contained Wine?
Written by Gina Haider
Yep, that’s right, Coca-Cola originally had no sugar at all, but was made of wine instead. Hard to imagine, right? The drink was sold in the 1880s under the name French Wine Coca as a remedy for simple ailments like an upset stomach or a headache. John Pemberton, the chemist who invented it, firmly felt that it could treat those conditions (although it was unlikely that it did). Since many people at the time mistrusted doctors, it is not a surprise that many chemists in that era promoted it as a cure. The drink was made of wine and coca leaf, which may very well have helped people. Unfortunately, the wine was taken out and replaced with carbonated water when prohibition began in a few states in 1886, including Atlanta, Georgia, Pemberton's home base. To avoid the new bitter taste, a large amount of sugar was added. Of course, the name had to be changed since French Wine Coca was no longer appropriate. It was successfully rebranded as Coca-Cola since two of the key components were the Kola nut and Coca leaf, thanks to the owner's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. Viola! It was quickly on its way to becoming America’s favorite drink! Interestingly, the Coca still contained cocaine, the then-legal active ingredient, even after the wine was eliminated from the mixture and the name. This was true until 1929, when it was removed from the coca leaf (a claim that the company still denies today).
When the company was sold to Asa Candler in the 1890s, the marketing direction switched from advertising Coca-Cola as a medicinal drink to selling it as a soda pop in order to boost sales. Widespread advertising began to attract everyone to this new, refreshing drink. Another pivotal decision was made as part of Candler’s business strategy. This was to peddle it to pharmacies that could dispense it at their soda fountains, and because carbonated water was viewed as nutritious at the time, people flocked to the pharmacies for both leisure and health. Coca-Cola has been going strong ever since, and the rest is history!
When the company was sold to Asa Candler in the 1890s, the marketing direction switched from advertising Coca-Cola as a medicinal drink to selling it as a soda pop in order to boost sales. Widespread advertising began to attract everyone to this new, refreshing drink. Another pivotal decision was made as part of Candler’s business strategy. This was to peddle it to pharmacies that could dispense it at their soda fountains, and because carbonated water was viewed as nutritious at the time, people flocked to the pharmacies for both leisure and health. Coca-Cola has been going strong ever since, and the rest is history!