Everything Everywhere Daily The History of Coca-Cola
Dec 17, 2025
Explore the fascinating origins of Coca-Cola, created in 1886 as a medicinal tonic. Discover its evolution from a nerve tonic to a global soft drink icon. Learn about Asa Candler's takeover and the secret recipe shielded in a vault. Dive into the drama of the New Coke backlash and the cultural impact of its iconic bottle and logo. Plus, find out how Coca-Cola shaped the modern image of Santa Claus and achieved worldwide distribution, making it a staple in nearly every country.
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Origin Story Of Coca-Cola
- John Stith Pemberton created Coca-Cola in 1886 as a nonalcoholic tonic to help wean himself off morphine after the Civil War.
- He first sold a coca wine tonic in 1885 and then reformulated it into Coca-Cola when Atlanta banned alcohol.
Candler's Move Built The Modern Company
- Asa Candler consolidated control of Coca-Cola by buying the name and formula and incorporated the company in 1892.
- Incorporation centralized production, protected the trademark, and enabled large-scale expansion and investment.
From Cocaine To Decocainized Flavoring
- Coca-Cola's original recipe included coca leaves (with cocaine) and kola nuts for caffeine, but the active cocaine was phased out by 1903.
- Today Coca-Cola uses decocainized coca leaves processed at a single authorized U.S. plant for its flavoring.