Color of Coca-Cola

[Cbsteffen]

I have read that Coca-Cola was originally green. How did it become brownish black?

[linderlizzie]

I have read that Coca-Cola was originally green. How did it become brownish black?

From snopes.com:
 
Claim:   Coca-Cola was originally green.

   FALSE

Origins:   Though this tidbit of knowledge has been widely distributed as part of an Internet "Did You Know?" list, at no time in Coca-Cola's history has that beverage been green. The original formula called for caramel to give Coca-Cola its rich brown color, and although the recipe has undergone some changes through the years, none of them affected the ultimate color of the product.

Brown also hides impurities in any given batch, something the backroom chemist who invented Coca-Cola in 1886 kept well in mind as he proceeded with his formulation. These days syrup producers and bottlers have no impurities to hide, but back in the "three copper kettles in somebody's basement" days, covering up what might have inadvertently dropped into the mix was a concern, and brown hid indiscretions remarkably well.

Coke has at times been bottled in green glass bottles, which perhaps explains the popularity of this particular rumor.

Coca-Cola's own web site notes of this claim that:
This is indeed just a rumor. Although the famous contour bottle is green, Coca-Cola has always been brown in color, since its start in 1886.

Thanks for asking. Isn't this fascinating?


"The product that has given the world its best-known taste was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 8, 1886. Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist, produced the syrup for Coca-Cola, and carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs' Pharmacy, where it was sampled, pronounced "excellent" and placed on sale for five cents a glass as a soda fountain drink. Carbonated water was teamed with the new syrup to produce a drink that was at once "Delicious and Refreshing," a theme that continues to echo today wherever Coca-Cola is enjoyed." - from Coke website

[debidoo]

Wow never heard the green thing but who knows.  I know all the sodas that have tried the clear thing other than sprite etc doesn't do it for me.  Sprite is clear but coke is brown lol and that is the way it should be.

[monnee]

Maybe it was a limited green coke for st. Pattys day only.

[JediJohnnie]

Wow. I always heard this rumor too.

[ancmetro]

      Some years ago, Pepsi had "Pepsi White"-Limited Edition. No artificial colorings added.

[Skyisbluetoday]

I didn't know this rumor until now!

[bigfoot951]

We all know that coke will take rust off of metal.  My theory is that they used the coke to take rust off of things and that is what turned it brown.

[hawkeye3210]

It's not true. Coke has always been brown in color.

[sherryfan]

That's very interesting to know the originally color is green

[yaayme]

I have read that Coca-Cola was originally green. How did it become brownish black?

From snopes.com:
 
Claim:   Coca-Cola was originally green.

   FALSE

Origins:   Though this tidbit of knowledge has been widely distributed as part of an Internet "Did You Know?" list, at no time in Coca-Cola's history has that beverage been green. The original formula called for caramel to give Coca-Cola its rich brown color, and although the recipe has undergone some changes through the years, none of them affected the ultimate color of the product.

Brown also hides impurities in any given batch, something the backroom chemist who invented Coca-Cola in 1886 kept well in mind as he proceeded with his formulation. These days syrup producers and bottlers have no impurities to hide, but back in the "three copper kettles in somebody's basement" days, covering up what might have inadvertently dropped into the mix was a concern, and brown hid indiscretions remarkably well.

Coke has at times been bottled in green glass bottles, which perhaps explains the popularity of this particular rumor.

Coca-Cola's own web site notes of this claim that:
This is indeed just a rumor. Although the famous contour bottle is green, Coca-Cola has always been brown in color, since its start in 1886.

Thanks for asking. Isn't this fascinating?


"The product that has given the world its best-known taste was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 8, 1886. Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist, produced the syrup for Coca-Cola, and carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs' Pharmacy, where it was sampled, pronounced "excellent" and placed on sale for five cents a glass as a soda fountain drink. Carbonated water was teamed with the new syrup to produce a drink that was at once "Delicious and Refreshing," a theme that continues to echo today wherever Coca-Cola is enjoyed." - from Coke website

"Brown also hides impurities in any given batch"....Yuck! I'm so glad companies are government regulated now. LOL...

[mardukblood2009]

I always thought it was black. Maybe it was green when they had coke cane in it. lol

[colbtrist]

That is neat to find out, I thought it was green before they added coloring. good to know.

[ktheodos]

Interesting discussion...

[kimber62372]

Never heard of it being green but it is poisonous and not good for your body. I stopped drinking soda over 4 years ago and it was the best choice I ever made besides quitting smoking.