Secret Coke recipe revealed

A radio show (“This American Life”) in the US is claiming to have found the top-secret Coca-Cola formula.

They claim that the recipe was published in a 1979 newspaper article, which in turn found the recipe in the 1886 diary of the pharmacist, John Pemberton, who developed the flavouring unique to Coke.

Coke, of course, denies all. Their official word is that this may have been the precursor to the final recipe, but it isn’t the final recipe.

The recipe reads as follows:

·         Fluid extract of Coca: 3 drams USP

·         Citric acid: 3 oz

·         Caffeine: 1 oz

·         Sugar: 30 (unclear quantity)

·         Water: 2.5 gal

·         Lime juice: 2 pints, 1 quart

·         Vanilla: 1 oz

·         Caramel: 1.5 oz or more for colour

The secret 7X flavour (use 2 oz of flavour to 5 gals syrup):

·         Alcohol: 8 oz

·         Orange oil: 20 drops

·         Lemon oil: 30 drops

·         Nutmeg oil: 10 drops

·         Coriander: 5 drops

·         Neroli: 10 drops

·         Cinnamon: 10 drops

Also interesting to note is that the actual recipe is stored in a bank vault, and is rumoured to only be known to two Coke employees at any one time. These employees are allegedly forbidden to travel together (in case of a travel accident that may kill them simultaneously).

Another interesting theory is that the recipe isn’t really a secret at all. Rather, logistics and trade law make it impossible for anyone to reproduce the Coke taste. Firstly, nobody would actually be able to market the product as Coca-Cola (obviously). The brand power of Coke accounts for more sales than the taste of Coke and without the brand power an identical product will most likely experience poor sales. Secondly, at least in the States, it would be impossible to import the coca leaves essential for Coke production. Only one company (Stepan Co. in New Jersey) holds the correct licensing to do import the leaves and remove the cocaine from them. And that company only sells it’s final product to Coca Cola. So recipe or not, nobody else will be reproducing Coke easily.

Also worth a read is the following NY Times Freakonomics article, stating that Pepsi stealing Coke’s recipe would actually be detrimental to both companies:

How much would pepsi pay to get cokes secret formula?