JOIN USThe drink was created by pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886. Its recipe reportedly contains the exact measures of all the different oils needed for Coca Cola's secret ingredient - Merchandise 7X.
Despite making up only one percent of the drink's total formula, Merchandise 7X gives the popular soft drink its unique taste, the Daily Telegraph reported.
However, thisamericanlife.org website claims to have discovered a list in a photograph in a newspaper article giving the ingredients and exact quantities to make the drink.
The Feb 8, 1979, edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a photograph of someone holding open a book with a recipe claimed to be an exact replica of Pemberton's.
The "secret" recipe is al follows:
Fluid extract of Coca 3 drams USP
Citric acid 3 oz
Caffeine 1 oz
Sugar 30 (quantity unclear from the markings)
Water 2.5 gal
Lime juice 2 pints 1 qrt
Vanilla 1 oz
Caramel 1.5 oz or more to colour
7X flavour (use 2oz 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