Coca-Cola Was Originally Green

It's a persistent and colorful myth that the world's most famous soda was once green. The truth is, Coca-Cola has always been its signature caramel brown, a hue it has had since its invention. The popular misconception likely stems from the iconic, green-tinted glass bottles in which the beverage was sold for decades, which made the dark liquid inside appear to be a different color. The actual origin story, however, is rooted not in color but in medicinal chemistry.

When Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton created the formula in 1886, he marketed it as a "nerve tonic" and a cure for ailments like headaches and fatigue. The potent brew's name came directly from its two main stimulant ingredients: extracts from the coca leaf, which then contained trace amounts of cocaine, and the caffeine-rich kola nut. This combination was intended to provide a powerful mental and physical boost to its drinkers.

While the cocaine was completely removed from the formula by 1903, the legacy of its original ingredients remains. In a fascinating twist, The Coca-Cola Company still uses a non-narcotic extract from the coca leaf as a key part of its secret flavoring. A specialized chemical company in the United States legally imports coca leaves, removes the psychoactive alkaloid for medical use, and provides the decocainized leaf extract to give the soda its unique and closely guarded taste.