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Coke's secret recipe, or is it

Feb. 18, 2011

One of the best-kept secrets in the world is the secret recipe of Coca-Cola, invented by John Pemberton, and originally sold as a tonic. Over the years, many claim to have discovered the real and true recipe. On February 17, "This American Life (TAL)," a public radio show, announced it has uncovered Coca-Cola's top-secret ingredient, Merchandise 7X, sending Coke fanatics into a tizzy, reports AOL News.

TAL producers say that in 1979 The Atlanta Journal Constitution published an article on the history of Coca-Cola, which included a photo allegedly showing a handwritten copy of the recipe naming the top secret ingredient Merchandise 7X. TAL staffers closely examined the note, written down in a Pemberton friend's journal of remedies and ointments.

According to the program the recipe is as follows:

Fluid extract of Coca: 3 drams USP

Citric acid: 3oz, caffeine: 1oz, sugar: 30 (unclear quantity), water: 2.5 gallons, lime juice: 2 pints and 1 quart, vanilla: 1 oz, caramel: 1.5 oz, or more for color.

The secret 7X flavor (use 2oz of flavor to 5 gallons syrup:

Alcohol: 8oz, Orange oil: 20 drops, Lemon oil: 30 drops, Nutmeg oil: 10 drops, coriander: 5 drops, Neroli: 10 drops, Cinnamon: 10 drops.

After whipping up the recipe, TAL staffers said it had a medicinal taste and they concluded that today's essential oils are stronger than the ones used in the past. A Coca-Cola company historian says he does not think it is the right formulation.

I suspect it would be a fun experiment, but give me a small bottle of Coke made with sugar, sold primarily in Hispanic communities, and I'm a happy camper.