Coca Cola, or coke, is one of the most popular sodas in America and for many people, it’s even considered a national symbol. However, despite the fact that the soda has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Coca-Cola. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: It Originally Contained Hard Drugs. The original version of the soda contained cocaine – hence, the name Coca Cola. The first versions of the soda contained coca leaves, which is the plant used to make cocaine.
Number Fourteen: It Was Medicinal. Though you’ll be hard-pressed to find a doctor today who will prescribe a patient coke, in fact, it was once used for medicinal purposes. In the late 19th century, a pharmacist actually invented Coca Cola to be a tonic for anxiety, impotence, and headaches.
Number Thirteen: Nearly Every Country in the World Sells It. Every single country in the world sells Coca Cola in some form except for North Korea and Cuba. And over 90 percent of people in the world recognize its iconic red and white cursive logo.
Number Twelve: The People in Mexico Love it More Than Anybody Else. For some reason, people in Mexico drink more Coca Cola than America, the United Kingdom, India, and China combined. The average Mexican will imbibe 665 Coca Cola products in a year, while the average American has “just” 399 Coke products every year.
Number Eleven: It Has a Special History With the Olympics. And in fact, Coca Cola is the Olympics’ oldest sponsor. The soda company has been the Olympic games’ official sponsor since 1928.
Number Ten: The Company Was Buddy-Buddy With the Nazis. This is unsettling, but it’s true. The company did business with the Nazi regime throughout World War II, and several executives for Coca Cola were actually Nazis themselves.
Number Nine: But the Company Supported the Troops as Well. Despite the fact that the company did business with the Nazi Regime, it also worked to support the troops in the United States. Stay tuned for part two of our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Coca Cola, coming soon!