5 Shocking Facts About When Coca-Cola Was Made (And The Controversial Ingredient Removed In 1903)

The history of Coca-Cola is far more complex—and frankly, darker—than the bubbly, wholesome image the company projects today. While the official date of its creation is a well-known piece of trivia, the true story involves a wounded Civil War veteran, a crippling morphine addiction, and a direct precursor that was essentially a cocaine-laced alcoholic tonic. The refreshing beverage that became a global icon was born out of a desperate search for a non-addictive pain remedy in 19th-century Atlanta. As of today, December 10, 2025, the core historical facts remain a testament to the drink's medicinal origins and its rapid, almost accidental, transition into a global commercial phenomenon. The journey from a pharmacist's kettle to the world's most recognized brand is a fascinating case study in branding, business acumen, and the surprising evolution of a recipe.

The Tragic Life and Times of Coca-Cola's Inventor

The man responsible for one of the greatest commercial successes in history died in relative poverty and obscurity, never realizing the global potential of his creation. Dr. John Stith Pemberton was a pharmacist, a Civil War veteran, and, tragically, an addict. The following is a brief biography of the inventor.

• Full Name: John Stith Pemberton
• Born: January 8, 1831, in Knoxville, Georgia, U.S.
• Died: August 16, 1888, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
• Occupation: Pharmacist, Chemist, Inventor of Coca-Cola
• Military Service: Served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War (Lieutenant Colonel).
• Defining Injury: Sustained a severe sabre wound to the chest during the Battle of Columbus in April 1865.
• Addiction: Developed an addiction to morphine while treating his debilitating war wound.
• Goal: His primary motivation for creating his tonics was to find a non-addictive substitute for morphine.
• Key Collaborator: Frank M. Robinson, his bookkeeper, who coined the name "Coca-Cola" and designed the distinctive script logo.

Pemberton’s early career focused on patent medicines, a popular but often unregulated industry in the late 19th century. His quest for a pain remedy ultimately led him to experiment with coca leaves and kola nuts, the two ingredients that would give his most famous drink its name.

The Exact Date: When Coca-Cola Was Made

The birth of Coca-Cola was not a single, dramatic moment of inspiration but a transition from an existing product driven by a shifting legal landscape.

The Precursor: Pemberton's French Wine Coca (1885)

Before Coca-Cola, there was a popular European tonic called Vin Mariani, a coca wine. Pemberton, inspired, created his own version in 1885: Pemberton's French Wine Coca. This alcoholic beverage, which combined coca leaf extract with wine, was marketed as a nerve tonic and a cure for various ailments, including headache and impotence. However, in 1886, Atlanta and Fulton County passed temperance legislation, effectively banning the sale of alcohol. This single legislative act forced Pemberton to quickly reformulate his popular tonic, removing the wine and replacing it with a non-alcoholic base.

The Official Birth: May 8, 1886

The newly reformulated, non-alcoholic syrup was completed in May 1886. The official date that marks the creation of the world's most famous soft drink is:

May 8, 1886

On that day, Dr. John Stith Pemberton carried a jug of his new syrup to Jacobs' Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta. There, the syrup was mixed with carbonated water—a common practice for medicinal sodas at the time—and the first glass of Coca-Cola was sold for five cents. During its entire first year, Pemberton only sold an average of nine servings per day. This humble beginning belies the global empire it would soon become.

The Legacy of the Secret Formula and Business Evolution

The early years of Coca-Cola were characterized by a rapid change of ownership and a crucial, controversial ingredient that was eventually phased out. These factors cemented the drink’s place in history, driven by a business genius who saw its potential.

1. The Controversial Cocaine Content

The name "Coca-Cola" is derived from its two main active ingredients: the coca leaf (source of cocaine) and the kola nut (source of caffeine). The original formula did indeed contain trace amounts of cocaine, as the use of coca leaf extracts was common in many patent medicines and tonics of the era. Facing growing public concern and negative press about the adverse health effects of cocaine, company president Asa Griggs Candler decided to remove the psychoactive alkaloid. The transition was largely completed by 1903, when the company began using "spent" coca leaves—those with the cocaine alkaloid removed—in their syrup. This change allowed the company to keep the flavor profile of the coca leaf extract while eliminating the controversial drug content.

2. The Rapid Business Acquisition and Branding

Pemberton, suffering from poor health and financial struggles, began selling off portions of his formula rights almost immediately after its creation. He died in 1888, just two years after the launch. The true commercial success story began when Asa Griggs Candler, a successful Atlanta druggist and businessman, acquired the full rights to the formula and brand between 1889 and 1891 for a total of about $2,300 (a significant sum at the time, equivalent to approximately $73,000 in 2024). Candler officially incorporated The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1892. Candler was a marketing visionary who shifted the product’s image from a medicinal tonic to a refreshing, mass-market beverage. He was the first to distribute coupons for free samples, a revolutionary marketing technique at the time, and aggressively advertised the drink.

3. The Bottling Revolution

For the first decade, Coca-Cola was sold exclusively as a soda fountain drink. This limited its distribution only to people who could visit a pharmacy. In 1899, two Chattanooga lawyers, Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead, approached Candler with an idea to bottle the drink. Candler, who was skeptical that bottling would ever be successful, sold them the rights to bottle Coca-Cola for the remarkably low price of just one dollar. This agreement, known as the "Bottling Contract," laid the groundwork for the global, decentralized bottling system that exists today. The first glass bottle of Coca-Cola was sold on March 12, 1894, marking the beginning of its transformation from a regional curiosity into an international powerhouse.

The story of when Coca-Cola was made is a blend of personal tragedy, entrepreneurial foresight, and a timely pivot away from the temperance movement. From a pharmacist’s attempt to cure his own addiction to a global symbol of refreshment, the drink’s history is a testament to the power of a simple, yet enduring, secret formula.