Since it was first made in 1886, the Coca-Cola formula is one of the most fiercely guarded trade secrets of the corporate world. Many claimed to have found it, but the mystery of Merchandise 7X, the name given to the combination of secret ingredients which gives the soft drink its distinctive taste, has endured.Now an American public radio show claims to have found the recipe kept in an Atlanta steel vault and which, it is said, only two employees at a time know how to mix. The two never fly together.‘This American Life’, broadcast on more than 500 stations, said it found the recipe in a 40-year-old newspaper. Its website,thisamericanlife.org, said the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published the photo of a book containing a handwritten replica of the original recipe on February 8, 1979. The drink was created by pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886. The ‘secret’ recipe of Coke uncorked:
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 2 oz 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 .
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