30 fun facts about soda! - Soda is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. Its popularity is probably linked to our desire for sweetness and the stimulative effect of caffeinated soda. Fizzy drinks were created as health tonics and eventually led to the spread of commercially manufactured soda. There are many more fascinating facts about these popular drinks in the gallery!

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Health - In the past, doctors and pharmacists considered carbonated beverages beneficial to our health. The tonics were later commercially developed and lost their association with health.

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Soda - The first fizzy drink was invented in England in the 17th century, but it wasn't until the 1870s that the first soda factory opened in the United States.

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Invention of Coca-Cola - John Styth Pemberton, an American pharmacist, spent just $74 to create the Coca-Cola formula in 1886.

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Recipe - The original Coca-Cola formula developed by Pemberton was made of coca leaves, kola nut extract (which contained large quantities of caffeine), and caramel. The syrup was mixed with carbonated water right before it was served.

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Difficulties - Coca-Cola had difficulties during its first year of operation. During that time, the company sold an average of nine drinks a day.

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Interesting tidbit - Coca-Cola began to be sold in aluminum cans in 1955, almost 70 years after its creation.

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Commercialization - After the United States, the first countries to adopt Coca-Cola were Canada, Mexico, and Cuba. The drink was later prohibited in Cuba during Fidel Castro's regime.

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Global market - Today, Coca-Cola is one of the most popular soft drinks in the world and is sold in more than 200 countries.

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Fun fact - Coca-Cola was not always sold in bottles with bottle caps. Until 1902, the bottle was sealed with a cork.

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Diet soda - Diet Coca-Cola was introduced in 1982 and in just two years became the company's second-most successful product.

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Leaders - However, there are some countries where Coca-Cola is not the preferred beverage. In Argentina, Pepsi is the best-selling soda and in the Middle East, there are countries where Coca-Cola is prohibited in an attempt to reduce globalization.

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Consumption - Studies show that around 900 million bottles of Coca-Cola are sold every day.

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Coca-Cola - The Coca-Cola recipe is the same around the world. It is made with 88% water, 9.976% sugar, 2% carbonation, and 0.024% of the company's secret syrup.

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Fanta - Fanta was created in Germany during World War II. It was made to substitute Coca-Cola when ingredients became hard to find. Malt was the first flavor produced and the more well-known orange flavor wasn't invented until 14 years later, in 1955.

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Flavors - Fanta produces drinks with other flavors, including grape, green apple, and passion fruit, among others that are manufactured for specific regions of the world.

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Flavors - There are 90 flavors in total. Melon (manufactured in Israel), strawberry (United States), berry (New Zealand), chocolate orange (Australia), and yogurt (Japan) are just some of the unique flavors that can be found around the world.

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Pepsi - American Caleb Bradham created Pepsi in 1898. The drink was initially sold as a stimulant and a tonic for stomach pains.

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Other Pepsi products - Pepsi sold only its original Pepsi product for 65 years. After that, Pepsi Light and Pepsi Twist were created.

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Soviet Union - Pepsi was one of the highest selling drinks in the former Soviet Union, as well as one of the few American companies present there at the time.

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Guarana - Antarctica Guarana soda is a drink popular in Brazil, invented in 1921 by the Companhia Antarctica Paulista.

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Inca-Kola - Inca-Kola was created in Peru and is one of the most popular soft drinks sold there, after Coca-Cola.

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Mecca-Cola - In the Middle East and other countries with large Muslim populations, Mecca Cola is a popular drink. It is produced by Mecca Cola World Company with the goal to supply the markets in which brands from the United States are unwelcome.

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Varieties - In the United States, you can find Pibb, a cherry-flavored soft drink that also contains cinnamon.

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Japan - In Japan you can find Pepsi Cucumber, a drink that tastes like cucumbers.

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Unusual flavors - Buffalo Wings is a soft drink that tastes like fried chicken. Other unusual flavors are peanut butter, pumpkin pie, and sweet corn. All four flavors are sold by the American manufacturer Lester's Fixin.

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Unusual soda - Water Salad Coke is a Japanese drink that tastes like the water that collects at the bottom of a salad bowl.

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India - Gau Jal is exclusively sold in India and tastes like cow urine. The animal is considered sacred by the Hindu population.

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Machines - The first vending machine for soft drinks was invented in 1920.

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7 Up - The soda 7 Up was developed in 1929 by American Charles Leiper Grigg.

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Change? - When the company celebrated its 100th anniversary, they trialled a sweeter Coca-Cola flavor. However, consumers complained and the company returned to its older formula.

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