Out of curiosity, I looked into the history of Cola...
Coca-Cola was born in 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia, and was created by Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist and Confederate veteran. Originally sold as a medicinal tonic, it was meant to help with headaches, fatigue, and nervous conditions.
His first versions contained:
Coca leaf extract (yes, the same plant cocaine comes from, though it was legal and widely used in tonics at the time)
Kola nut extract, a West African nut rich in caffeine, gives “Coca-Cola” its name
A blend of citrus oils and spices, a formula later codified as the famous “Merchandise 7X” flavour
In 1888, the company passed to Asa Candler, who removed the cocaine (by using de-cocainized coca leaves) and turned Coca-Cola into the global soft drink empire it is today.
Original recipe Source: The American Life
So I made a cola syrup from whole, natural ingredients,
inspired by the rich, aromatic, and complex 19th-century flavours, before artificial flavourings took over.
Great for mixing with soda water, mocktails, cocktails, or gifting in vintage-style bottles.
Great for mixing with soda water, Mocktails or cocktails, or
gifting in vintage-style bottles
🥤 Old-Fashioned Coca-Cola Style Syrup (from Fresh Ingredients)
A natural recreation of the classic 19th-century cola flavour.
🍊 Ingredients (Makes ~2 cups syrup)
🍋 Citrus & Fruit:
Zest of 1 organic orange
Zest of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 lime
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp lime juice
🌿 Roots & Spices:
1 tbsp fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 small cinnamon stick
1 whole star anise
1/2 tsp coriander seeds (crushed)
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp dried lavender flowers (or a small piece of orange blossom, if available)
1/2 split vanilla bean or 1 tbsp vanilla extract
🍯 Syrup Base:
1½ cups organic cane sugar
1½ cups filtered water
1 tbsp molasses (for deep flavour)
1–2 tbsp caramelized sugar (for colour & burnt sugar note)*
Optional: 1 tsp powdered kola nut (adds authentic caffeine and bitter note)
🧑🍳 To caramelise sugar:
Heat 2 tbsp sugar in a dry pan until melted and dark amber, then immediately stir into the syrup while hot.
🔥 Instructions
Simmer the flavour infusion:
In a pot, combine citrus zests, ginger, spices, lavender, vanilla pod (if using), and water.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer gently for 20–30 minutes, uncovered.
Strain & sweeten:
Strain through a fine mesh or cheesecloth.
Return the liquid to the pot. Add sugar, molasses, citrus juices, and caramelized sugar. Stir until fully dissolved.
Add vanilla extract now (if you didn’t use a vanilla pod).
Stir in powdered kola nut, if using.
Cool & bottle:
Let cool fully and store in a sterilised glass bottle or jar. Refrigerate for up to 2–3 weeks.
🧊 To Serve:
Mix 1 part syrup with 4 parts chilled sparkling water. Adjust the sweetness to taste. Garnish with citrus if desired.
Homemade Coke!
I was sipping and remembering when "cola" was a botanical
brew.
This tastes lovely, has no toxic ingredients, and doesn’t harm the environment.
Have a lovely day,
Mariah 💗😊
Some References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola_formula
https://parade.com/17909/markpendergrast/the-secret-coca-cola-formula-revealed/