Khaberni - A chemistry scientist revealed through his scientific channel on YouTube that he has come up with an almost identical formula to the famous Coca-Cola recipe, which has been one of the world's most closely guarded trade secrets for over 139 years, according to the "Daily Mail".
Zack Armstrong, owner of the "Lab Coats" channel, said that a long series of experiments and scientific analyses enabled him to decode the mysterious composition of the world's most famous drink, indicating that over 99% of its taste is due to sugar, which is confirmed by nutritional label data indicating that one liter of Coca-Cola contains about 110 grams of sugar, in addition to caffeine and phosphoric acid and caramel color.
Armstrong explained that the real challenge was not in the known ingredients, but in what is known as "natural flavors," the secret part that gives Coca-Cola its distinctive taste. Decoding this puzzle took more than a year of chemical analysis, sensory experiments, and precise comparisons.
The researcher relied on mass spectroscopy, a method that breaks down the substance into its molecular components and produces a chemical fingerprint, allowing him to reconstruct an accurate formula without the need for coca leaves, a legally banned component not imported into the United States except through a single licensed entity.
According to Armstrong, the alternative recipe relies on a precise blend of essential oils, including lemon oil, orange oil, lime oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, and tea tree oil, along with a natural aromatic compound known as "fenchol".
This mixture is left to ferment for 24 hours before being diluted with edible alcohol, as a single batch of concentrated oils is sufficient to produce about 5,000 liters of the drink.
Despite the significant chemical similarity, Armstrong noted that the taste lacked the refreshing flavor he experiences in the original Coca-Cola. Previous scientific research led him to discover the role of tannins—natural compounds with a bitter taste found in tea, wine, coffee, chocolate, and nuts, which provide a slight drying sensation in the mouth.
Since these compounds do not appear in spectral analysis, they were previously overlooked. However, adding them in the form of water-soluble powder made the final difference in the taste, according to Armstrong and the team.
In the final stage, an aqueous solution containing tannins, caramel, vinegar, glycerin, caffeine, sugar, vanilla extract, and phosphoric acid is mixed with a very small amount of the oil mixture, then heated and carbonated water is added.
Armstrong confirmed that the final result is nearly identical to the original drink, to the extent that it is difficult to distinguish even in direct tasting tests. Although the initial cost of equipment and ingredients is relatively high, the cost of production after dilution does not exceed a few cents per liter.
He noted that all ingredients used are legal and available for purchase online, but warned at the same time about handling some concentrated materials directly without appropriate protective measures, as they may be irritating or toxic before dilution.
To date, Coca-Cola has not issued any official comment on these claims, as the discovery continues to stir controversy over whether one of the world's oldest trade secrets is finally nearing exposure.
