Can science recreate the taste of Coca-Cola without knowing its secret recipe?
For more than a century, Coca-Cola’s flavour formula has been one of the most closely guarded secrets in the world. While the label lists sugar, caffeine, phosphoric acid, and caramel colouring, the real mystery lies in the tiny one percent known only as “natural flavours.”
In this video, we explore how a researcher used chemistry, mass spectrometry, and essential oils to come remarkably close to recreating Coca-Cola’s iconic taste — without using coca leaves or proprietary ingredients.
From analysing chemical fingerprints to discovering the role of tannins in the drink’s signature aftertaste, this experiment reveals how flavour is engineered at the molecular level. Taste testers say the result is almost indistinguishable from the original.
This is not about cracking Coca-Cola’s official vault — it’s about understanding how science, chemistry, and patience can rebuild one of the world’s most recognisable flavours drop by drop.
⚠️ All ingredients discussed are legal and commercially available. Proper safety precautions are essential when handling concentrated chemicals.
