"Forty years ago, Coca-Cola did something that almost cost it the cola war against Pepsi. The brand did the unthinkable and changed its recipe. New Coke was introduced in 1985 as an attempt to remain competitive, as many cola connoisseurs seemed to prefer Pepsi's sweeter taste. However, the move backfired in a big way when longtime Coca-Cola drinkers realized that their beloved soda beverage was not the same, with some even saying it tasted flat."
"Time's then-food critic, Mimi Sheraton, described New Coke as "sweeter than the original formula and [with] a body that could best be described as lighter" in an issue of Time Magazine. She added that "It tastes a little like classic Coca-Cola that has been diluted by melting ice." The resulting uproar made it a top story for CBS Evening News (via YouTube)."
"It's no secret that the first bottles of Coca-Cola had an eye-popping ingredient that inspired the name. The original version utilized coca leaf and kola nut as a part of its secret recipe, and those ingredients meant that early Coca-Cola contained a small amount of cocaine. The Coca-Cola Company switched to cocaine-free coca leaf and kola nut extracts in 1903 due to growing worries about how the stimulant could affect soda drinkers."
In 1985 Coca-Cola replaced its classic recipe with New Coke to compete with Pepsi's sweeter taste. Longtime Coca-Cola drinkers reacted angrily, reporting the new formula tasted flat and prompting petitions and calls for a class-action lawsuit. The company reintroduced the original flavor as Coca-Cola Classic while continuing to offer New Coke and reported an 8% sales increase. Early Coca-Cola recipes included coca leaf and kola nut, which produced small amounts of cocaine until the company switched to cocaine-free extracts in 1903, before the stimulant was outlawed around 1914.
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