North Carolina native Caleb Bradham created Pepsi in 1898 although it wasn’t originally called Pepsi.
Cola-flavored beverages already existed – among them Coca-Cola – but Bradham wanted to develop his own formula omitting caffeine and cocaine.
Caleb Bradham, a New Bern, North Carolina pharmacist and drugstore owner, wiled away the summer of 1898 experimenting with various combinations of spices, syrups and juices in search a refreshing soft drink to serve parched customers. He named it after himself and called it ‘Brad’s Drink’.
He called to James Henry King, a young African American who worked in the drugstore. Caleb Bradham poured a sample of his mixture into a beaker and gave it to his assistant to taste it.
When he saw his assistant’s face light up upon tasting it, Caleb knew he had created a winner. He later renamed it Pepsi Cola after its two main ingredients pepsin and the cola nut.
The name of Pepsi also could be from the Greek word ‘pepse’ which means to digest, as Bradham promoted the soft drink as a cure for dyspepsia. Bradham believed that his drink aided digestion similar to the way the pepsin enzyme does.
According to a document signed by Bradham, his formula for the Pepsi-Cola consisted of sugar, water, caramel, lime juice, phosphoric acid, alcohol, and oils (lemon, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and petit grain).
One of the reasons for Pepsi Cola’s popularity, besides the good taste, was that it was pure. Unlike many of the other popular drinks of the day, Pepsi did not contain any harmful ingredients.
The invention of Pepsi Cola
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