So what about other drinks on the market? Well, the mystique that surrounds Coke doesn't rub off on most of the other brands. Still, there are some surprises to be found in those drinks. Below is a small list of known brands and their little secrets. Feel free to submit your own findings here.

Dr. Pepper 

This beverage is sometimes described as cherry cola, though the Dr. Pepper company denies cherry and kola flavourings. In the same vein, all the things rumoured to be in Dr. Pepper aren't in it. No chilli peppers, black pepper, bell pepper or peppermint. Nor is there any prune juice. There are, however,23 other ingredients. Apparently only four people know the recipe (2 more than know the Coca Cola recipe). Surprisingly, we find Lactic Acid on the label. This substance is not that desirable as a flavour, and is what gives sour milk that tangy taste. Industry opinion holds that the prime ingredient in Dr. Pepper is Vanilla or Vanillin, and this,in part, is what gives Dr. Pepper its distinctive odour. In fact, the company openly admits that synthetic vanillin is an ingredient. It appears there are more artificial flavours in Dr. Pepper than natural ones, and it is the only one of the big four soft drinks to have artificial flavourings added.

7 Up 

This is the only major soft drink with no secrets or mystique attached. It has only six ingredients and reveals them all on the label. Carbonated water, sugar, lime oil, lemon oil, citric acid and sodium citrate make up this tasty brew. 

Yoo-Hoo 

So is there really seaweed in Yoo-Hoo? Apparently so. Yoo-Hoo is a chocolate creamer made from whey and milk, with natural cocoa, synthetic vanillin and various unspecified flavourings. It is made in part from seaweed (carrageenan gum on the label). Some coconut oil is also added in the manufacturing process to replace fats lost in the process. Yoo-Hoo can remain on the shelf indefinitely due to an extremely effective steam sterilisation process, as long as it is sealed, it cant go sour. 

 Some other stuff, Liqueurs and Bitters.

Benedictine

Invented in an ancient abbey by Dom Bernardo Vincelli in 1510 means that Benedictine holds the record for the oldest secret recipe of any food or drink. It was made only by monks from this abbey for hundreds of years, although now in a family owned corporation. It is still made in the abbey, thought that is a replica of the original, with a section dedicated to imitators efforts from around the world. It is known the the base is Brandy, and that there are many other ingredients. The concoction is aged for four years before being bottled. Some industry sources tell us that the main flavourings are citrus, angelica and juniper berries. Other sources claim traces of peppermint, cloves and balm. Joseph Merory gives us another recipe which you can find here. 

Grand Marnier

An orange liqueur, yet distinctly different. Some say the reason is the cognac base. Imitations tend to use generic spirit base. The ingredient list is a secret as well, although our friend Merory has prepared another revealing recipe for us, which you can find here. 

Chartreuse

The secret formula which forms the basis of Chartreuse was a gift from the Maréchal d'Estrées to the monastery of the Grand Chartreuse in 1607. It is still produced by the Carthusian monks. Legal woes forced the Carthusian Fathers to leave France in 1901, and all the orders property was seized to be sold at auction, including the recipe, although no copy remained in France. The exiled fathers continued producing Chartreuse in Tarragona, Spain, but eventually returned to France and were able to resume production there. There are three grades of Chartreuse, Green, Yellow and White, or colourless. Green is more alcoholic than yellow, though the colours are believed to add no flavour, ( though some claim to taste the difference). Chartreuse is sweet, very sweet. Indeed, it is around 28% sugar by weight. One 750 ml bottle contains around half a pound of sugar!. Like Benedictine, Chartreuse has a Brandy base. The two (especially the yellow Chartreuse) taste very similar. Sources claim that the basic flavourings in Chartreuse are citrus, angelica, anise, wormwood and juniper berries, of which you will have noted that three are listed as flavourings in Benedictine. A recipe prepared by Fenaroli is listed for you here. 

Well, we hope you enjoyed our little sojourn into the wonderful world of flavours and secret ingredients. If you would like to submit any of your own findings please do so here.

Secrets You Should Know. This site is intended for entertainment purposes only.