What flavor is Coca-Cola Vanilla based on?

Coca-Cola Vanilla is based on a vanilla flavor added to Coca-Cola.

The product, originally marketed in the United States as Vanilla Coke, was introduced in 2002. It is a flavored cola rather than a separate type of soda: the familiar Coca-Cola base is combined with additional vanilla flavoring to create a sweeter, creamier profile.

The idea had a long life before the packaged product appeared. Soda-fountain workers had been adding shots of vanilla syrup to Coca-Cola for decades, particularly in American ice-cream shops and diners. Coca-Cola also tested extra-vanilla blends at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The answer is not cherry, orange, or lime—those are associated with other Coca-Cola extensions. Vanilla Coke was initially discontinued in North America in 2005, then relaunched in the United States in 2007. The brand has also appeared in versions such as Coca-Cola Vanilla Zero Sugar and combination flavors including Cherry Vanilla.