Which carbonated soft drink was first introduced in 1886?

Coca-Cola was the carbonated soft drink first introduced in 1886. Pharmacist John Stith Pemberton developed it in Atlanta, Georgia, and the drink was first sold at Jacob’s Pharmacy on May 8, 1886.

Pemberton originally created Coca-Cola as a non-alcoholic “temperance drink” and patent medicine during a period when drugstore soda fountains were popular. Its name referred to two original ingredients: coca leaves and kola nuts, the latter providing caffeine. Frank Mason Robinson, Pemberton’s bookkeeper, is credited with naming the beverage and designing its distinctive script logo.

Coca-Cola is sometimes confused with Pepsi, which was created later, or with Dr Pepper, whose origins also date to the 19th century. The Coca-Cola Company itself was not founded until 1892, several years after the beverage first appeared. The original formula has changed over time, while the modern recipe remains a closely guarded trade secret.