Fanta was created in Germany in 1940 during World War II.
Coca-Cola’s German operation developed Fanta after wartime trade restrictions made it difficult to obtain the ingredients needed to produce Coca-Cola syrup. The local team used available ingredients, including whey and apple pomace, to create a different soft drink.
The name Fanta came from the German word Fantasie, meaning imagination, after employees were encouraged to think creatively about a substitute beverage. The wartime product was not identical to the orange Fanta commonly sold today.
After the war, The Coca-Cola Company reintroduced and redeveloped the Fanta brand. Its orange flavor became especially prominent internationally. This history explains why Fanta is associated with Coca-Cola but has a distinct origin from Sprite, which was introduced later in the United States.