Marshal Zhukov's soda, or How colorless "Coca-Cola" appeared in the Soviet Union

  • Mar 04, 2021
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Marshal Zhukov
Marshal Zhukov's soda, or How colorless "Coca-Cola" appeared in the Soviet Union

Soviet leaders, visiting abroad, often adopted the local well-known developments, technologies, or even products: a striking example was Khrushchev and soda machines, the appearance of which in the USSR occurred after the secretary general of their saw in the USA. Another well-known official who was inspired by water with carbon dioxide turned out to be none other than Marshal Zhukov: he really liked the most popular American drink - Coca-Cola. Then it was decided to release a similar soda in the USSR, but only in the conditions of the Cold War they decided to make it... colorless.

It turns out that the USSR had its own Coca-Cola. / Photo: livejournal.com
It turns out that the USSR had its own Coca-Cola. / Photo: livejournal.com

It is surprising, but the Marshal of the Soviet Union first tasted the liquid "visiting card" of the United States of America... in Berlin - it was there that Georgy Zhukov met with the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe Dwight D. Eisenhower, who brought the famous soda to his eastern colleague, because he himself loved very much.

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During a meeting in Berlin. / Photo: historiasdelahistoria.com

Since this happened in the 1940s, when relations between the two superpowers had already begun to deteriorate and heat up, then you can't even hint that the famous brown drink should appear on store shelves in the country of soviets It was. But Zhukov really liked the taste of Coca-Cola, and then a way was invented: the soda should be... discolored.

To bring this idea to life, the Soviet marshal turned to General Clark for help, and he, with the assistance of American President Harry Truman, managed to find a chemistry specialist who was able to rid Coca-Cola of any colors. The production of an already transparent drink for Soviet citizens was launched on the territory of Austria.

American soda for the Soviet people was produced in Austria. / Photo: kotaku.com

As a result, after some time the first colorless "Coca-Cola" came out from under the conveyor. The soda was poured into transparent glass bottles, which were sealed with white caps with a red star on top. The name of the Soviet "Coca-Cola" was also changed - it was renamed "White Coke" - "White Coca-Cola".

In the Soviet Kolya, the cap bears Bolshevik symbols. / Photo: difesaonline.it

The first batch was small - only fifty boxes. Its accessibility turned out to be even less: transparent Cola was sold only in elite stores. where members of the families of the party elite, diplomats or the stage were bought. In addition, one bottle also cost a lot, and it was not only about imports, but also about Zhukov, who, as it turned out, wanted to “entrust” his beloved drink only among “his own”.

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Interesting fact: externally, both in bottles and in glasses, the Soviet "Coca-Cola" was strikingly similar to vodka. And Marshal Zhukov actively used this - often, during feasts, he raised a glass not with "forty-degree", but with his favorite transparent soda.

The drink, which could be found in any store in the USA, was available to a few in the USSR. / Photo: medium.com

The phenomenon of colorless "Coca-Cola" in the Soviet Union was short-lived, and even today few people know that such a thing existed at all. However, this experience did not go unnoticed by the Coca-Cola Export Corporation. Many years later, the exact same transparent soda called "Coca-Cola Clear" began to be produced specifically for the Japanese market. Those who have already tried it say that it is not as sweet as the traditional version. Most likely, the matter is in the absence of caramel syrup, which was the colorant for the legendary drink.

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Who would have thought that Soviet transparent soda would resurrect in Japan. / Photo: tallypress.com

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A source:
https://novate.ru/blogs/050820/55566/