Dr Pepper fans share surprising facts about the ingredients (2024)

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Dr Pepper fans share surprising facts about the ingredients? ›

The recipe of 23 ingredients is a closely guarded secret, but there have been plenty of rumours speculating on what it could contain, including prune juice. However, ​​the company's own website plainly states: 'Dr Pepper is a unique blend of natural and artificial flavors; it does not contain prune juice. '

The Dr Pepper team has famously been tight-lipped about the exact ingredients, but they vehemently deny the prune juice rumors. "No one is quite sure when or how the story that Dr Pepper contained prune juice started, but it has never been true," they say on their official website.

Dr Pepper is the oldest soft drink in America. Older than Coca-Cola, in fact, by a full year. It was created in 1885 by a pharmacist, Charles Alderton, in Waco, Texas. And its original name was Waco – it was served there at the soda fountain in the drugstore.

INGREDIENTS CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FLAVORS, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), CAFFEINE. Note: In some markets, Dr Pepper is made with sugar instead of High Fructose Corn Syrup.

CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), CAFFEINE.

However, Dr Pepper superfans have done their best to crack the code, and according to Mashed, the best approximation of the flavors is amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, caramel, carrot, clove, cherry, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, ...

The drink became a favorite of fountain patrons, and soon people all across town ordered the drink originally known as a Waco. From around 1885 to 1891, the drink, could only be served at fountains or the drugstore, where the syrup was mixed with the carbonated water and served individually.

Dr Pepper's “10, 2, 4” on their old vintage glass bottles and antique advertising signs were part of a marketing campaign starting in the 1920s where Dr Pepper assigned three times a day - 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm - as a way to maintain a “refreshed” feeling all day and hold one over between meals.

The red color of Dr Pepper is typically made from a combination of artificial food coloring agents, such as Red 40 and/or Caramel Color. These additives are used to give the soda its distinctive reddish-brown hue.

Amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, Cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato, and vanilla.

What are the 33 flavors in Dr Pepper? ›

amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, caramel, carrot, clove, cherry, Cola, ginger, Juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato, and vanilla. So there you go. The 23 flavors of Doctor Pepper.

DR PEPPER IS THE OLDEST MAJOR SOFT DRINK IN AMERICA.

Wade Morrison, the drug store owner, named it "Dr. Pepper" after Dr. Charles Pepper, a Virginia doctor who was the father of a girl Morrison was once in love with. (The period after Dr was dropped in the 1950s.)

While the can itself is evocative of an artisan beer or spirit, readers should know that this Dr Pepper does not contain any alcohol. It's all artificial.

No scientific evidence suggests that either Dr. Pepper or co*ke has any significant health benefits. While both drinks contain caffeine, which can provide a temporary energy boost, many healthier sources of caffeine do not come with the negative health consequences of sugary drinks.

Dr Pepper's “10, 2, 4” on their old vintage glass bottles and antique advertising signs were part of a marketing campaign starting in the 1920s where Dr Pepper assigned three times a day - 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm - as a way to maintain a “refreshed” feeling all day and hold one over between meals.

The Coca-Cola Company came up with Mr. Pibb in 1972 — originally calling it Peppo — to compete with Dr Pepper's success. However, Dr Pepper sued Coca-Cola over the similar name, and when the rebranded drink was launched, it was cheekily first given to tasting groups in Dr Pepper's birth city of Waco.

DR PEPPER IS THE OLDEST MAJOR SOFT DRINK IN AMERICA.

Wade Morrison, the drug store owner, named it "Dr. Pepper" after Dr. Charles Pepper, a Virginia doctor who was the father of a girl Morrison was once in love with. (The period after Dr was dropped in the 1950s.)

Vernor's boasts the oldest soda in America, but not the world. That belongs to Schweppe's, who created a carbonated mineral water in 1783. Other old sodas include Hires Root Beer (1876), Moxie 1876, Dr. Pepper (1885) Coca-Cola (1886) and Pepsi (1893.