Vita-Cola
Encyclopedia
Vita Cola is a cola
beverage produced in Germany
. It started out in the German Democratic Republic
. Introduced in 1957, it was advertised as Brauselimonade mit Frucht- und Kräutergeschmack (carbonated soft drink with fruit and herb flavouring), using a formula that is still kept secret (similar to Coca-Cola's "Merchandise 7X" formula). At its peak, Vita Cola was bottled in over 200 factories.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall
and Iron Curtain
in 1989, Vita Cola's business quickly collapsed as Western cola brands took its place. However, with the advent of Ostalgie
(nostalgia among East Germans for the "old days"), many former GDR products were brought back, Vita Cola being one of the most popular. The company Thüringer Waldquell from Schmalkalden
, Thuringia
, secured the rights to the name and formula and began producing Vita Cola in 1994. For some time, Vita Cola sponsored FC Hansa Rostock
, a football club from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Vita Cola has since then surpassed Pepsi Cola and is still regaining market share in East Germany.
Vita Cola's flavor is described as cola-like with a strong note of lemon and fruit flavoring. It is also noticeably less sweet than Afri-Cola
, Coca-Cola
or Pepsi
, and has a slightly oily consistency due to its use of citrus and other aromatic oils in the formula.
Cola
Cola is a carbonated beverage that was typically flavored by the kola nut as well as vanilla and other flavorings, however, some colas are now flavored artificially. It became popular worldwide after druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886...
beverage produced in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It started out in the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
. Introduced in 1957, it was advertised as Brauselimonade mit Frucht- und Kräutergeschmack (carbonated soft drink with fruit and herb flavouring), using a formula that is still kept secret (similar to Coca-Cola's "Merchandise 7X" formula). At its peak, Vita Cola was bottled in over 200 factories.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
and Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
in 1989, Vita Cola's business quickly collapsed as Western cola brands took its place. However, with the advent of Ostalgie
Ostalgie
Ostalgie is a German term referring to nostalgia for aspects of life in East Germany. It is derived from the German words Ost and Nostalgie ....
(nostalgia among East Germans for the "old days"), many former GDR products were brought back, Vita Cola being one of the most popular. The company Thüringer Waldquell from Schmalkalden
Schmalkalden
- Notable people :*Christoph Cellarius, scholar, born 22 November 1638, died 4 June 1707 in Halle*Christian Karl August Ludwig von Massenbach, colonel, born 16 April 1758, died 21 November 1827 at Białokosz...
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, secured the rights to the name and formula and began producing Vita Cola in 1994. For some time, Vita Cola sponsored FC Hansa Rostock
FC Hansa Rostock
F.C. Hansa Rostock is a German association football club based in the city of Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. They have emerged as one of the most successful clubs from the former East Germany and have made several appearances in the 1. Bundesliga. Rostock currently compete in the 2. Bundesliga...
, a football club from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Vita Cola has since then surpassed Pepsi Cola and is still regaining market share in East Germany.
Vita Cola's flavor is described as cola-like with a strong note of lemon and fruit flavoring. It is also noticeably less sweet than Afri-Cola
Afri-Cola
Afri-Cola is a cola soft drink produced in Germany. The trademark Afri-Cola was registered in 1931 by the company F. Blumhoffer Nachfolger GmbH. The same company also produced Bluna, an orange soft drink. Today the brand belongs to the Mineralbrunnen Überkingen-Teinach AG...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
or Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
, and has a slightly oily consistency due to its use of citrus and other aromatic oils in the formula.