History:
– Marshal Zhukov requested White Coke, a colorless variant of Coca-Cola
– Introduced to Coca-Cola by Dwight D. Eisenhower during or after WWII
– Coca-Cola symbolized American imperialism in the Soviet Union
– Zhukov hesitated to be associated with Coca-Cola
– Zhukov inquired about packaging Coca-Cola to resemble vodka
Manufacture:
– General Mark W. Clark passed Zhukov’s request to President Truman
– James Farley delegated the special order to Mladin Zarubica
– Zarubica found a chemist to remove the coloring from Coca-Cola
– White Coke was bottled in clear glass with a white cap and red star
– First shipment of White Coke consisted of 50 cases
Regulations:
– White Coke led to a relaxation of regulations in Allied-occupied Austria
– Coca-Cola shipments were not stopped in the Soviet occupation zone
– Goods entering the Soviet zone were cleared quickly for Coca-Cola
– Coca-Cola supplies were transported between the Lambach plant and Vienna
– Coca-Cola was exempt from the usual delays in the Soviet zone
Related Products:
– See also: Coca-Cola Clear and Crystal Pepsi
References:
– Tommy O’Callaghan’s article on White Coke
– Cordelia Hebblethwaite’s report on countries without Coca-Cola
– Mark Pendergrast’s piece on the history of Coca-Cola
– Tom Standage’s book “A History of the World in Six Glasses”
– Various references on Coca-Cola’s global presence and legal cases
White Coke (Russian: Бесцветная кока-кола, tr. Bestsvetnaya koka-kola, lit. "colorless Coca-Cola") was a clear variant of Coca-Cola produced in the 1940s at the request of Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov. Like other clear colas, it had the same flavor as the original, virtually unchanged by the absence of caramel coloring.
 | |
| Product type | Clear cola |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Introduced | 1946 |
| Discontinued | 1946 |
| Related brands | Coca-Cola Clear Crystal Pepsi |
| Markets | Soviet Union |