Champagne cola facts for kids

Champagne cola, also known as Kola Champagne or champagne soda, is a sweet fizzy drink. It's mostly made in warm places like Latin America, the Caribbean (which used to be called the British West Indies), and Pakistan.

This special soda was invented in Puerto Rico by a man named Ángel Rivero Méndez. He was a Captain in the Spanish Army during the Spanish–American War. After the war ended, in 1902, Rivero Méndez started a soda factory called "El Polo Norte Fábrica de Sodas" (The North Pole Soda Factory). That's where he created Kola Champagne. It quickly became, and still is, a very popular soft drink in Puerto Rico. While he was making the drink, he also worked on his book, which was about the Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico.

What Does it Taste Like?

Champagne cola usually has a color that ranges from dark yellow to light brown. Its flavor is often compared to bubblegum or cream soda. It doesn't actually taste like "champagne" (the bubbly wine) or "cola" (like Coca-Cola). In many countries, the word "kola" is used as a general term for all kinds of soft drinks. A similar drink is the Peruvian soda called Inca Kola.

Brands Around the World

Many different companies make Champagne cola in various countries. Here are a few examples:

The Americas

• In the Bahamas, a company called Goombay makes Champagne sodas.
• In Brazil, a big company called AmBev produces a drink called Guaraná Antarctica. It's a type of champagne soda made from the guaraná fruit. It used to be called "Guaraná Champagne" until the early 1990s.
• In Canada, Grace Island Soda and Cool Runnings Soda both make Kola Champagne in glass bottles. In a region of Quebec called Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean, they produce a "Red Champagne" soft drink.
• In Colombia, the company Colombiana makes a champagne soda. Another company, Gaseosas la Cigarra, makes it in the Nariño region. Kola Román is also from Colombia; it was invented in the city of Cartagena in 1865 by Don Carlos Román.
• In Haiti, there are several types of champagne colas. These include Cola Couronne fruit champagne soda, Cola Lacaye (made by Brooklyn Bottling Group) in fruit champagne, banana, and other fruit flavors, Fiesta by Tropic SA, and King Cola by BRANA.
• In El Salvador, La Cascada Kolashampan is made by Panamerican. Kolashampan was first made in the city of San Salvador in the 20th century.
• In Jamaica, Kola Champagne is produced by D&G (Desnoes & Geddes), which is a well-known drink company.
• In Puerto Rico, Santurce Soda Water, Inc. makes "Santurce Kola Champagne," and Refrescos de Puerto Rico makes "OK Kola Champagne."
• In Trinidad and Tobago, Kola Champagne and a diet version are part of the Cole Cold soft drink line, made by S. M. Jaleel and Company.
• In the mainland U.S., Goya Foods Inc. sells "Cola Champagne" under its own brand. Cawy Bottling Company in Miami, Florida, used to make similar drinks like Iron Beer and Quinabeer. Dr Brown's Cel-Ray soda has sometimes been called "Jewish Champagne."

Europe and Asia

• In Norway, a drink called Villa Champagnebrus (which means "Champagne Fizz") is a champagne soda with mixed fruit flavors. It used to be known as Villa Farris.
• In Pakistan, Kooler Saudi Champagne soda is available.
• In the United Kingdom, KA Karibbean Kola is made by A.G. Barr.

See also

• In Spanish: Cola champaña para niños