Cola Cao facts for kids
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| Type | Malted dairy drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Idilia Foods |
| Country of origin | Spain |
| Introduced | 1946 |
| Variants | Cola Cao Original, Cola Cao Turbo, Cola Cao 0%, Cola Cao Noir, Cola Cao Puro, Avenacao, Cola Cao Shake, Cola Cao Shake 0%, Cola Cao Complet, Cola Cao Energy |
Cola Cao is a popular chocolate drink mix. It's sweet and has added vitamins and minerals. This drink started in Spain and is now sold in many countries around the world. A company called Idilia Foods, based in Barcelona, owns the Cola Cao brand.
Contents
The Story of Cola Cao
How it Started
Cola Cao was created in 1945 by two brothers-in-law, José María Ventura and José Ignacio Ferrero. They lived in the Gràcia neighborhood of Barcelona, Spain. They made a special cocoa powder that could easily dissolve in liquids.
Famous Songs and TV Ads
In 1952, a catchy song called the "Cola Cao song" was used to advertise the drink. Many people still remember it today! By 1962, Cola Cao started showing its first TV commercials. These ads used cartoons and adapted the famous radio song.
Cola Cao and Sports
Cola Cao has a long history with sports. In 1972, it became a sponsor of the Spanish Olympic team for the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. This led to the slogan "Olympic food."
In the 1980s, a new version called "Cola Cao VIT" was made. It was an instant mix with extra vitamins. This version was later stopped in the late 1980s.
In 1988, Cola Cao began supporting the Spanish Olympic Committee through the ADO Programme. This partnership continues even today. To encourage city sports, the brand also set up "Cola Cao Circuits" in parks. You can find these in many Spanish cities, like Esplugues de Llobregat and Córdoba.
New Versions Over Time
In the mid-1990s, Cola Cao launched a sugar-free version. It was first called "Cola Cao Low in Calories." Later, in the mid-2000s, its name changed to "Cola Cao Light."
What's Inside Cola Cao?
Cola Cao is made with sugar, processed cocoa, and wheat flour. It also contains cola nut. The mix is made even better with added vitamins, calcium, and phosphorus.
How to Make Cola Cao
Cola Cao comes as a powder. You usually mix it with milk to make a delicious drink. But you can also mix it with water or soya milk. Some people even add it to their breakfast cereal or use it when baking. In Spain, Cola Cao is a very popular drink for breakfast or dinner.
Advertising and Sports
Since the late 1980s, Cola Cao has often been advertised with the Olympic Games. It is also linked to other big sporting events in Spain.
Where is Cola Cao Sold?
Cola Cao powder is sold in different sized containers. You can also find it as a ready-to-drink liquid in plastic bottles.
Around the World
Cola Cao is sold in many countries. These include Spain, Portugal, Chile, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and China. In China, it is known as Gao-le-Gao (高乐高).
Cola Cao was also sold in Japan (as コラカオ), Russia (as Кола Као), and Greece in the early 1990s. However, it was stopped in those countries a few years later. But since 2007, "Cola Cao Chocolate Roll Cakes" made in China are sold in some stores.
Cola Cao has different factories for different parts of the world:
- For Europe: The factory is in Barcelona, Spain. It makes many types like Cola Cao Original, Light, Turbo, Fiber, Energy, and Complete.
- For South America: The factory is in Santiago, Chile. It makes Cola Cao Original, Light, and Cola Cao Cereal.
- For Asia: The factory is in Tianjin, China. It makes Cola Cao Original, Fruit Flavor, Cola Cao Roll Cake, and Cola Cao Spread.
See also
In Spanish: Cola Cao para niños
- List of chocolate beverages
