Red Kola facts for kids

Red Kola is a fizzy, sweet drink, also known as a soft drink. It's made using special parts of fruits and sometimes even a flavour from the kola nut. Several companies make Red Kola, including Currie's (which is run by Dunns Food & Drinks Ltd), Solripe, and A.G. Barr.

Even though it's called "Kola," this drink is very different from regular cola drinks like Coca-Cola. It doesn't taste or look like them at all! Red Kola is bright red and has its own special taste. It's often sharper than cola and has a strong fruity flavour.

What's Inside Red Kola?

Red Kola gets its unique taste and colour from a mix of different ingredients. Let's look at what goes into two popular versions: Currie's and Barr's.

Currie's Red Kola Ingredients

Currie's Red Kola contains:

• Carbonated water: This is water with bubbles, making the drink fizzy.
• Sugar: For sweetness.
• Tartaric acid: This gives the drink a sharp, fruity taste.
• Flavourings: These are special ingredients that give Red Kola its unique flavour.
• Preservative (sodium benzoate): This helps keep the drink fresh for longer.
• Sweeteners (sodium saccharin, aspartame): These are ingredients that make the drink sweet without adding a lot of sugar.
• Colours (E163, E100): These are natural colours. E163 comes from anthocyanins, which are found in fruits and vegetables. E100 comes from turmeric, a yellow spice.

Barr's Red Kola Ingredients

Barr's Red Kola also has its own recipe:

• Carbonated water: For the fizz.
• Sugar: To make it sweet.
• Citric acid: This adds a tart, citrusy flavour.
• Flavouring: For its special taste.
• Concentrates (black carrot, safflower): These are natural extracts used to give the drink its red colour. Black carrot is a type of carrot, and safflower is a plant.
• Sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K): These are other types of ingredients that make the drink sweet.
• Preservative (sodium benzoate): To help it stay fresh.