What Exactly Is Dr. Pepper?

It's a fact that most households that indulge in soda (“pop” if you’re from the Midwest) are loyal to one of two brands: Coca-Cola or Pepsi. If you ever experienced your grandfather scoff at the server (this is not okay) for only having Coke products because he's a die-hard Pepsi fan, then you have seen the dichotomy.

Whatever your pop preference, there’s one brand of soda that may look a lot like a cola, but deserves its own classification. I am talking about Dr. Pepper. This soda has been around for decades and has held its own through the cola wars.

Whether it’s consumed right out of the bottle or used as a marinade, this classic is not going anywhere. With its unmistakable burgundy label, some may say this brand has reached cult status (sorry, RC Cola). But have you ever actually taken the time to taste Dr. Pepper and ponder what its flavor is, exactly? Well, we went on a deep dive of its flavor profile—all 23 of them. 

A Brief History of Dr. Pepper

Dr. Pepper was indeed a real person, though not the creator of the drink. The soda was concocted by Charles Alderton, a pharmacist in Waco, Texas, after he experimented with an array of fruit flavors in 1885 (before Coca-Cola was invented). He eventually came up with a syrup that, when mixed with carbonated water, became what is today Dr. Pepper. The origin story diverges into two tales here. In one version, the owner of the Waco pharmacy where Alderton worked named the soda after his love interest's father, Dr. Charles T. Pepper, in an attempt to win his favor. In another, Dr. Pepper was the proprietor of the pharmacy in Virginia where Alderton worked before moving to Waco, and he named the drink in honor of his former employer.

What Does Dr. Pepper Taste Like?

When you sip on the famed soda, you will instantly notice that it’s a step away from standard cola. It is very sweet, but also peppery. It has a hint of vanilla, but also a hint of citrus. It also has a slight nutty flavor. You may think caramel is added somehow. The fact is, a dissertation could be written about the possible 23 flavors. 

What Are the 23 Flavors in Dr. Pepper?

Like most prized concoctions, the recipe for Dr. Pepper is proprietary. Just like KFC’s 11 herbs and spices, or the Coca-Cola recipes that are kept under lock and key, the makers of Dr. Pepper have been tight lipped about the recipe. If you look at the ingredient list, you will see: 

• carbonated water
• high fructose corn syrup
• caramel color
• phosphoric acid
• natural and artificial flavors
• sodium benzoate (preservative)
• caffeine

“Natural and artificial flavors” is pretty vague—and intentionally so. Indeed, the ingredient mystery has sparked countless Reddit and Quora threads pondering the possible 23 flavors that make up Dr. Pepper. A purported Dr. Pepper ingredient list that has circulated these sites and elsewhere around the internet (but never confirmed by the company) is:

Amaretto, almond, blackberry, black licorice, carrot, clove, cherry, caramel, Cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, prune, plum, pepper, root beer, rum, raspberry, tomato, and vanilla.

The Takeaway

It's clear that this 23-flavor recipe is highly sought after, and its makers probably don't plan to release it anytime soon. Maybe in the future, there will be an AI invention (I hope not) that can determine flavors by just pouring it in a machine. Until then, we'll have to simply speculate and enjoy it.