Everything Official About Pepsi

Everything Official About Pepsi
by Vandana Sethhi
22 Nov 2023

Pepsi is one of the most recognised global brands – not just in the beverages space, but across the brand landscape. As an impulse buy, it is enjoyed daily by millions around the world. The name is extremely catchy and easy to remember, but how did it acquire such a unique name?

That actually stems from one of the digestive enzymes present in the stomach – ‘Pepsin’. In its initial days, this drink was specifically manufactured and promoted as a health drink that aided digestion, and hence its inventor chose the name Pepsi. When Caleb Bradham created the recipe for Pepsi, he envisioned a tonic or a medicinal beverage; he certainly did not expect it to burgeon into the global success that it is today – and for an entirely different set of reasons. Even the initial slogan reiterated its stance as a medicinal drink – ‘Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion’. It’s unimaginable that claim would survive today!

The flavour that was created in the late 1800s underwent very little change to what we drink today and the name has stuck as well. The only change being the tweaking from Pepsi-Cola to Pepsi. Pepsi’s perception may have shifted from a digestive drink to a soft drink indulgence, but the name will always highlight the vivid origins that it emerged from.