How It's Madeby Matta
Cola flavour, illustrated
IngredientUsed in 1 product hereQuote on listing

What is cola flavouring made of?

Cola flavouring, often supplied as a cola flavour base, is a concentrate that blends citrus oils (such as orange, lime and lemon), cinnamon, vanilla and other spice notes. It is dosed into the syrup with sugar, caramel colour and phosphoric acid to make cola. Each brand's exact blend is confidential, and the flavour is used at a tiny fraction of the finished drink.

Source this ingredient ↗See current listings

Key facts

Name on labels (INCI)
Flavouring (Cola Type)
Also called
Cola flavour, Cola base, Cola concentrate flavour
Grade to ask for
Cola flavour base for soft drinks

A cola flavour base: a blend of citrus oils, spice and vanilla notes supplied as a concentrate.

Functions

What it does

Defines the drink
Without the flavour, a cola would be sweet, sour, brown and fizzy but would not taste of cola.
Balances acid and sweetness
Cola's sharp phosphoric acid and high sugar are tied together by the spicy, citrus flavour.
Used in

Products on How It's Made that use cola flavour

ProductIts role there
ColaFlavour. The cola flavour base: citrus oils, vanilla, cinnamon and other trace notes, plus caffeine in most colas. Each brand's blend is confidential.

On How It's Made, cola flavour appears in the cola guide. Cola profiles are also used in energy drinks and cola-flavoured sweets.

Grades

Grades and specifications

Cola flavour bases
Complete flavour systems for soft drinks, dosed into the syrup. Kerry lists a cola base on Matta, price on request.
Cola emulsions and soluble flavours
Citrus oils for cola can be supplied as emulsions or as water-soluble flavours, depending on how clear the drink should be.
Safety and quality

Handling, safety and regulation

Cola flavours contain citrus oils that oxidise, so they are stored sealed, cool and dark and used within their shelf life. Concentrates are handled with the precautions on the supplier's safety data sheet.

The flavour itself must be food grade. Caffeine added to colas is subject to labelling rules in many markets, and the finished soft drink in Nigeria must be registered with NAFDAC.

Supply chain

Where cola flavour comes from

Cola flavours are developed by flavour houses and by the major cola brands themselves. Kerry Group, which supplies flavours to customers in more than 140 countries, lists a cola base flavour on Matta.

Source it on Matta

Sourcing cola flavour through Matta

Request cola flavour

Request a cola flavour base and price through Matta. For food ingredients, see Matta's ingredients page.

Request this ingredient ↗

Listings found on matta.trade, read 30 Oct 2026. Prices are a snapshot, not live; the listing is always the final word. Different suppliers and grades: compare prices only where the unit matches.

Kerry Group Plc
COLA BASE Flavour
Quote on requestno price listed
View current listing ↗

Related ingredients

FlavouringsCaramel colourPhosphoric acidOrange flavour

Sources and method

  1. Wikipedia: Cola
  2. Safe Food Factory: Soft drinks (manufacturing process and hygiene)
  3. Wikipedia: Kerry Group

Published by Matta · Last updated · Ingredient lists and Matta listing matches come from the How It's Made dataset; see how pages are made.

Important notice: product information and manufacturing disclaimer

The products, ingredient lists, and ingredient breakdowns displayed on this platform are provided for general informational, educational, and product-discovery purposes only. They illustrate typical ingredients that may be used in commercially available products and are not verified, complete, or approved manufacturing recipes, formulations, or production instructions.

Although Matta.trade may help you identify and source certain ingredients or raw materials, the availability of those materials does not mean that a finished product can be safely or successfully manufactured using the information provided here. Ingredient compatibility, proportions, processing methods, hygiene, equipment, stability, preservation, product testing, packaging, labelling, and applicable regulatory requirements must be independently assessed by appropriately qualified professionals.

Food products, cosmetics, personal-care products, beverages, and other manufactured goods may require specialized formulation, quality-control procedures, safety assessments, and regulatory approvals. Incorrect formulations or manufacturing practices can result in unsafe, ineffective, contaminated, or non-compliant products.

Users are responsible for independently verifying all formulations, ingredient suitability, manufacturing processes, safety requirements, and legal obligations before producing, selling, distributing, or using any finished product. Matta.trade does not guarantee that any product can be manufactured successfully or safely from the information displayed, nor that every listed ingredient is suitable for every intended application.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Matta.trade disclaims responsibility for manufacturing decisions, product formulations, or outcomes resulting from the independent use or interpretation of the information provided on this platform. Nothing on this website should be interpreted as a guarantee of product safety, suitability, regulatory compliance, or commercial success.