Food - Drink
What Makes Germany's Super Caffeinated Fritz-Kola Soda Unique?
By NIKITA EPHANOV
Gone are the days of a simple choice between Pepsi or Coke, and an artisanal soda boom is on the rise with new contenders like Fritz-Kola. Known for its low sugar content, all-natural ingredients, environmentally-minded ethos, and staggering caffeine content, Fritz-Kola has gained popularity as the go-to soda for a night out.
History
Friends Mirco Wiegert and Lorenz Hampl began Fritz-Kola in 2002 as a way to create a less sugary, more caffeinated soda. The duo’s first batch was just over 4,000 bottles which they sold door to door, and since then, the brand has rapidly expanded despite maintaining a no-frills business model.
Ingredients
Topping out at the legal limit of 25 milligrams per 100 milliliters, Fritz-Kola is loaded with caffeine, which is derived from a green coffee bean extract. The soda’s sugar comes from beetroots, the flavor from a kola nut, and completing the drink are sulfite ammonia caramel for color and phosphoric acid as a stabilizer.
Other Offerings
For those that don’t want the caffeine buzz, the company also offers caffeine-free drinks like lemonade, orangeade, and rhubarb and apple spritzers, as well as sugar-free options. On the other end of the spectrum, the company also has a red edition that incorporates guarana for an even more stimulating experience.
Buying Fritz-Kola
While Fritz-Kola is available at grocery stores, part of the company’s appeal is its young, energetic branding, so distribution is focused on cafes, bars, and restaurants. Within Germany, you can even find festivals, concerts, and murals sponsored by the brand, but unfortunately, it’s not yet sold in the States.