Latest news with #IncaKola
Al Jazeera
02-08-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
How a popular Peruvian soft drink went ‘toe-to-toe' with Coca-Cola
There are few countries in the world where Coca-Cola isn't the most popular soft drink. But in Peru, that position is held by Inca Kola – an almost 100-year-old beverage deeply embedded in the national identity. The yellow soda – meant to evoke the grandeur of the ancient Inca Empire and its reverence for gold – was the creation of Joseph Robinson Lindley. The British immigrant had set out from the coal mining town of Doncaster, England, for Peru in 1910 and soon after set up a drinks factory in a working-class district of the capital, Lima. He started producing small-batch carbonated fruit drinks and gradually expanded. When Inca Kola was created in 1935, with its secret recipe of 13 herbs and aromatics, it was just a year ahead of Coca-Cola's arrival in the country. Recognising the threat posed by the soft drink giant, which had launched in the US in 1886 and made inroads across Latin America, Lindley invested in the budding television advertising industry to promote Inca Kola. Advertisement campaigns featuring Inca Kola bottles with their vaguely Indigenous motifs and slogans like 'the flavour that unites us' appealed to Peru's multiethnic society – and to its Inca roots. It fostered a sense of national pride, explains Andres Macara-Chvili, a marketing professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. 'Inca Kola was one of the first brands in Peru that connected with a sense of Peruanidad, or what it means to be Peruvian. It spoke to Peruvians about what we are – diverse,' he says. But it wasn't only the drink's appeal to Peruvian identity or its unique flavour (described by some as tasting like bubblegum, by others as being similar to chamomile tea) that enhanced brand awareness. Amid the turmoil of a world war, Inca Kola would also come to prominence for another reason. Finding opportunity in a wartime boycott At the tail end of the 1890s, Japan had sent roughly 18,000 contract labourers to Peru. Most went to the country's budding coastal sugar and cotton plantations. Upon arriving, they found themselves subjected to low wages, exploitative work schedules, and unsanitary and overcrowded living conditions, which led to deadly outbreaks of dysentery and typhus. Unable to afford passage back to Japan after they'd completed their four-year contracts, many of the Japanese labourers remained in Peru – moving to urban centres where they opened businesses, notably bodegas, or small grocery stores. Denied access to loans from Peruvian banks, as their community grew in number and economic standing, they established their own savings and credit cooperatives. 'Among their community, money began to circulate, and with it they raised the capital to open small businesses,' explains Alejandro Valdez Tamashiro, a researcher of Japanese migration to Peru. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Japanese community emerged as a formidable merchant class. But with that came animosity. By the mid-1930s, anti-Japanese sentiment had begun to fester. Nationalist politicians and xenophobic media accused the community of running a monopoly on the Peruvian economy, and, in the build-up to World War II, of espionage. By the start of that war in 1939, Peru was home to the second-largest Japanese community in Latin America. The following year, one incident of racially motivated attacks and lootings against the community resulted in at least 10 deaths, six million dollars in damage and loss of property for more than 600 Japanese families. Since its release, Inca Kola had been widely sold in the mainly Japanese-owned bodegas. With the outbreak of war, its competitor, Coca-Cola, received a huge boost internationally. The US firm, which for years had used political connections to expand overseas, became a de facto envoy of US foreign policy, burnishing its image as a symbol of democracy and freedom. The soda giant obtained lucrative military contracts guaranteeing that 95 percent of soft drinks stocked on US military bases were Coca-Cola products, essentially placing Coke at the centre of the US war effort. Coke featured in wartime posters while war photographers captured soldiers drinking from the glass bottles. Back in Peru, in the wake of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Coca-Cola halted distribution of its soda to Peru's Japanese merchants, whose bodegas were by now one of the main suppliers of the US carbonated drink. Recognising a brass tacks opportunity to boost sales, the Lindley family – already outselling a fledgling Coca-Cola domestically – doubled down as the main soft drink supplier to the spurned community. With Japanese-owned bodegas forming a sizeable distribution network across Lima, Inca Kola quickly stepped in to fill the shelf space left empty by Coca-Cola's exit. The wartime shift gave Inca Kola an even stronger foothold in the market and laid the groundwork for a lasting sense of loyalty between the Japanese-Peruvian community and the Inca Kola brand. Hostility towards the community intensified during the war. Throughout the early 1940s, a deeply US-allied Peruvian government hosted a US military base along its coast, broke off diplomatic relations with Japan, shuttered Japanese institutions and initiated a government deportation programme against Japanese Peruvians. Despite this, today more than 300,000 Peruvians claim Japanese ancestry, and the community's imprint can be seen in many sectors, including in the country's Asian-Peruvian fusion eateries, where Inca Kola is a mainstay on menus. Taking on a giant – and then joining forces Inca Kola would go on to narrowly outcompete Coca-Cola for decades. But by the late 1990s, the company was mired in debt after a decades-long effort to contain its main rival. Following heavy losses, in 1999, the Lindleys sold a 50 percent stake of their company to Coca-Cola for an estimated $200m. 'You were the soft drink that went toe-to-toe with this giant international corporation, and then you sold out. At the time, it was unforgivable,' reflects Macara-Chvili. 'Today, those feelings are not so intense. It's in the past.' Still, Coca-Cola, in recognising the soft drink's regional value, allowed the Lindley Corporation to maintain domestic ownership of the brand and to retain bottling and distribution rights within Peru, where Inca Kola continues to connect with local identity. Unable to beat the brand outright, Coca-Cola sought a deal that allowed it to corner a market without displacing a local favourite. Sitting outside a grocery store with two friends in Lima's historic centre, Josel Luis Huamani, a 35-year-old tattoo artist, pours a large glass bottle of the golden soda into three cups. 'We're just so accustomed to the flavour. We've been drinking it our whole lives,' he says. 'It's tradition, just like the Inca,' declares 45-year-old food vendor Maria Sanchez over a late lunch of beef tripe stew at a lunch counter not far from Lima's main square. Dining with family and friends in the highland jungle region of Chanchamayo, Tsinaki Samaniego, 24, a member of the Ashaninka Indigenous group, sips the soft drink with her meal and says, 'It's like an old friend.' This article is part of 'Ordinary items, extraordinary stories', a series about the surprising stories behind well-known items. Read more from the series: How the inventor of the bouncy castle saved lives
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Five things to know about Pope Leo XIV
Robert Francis Prevost, 69, chosen as the new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics and who has taken the papal name Leo XIV, is not widely known despite a long missionary career and senior roles in the Vatican. Here are five things about him. Although 10 of the 133 cardinal-electors at this week's conclave were American, there had long been reticence about the notion of a US pontiff. Much of the opposition sprang from worries over how having a leader from a political, cultural and secular superpower could be interpreted. But that old taboo was broken on Thursday evening. After making his solemn vows in 1981 and studying in Rome, Prevost was sent to a mission in Peru. He spent more than 20 years there, serving as judicial vicar and as a professor of canon, patristic and moral law at a seminary in Peru's third city, Trujillo, before being appointed bishop of Chiclayo in November 2014. He has Peruvian citizenship and is widely admired in South America's third-largest country, hence all the Inca Kola and ceviche memes that greeted his appointment. The conclave had been billed as a clash between progressives, who wished to carry on the Francis's legacy, and conservatives, who wanted to return the church to a more traditionalist path. The new pontiff, however, is seen as a moderate figure and his time in Peru was marked by a talent for working with different theological factions. In an interview with the New York Times, his brother, John Prevost, described him as 'middle of the road', adding: 'I don't think we'll see extremes either way.' Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, serving as prior general, or leader, from 2001-2013. The order, founded in Italy in 1244, is dedicated to poverty, service and spreading the word of God. Among its core values is a commitment to 'live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God'. He is the first Augustinian friar to be elected pope. The new pontiff, made a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in September 2023, had been president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and had served as prefect of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from around the world.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What Exactly Is The Flavor Of Peru's Most Popular Soda, Inca Kola?
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. In the mountainous nation of Peru, there is one soda: Inca Kola. It is no exaggeration to say that the bright yellow soft drink is a cultural icon of the country. After all, it still outsells Coca-Cola in the country, one of the few regional sodas to beat out the soft drink behemoth for dominance in an increasingly globalized market. While it is practically ubiquitous in Peru and other Andean nations, Inca Kola hasn't garnered mainstream popularity outside of South America. However, it is available in both specialty and big box grocery stores (you just have to be willing to look), and on Amazon. The drink is considered a must try for anyone looking to explore Peruvian culture, or simply interested in being a soda savant. Perhaps the core of Inca Kola's appeal, besides its bright hue and call to the deeply ingrained Incan roots of Peruvian culture, is its distinct flavor. Most people who have had Inca Kola describe its flavor as being similar to bubblegum (which is itself a mystery) or the equally enigmatic cream soda, though many fans of the drink will dispute these descriptors. It does have a fruity taste with a slightly floral element that evades simple flavor designation. So, what gives Inca Kola its unique taste? Well, the exact formulation of flavorings has yet to be revealed by the company that makes it. Its primary flavoring is lemon verbena, a plant native to the region of South America that Peru occupies. Read more: Popular Brands Of Root Beer, Ranked Lemon verbena is not related to lemon, and is not a citrus. Rather, it has a sweet, floral taste with just a bit of lemon flavor to round it out. Chef José Andrés loves adding lemon verbena to his gin and tonic, a great choice considering its complex flavor profile. It is the primary disclosed flavoring in Inca Kola. However, the drink's exact formula has not been revealed, so we might never know the precise make-up that gives Inca Kola its unique taste. What we do know is that the drink is a product of national pride in Peru, and its use of a native plant in its formulation certainly adds to its status as a national treasure. In fact, its very origins are rooted in Peruvian identity. Inca Kola was invented by a man named Joseph Robinson Lindley. Lindley, who was originally from England, owned a beverage company in Peru. In 1935, Lindley developed Inca Kola as a part of a project to create a drink that would appeal to Peruvians. To make its introduction even more culturally impactful, the soda was actually released to coincide with the city of Lima's 400th birthday. The soda was named for the Incan Empire, a civilization that predates Spanish colonization and still influences Peruvian culture today. Since its initial introduction some 90 years ago, Inca Kola hasn't just endured, it's thrived. In fact, many Peruvians see Inca Kola as a symbol of the nation's rich heritage. The soda even outsells Coca-Cola in Peru, a success so stoutly held that the soft drink mammoth gave up on competing with Inca Kola on the Peru market in 1999, instead buying out a portion of the company without changing its formula. Yes, Inca Kola is a point of pride for many Peruvians, and this is no mistake. Rather, it's the result of years of strategic marketing on the behalf of the soft drink company. From the start, the drink was linked to Peru's history and culture, given that its name is a historical reference and it was released to align with Lima's anniversary. But Inca Kola's ties to the country's identity don't end there. Over the decades Inka Cola has used advertisements that reference Peruvian identity and Incan heritage, often featuring images of women in traditional Incan attire. The product's slogans blatantly push this national identity. Its first slogan dubbed Inca Kola as "La bebida del sabor nacional," or in English, "The drink of national flavor." More recently, the drink has taken on the slogan "El sabor del Perú" of "The flavor of Peru." And in the decades since its release, this slogan has become a reality. Read the original article on Chowhound.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Homestyle Food
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Homestyle Food Constructor: Dylan Schiff Editor: Jared Goudsmit ALLIE (15A: Activist ___ Redhorse Young) ALLIE Redhorse Young is a writer and the founder of Protect the Sacred, a grassroots organization focused on educating and empowering Navajo leaders and allies. She is a member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation in northern New Mexico. SODA (68A: Drink such as Inca Kola) Inca Kola, also known as Golden Kola, is a SODA that originates from Peru. Its main ingredient is lemon verbena, giving it a sweet, fruity flavor. Outside of Peru, the Coca-Cola company owns the Inca Kola trademark. TROOP (13A: Scouts BSA group) Scouts BSA is the division of BSA (Boy Scouts of America) that has programming for kids between the ages of 11 and 17. Scouts BSA participants are organized into TROOPs. Here's a heads up for you: On February 8, 2025, the organization's 115 anniversary, BSA will officially change its name to Scouting America. The name change reflects the organization's 2019 policy change that allows girls to join. WAFFLE HOUSE (17A: Restaurant chain that serves the All-Star Special) Founded in 1955 in Georgia, WAFFLE HOUSE now has locations in 25 U.S. States. (Those states do not include Iowa, sadly.) The WAFFLE HOUSE All-Star Special includes eggs, toast, a WAFFLE, choice of bacon, sausage, or ham, and choice of grits, hash browns, or sliced tomatoes. A TON (22A: Oodles) and A LOT (6D: Oodles) Oodles of oodles clues! Okay, two is not exactly oodles, but I couldn't resist. MISO (27A: Soup made with dashi) Homemade dashi is made by heating water containing edible kelp and other ingredients, and then straining the liquid. Dashi powder may be used instead of making homemade stock. Dashi is used as a base for MISO soup. PIZZA HUT (36A: Restaurant chain that once served the P'Zone) Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, PIZZA HUT now has locations around the world, including in all 50 U.S. states (even Iowa!). The P'zone was a calzone-style PIZZA launched by PIZZA HUT in 2002. It is currently discontinued, although the chain briefly brought it back in 2019. EVAN (42A: "Westworld" actress ___ Rachel Wood) The TV series Westworld (2016-2022) is based on a 1973 movie of the same name. The TV show's story began in a Wild-West-themed amusement park. The hosts in the technologically advanced park are droids. The show's setting eventually expanded to the "real world," where people's lives are controlled by artificial intelligence. EVAN Rachel Wood portrays Dolores Abernathy, a host working at the amusement park. She won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the role. ASPENS (47A: "Quaking" trees) Quaking ASPENS are named because their leaves appear to tremble in even the slightest breeze. A fun fact about ASPENS is they propagate through their roots, so when you see a grove of ASPENS, it is often one organism sharing a common root system. UNIT (50A: Mile or mole) A mile is a UNIT of length. As you might have learned at some point, a mile is equal to 5,280 feet. A mole is a UNIT used to measure the amount of a substance, particularly the number of particles. One mole is equal to 6.02214076 x 1023 entities, whether that's atoms, molecules, ions, or other particles. That number (approximately 602 sextillion) is referred to as the Avogadro number. INDIRA (53A: Indian prime minister Gandhi) INDIRA Gandhi (1917-1984) was the prime minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She is the only female prime minister India has had to date. Although they share a last name (which for INDIRA Gandhi was her married name), INDIRA Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi (who led India to independence and whose likeness is featured on their currency) were not related. EAT (55A: Chow down) This is a nice bonus answer in this restaurant-theme puzzle. MAC ( 59A: ___ and cheese burger) A MAC and cheese burger is exactly what it sounds like, a hamburger with MAC and cheese as one of the toppings. SHAKE SHACK (62A: Restaurant chain that serves 'Shroom Burgers) Founded in 2004 in New York City, and starting out as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, SHAKE SHACK now has 262 locations in the United States (but none in Iowa, sadly), as well as locations around the world. SHAKE SHACK's 'Shroom Burger is a veggie burger that consists of a fried portobello mushroom filled with melted cheddar cheese. CLUES (7D: Crossword hints) I'm a fan of self-referential CLUES. OKRA (58D: Veggie in some maque choux) Maque choux is a traditional dish of Louisiana. It consists of corn, green pepper, onion, and sometimes other vegetables, which are braised with bacon grease. OKRA is one of the vegetables that is sometimes included in the dish. A few other CLUES I especially enjoyed: PEEVES (31A: "Pet" frustrations) NPR TOTE (41D: Iconic bag from a D.C. broadcaster) HID (63D: Avoided the seeker, in a kids' game) WAFFLE HOUSE (17A: Restaurant chain that serves the All-Star Special) PIZZA HUT (36A: Restaurant chain that once served the P'Zone) SHAKE SHACK (62A: Restaurant chain that serves 'Shroom Burgers) HOMESTYLE FOOD: Each theme answer is a restaurant chain whose name is comprised of a FOOD (first word) and a STYLE of HOME (second word). This is a clever theme. It's fun that the theme uses both parts of each theme answer. I also appreciated the choice to clue each theme answer in a parallel manner, [Restaurant chain that serves (or once served) "menu item"]. The only problem I see with this theme is that it has made me hungry. Thank you, Dylan, for this delightful puzzle. One more thing: Occasionally I like to mention things that are happening in the broader crossword world, and today I have two things to share with you. The first one is the Boswords Winter Wondersolve, an online crossword tournament that will happen this coming Sunday from 1:00-4:30 pm Eastern Time. It's not too late to sign up, and I highly recommend it. Boswords holds four events a year – one each season – and they are always worthwhile and extremely enjoyable. Secondly, some folks in the crossword community put together the ORCA Awards each year, to honor great puzzles and clues from the previous year. Voting is currently open for the 13th ORCA Awards. I always enjoy looking at the ballot as a way to marvel at the many crosswords available. The ORCA awards ceremony will be online on February 24 at 9:00 pm Eastern time. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for January 30, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
