The story
Fanta was born in wartime Germany. Around 1940 Coca-Cola's German bottler, based in Essen, could no longer import the syrup it needed, so its boss, Max Keith, had his chief chemist devise a substitute from whatever was at hand, chiefly whey from cheese making and apple pulp from cider presses, along with sugar beet and spare fruit. Keith urged his team to use their imagination, Fantasie in German, and a salesman answered with Fanta. Sales reached three million cases by 1943, with some bottles used to sweeten soups. The brand lapsed after the war until an orange version launched in Italy in 1955.
Also known as Fanta Orange.
On the Meridish menu
Fanta was the aperitif course on menu No. 22 on October 22, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
A fruit soda invented in 1940, when war cut a cola bottler off from its syrup. The first batches were made from whey and apple pulp, whatever could be found locally.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
