I heard some stuff about Coca-Cola, including a crazy Chinese translation for it. So I wrote The Coca-Cola Company to find out if what I heard was the real thing…

Dear Coke Folks:

Is it true that in Chinese, Coca-Cola translates to “Bite the Wax Tadpole”? I know some of the ingredients are secret, but I hope tadpoles aren’t one of them! Are they? I’m glad your marketing department didn’t play up on the tadpole angle even if it is true. Croaka-Cola just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I also heard that Coke gets rid of skunk odor. True? I’ve never encountered a skunk, but I’ve crossed paths with some people who’ve had terrible B.O. If I “accidentally” spilled my Coke on them, would that quench the stench?

There are lots of Coca-Cola collectibles that have increased in value over the years. Of course, people didn’t know at the time that they’d be so valuable today. I like to think ahead. Do you currently have any complimentary Coke souvenirs you could send me, which might increase in value if I kept it for a couple of decades?

I love my Pop!

An Industry and Consumer Affairs Representative responded with:

Thank you for contacting The Coca-Cola Company. We appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions.

Please be assured that Coca-Cola brand soft drinks do not contain any harmful substances. Coca-Cola classic and all Coca-Cola brand products are wholesome beverages manufactured in compliance with the federal law governing food safety and labeling, the laws of all the states, and the laws of over 200 countries throughout the world where they are sold. The long history of use of soft drinks without adverse health effects further demonstrates the safety of soft drinks. You may also be interested in visiting the myths and rumors portion of our website at www.coca-cola.com.

The characters chosen by the Company to translate Coca-Cola into Chinese, which are still used today, can be translated to mean, “delicious and enjoyable.” When the Company first entered China and an appropriate translation was being researched, some small shopkeepers decided to make up their own Chinese equivalents. These shopkeepers tried to roughly imitate the sound of the name Coca-Cola, with no thought to meaning. In the case of one small shopkeeper, characters were chosen that could be translated to mean “bite the wax tadpole.”

A great source of information on collectibles is the Coca-Cola Collectors Club. This organization’s members are devoted to collecting memorabilia associated with our company. Its publications and activities are very informative for collectors of all levels. Information on the Coca-Cola Collectors Club and its representatives can be accessed at: http://www.cocacolaclub.org.

If you have additional questions or comments, please write again or visit our Web site at www.coca-cola.com.

Final Thoughts: A Coca-Cola Collectors Packet was enclosed, complete with an Application for Membership. The story behind the translation of Coca-Cola in Chinese intrigued me and further investigation led to this blog post, “Bite the Wax Tadpole?” from Phil Mooney, who has served as the historian/archivist for Coca-Cola for the last 30 years.

Brand names are a very important part of a product’s identity. You might be surprised by what you learn is behind the name if you Write The Company.