In a country where industrial beverages arrived late and were almost always imported, there is a soft drink that was born in the heart of the Colombian Caribbean long before global giants like Coca-Cola and Pepsi were even conceived. This is Kola Roman, an over a century-old jewel of Cartagena’s gastronomy whose history dates back to 1865, when a Spanish immigrant decided to create a refreshment that, over the years, would become a regional symbol and a source of cultural pride.
Today, more than 150 years later, Kola Roman continues to hold a special place in the memory of the inhabitants of the Caribbean Coast, even though its presence is more limited in the rest of the country. Its deep red color, sweet vanilla-like flavor, and cultural legacy make it a unique beverage in the Colombian landscape.
Kola Roman: A Colombian soft drink that predates Coca-Cola and Pepsi
The history of Kola Roman began in Cartagena de Indias in 1865, when Don Carlos Roman, a Spanish immigrant who arrived in the Caribbean in the 19th century, decided to produce a handmade refreshment that quickly won over the locals. This red beverage — somewhere between fruity, caramelized, and vanilla notes — became an innovative product at a time when soft drinks were considered a luxury.
Its age is one of its most striking features:
Kola Roman was created in 1865.
Coca-Cola: 1886.
Dr. Pepper: 1885.
Pepsi: 1893.
In other words, this Colombian soft drink, born in Cartagena, predates the world’s most recognized brands by more than two decades, placing it among the oldest carbonated beverages still in existence.
Over the following decades, Kola Roman became the preferred drink in households along the Caribbean Coast, to the point that in the 1950s and 1960s it even surpassed Coca-Cola in sales in the region.
Though its distribution gradually decreased and today it is uncommon to find it in inland cities such as Bogota or Medellin, the soda remains a coastal emblem and is still marketed mainly in departments such as Bolivar, Atlantico, Sucre, and Cordoba.
From a family tradition to a cultural symbol of the Caribbean
Kola Roman’s production began as a family enterprise led by the Roman family, who preserved the original recipe as a treasured inheritance for decades. Over time, the brand went through several business transitions and is currently produced by FEMSA, linked to PepsiCo’s distribution in Colombia. Despite these changes, the beverage’s characteristic flavor has remained a historical and emotional reference for generations of cartageneros.
Beyond being a traditional soda, Kola Roman is part of the Caribbean’s gastronomic heritage. It is not only consumed as a refreshment: It also stars in traditional recipes, desserts, and artisanal breads. One of the most representative dishes is the famous “platano en tentacion” costeño, a sweet preparation commonly served alongside lunch in the region. The dish consists of ripe plantain baked with Kola Roman, cloves, and cinnamon, giving it a deep caramelized flavor that has become a hallmark of home-style Caribbean cooking.
The beverage has also accompanied celebrations, carnivals, street festivals, and family gatherings for more than a century and a half, establishing itself as an identity marker that connected the region’s inhabitants long before the arrival of multinational brands.