The claim that Dr Pepper contains exactly 23 flavours has been repeated for so long that most people assume it's confirmed somewhere — it isn't, and the real history of the drink is more interesting than the myth.
A Texas pharmacy invention older than the cola rivalry
Dr Pepper was created in 1885 by Charles Alderton, a pharmacist working the soda fountain at Wade Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas. That makes it older than Pepsi-Cola, which followed in 1893. The drink was pushed onto a national stage at the 1904 St Louis World's Fair, the same event that helped popularise the ice cream cone and iced tea in the US.
Where the "23 flavours" myth comes from
Like Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper's exact recipe has always been treated as a trade secret, and the company has never published an official ingredient list confirming any specific number of flavours. A separate, genuine piece of marketing history is the "10-2-4" slogan from 1927, which encouraged people to drink a Dr Pepper at 10am, 2pm and 4pm to fight the afternoon energy dip — a real campaign, unlike the unconfirmed flavour count.
US vs UK Dr Pepper — same name, different drink
Dr Pepper was hard to find on UK shelves for decades, mostly arriving through limited imports before wider supermarket listings took hold. The version sold in the UK is bottled under licence by a different bottler than the US product and uses a different formulation, which is why drinkers who've had both often describe the UK version as tasting noticeably different — usually described as sweeter or less spiced than the American original. The UK's fizzy sweets aisle has run with the drink's flavour profile for years, and it's worth a look through the fizzy sweets if the Dr Pepper taste is what you're actually after.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr Pepper actually have 23 flavours?
There is no confirmed list of 23 specific flavours. Keurig Dr Pepper has never officially disclosed the recipe, and the 23 flavours claim is widely regarded as a marketing legend that grew up around the drink rather than a verified fact.
Where was Dr Pepper invented?
Dr Pepper was created in Waco, Texas, in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton, who worked at Wade Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store, making it one of the oldest major soft drink brands in the United States.
Does UK Dr Pepper taste different to US Dr Pepper?
Yes. UK Dr Pepper is bottled under licence by a different bottler using a different formulation than the US version, which many drinkers say gives it a noticeably different, often sweeter or less spiced, taste compared to the American original.