Colas from Cyprus
The history of cola (or at least soft drinks) in Cyprus closely mirrors the island’s own modern story—ambition, outside influence, internal division, and survival. Local cola production began in the 1950s, just as Cyprus was moving toward independence. When the British withdrew in 1960, tensions between Greek- and Turkish-aligned communities escalated. This political rift soon found its way into soft drink production, where branding, ownership, and even naming decisions became loaded with meaning.
Several homegrown colas were launched in the late 1950s and early 1960s:
Taksim Cola (1955) was one of the earliest. As political divisions sharpened, the name Taksim—associated with the Turkish-Cypriot call for partition—became increasingly sensitive. In 1965, the brand was renamed Bel Cola, adopting a more neutral and international image (from French belle). It survived the 1974 division but ceased production in the 1990s.
Bixi Cola (1958) was based on the American Dixi Cola, once licensed in over 32 countries. Rather than following the standard licensing model, the Cypriot producer seems to have bought rights to the formula and design and launched an almost identical product under the Bixi name—same can design, same colors, just a B instead of a D. Known for its hazelnut flavor and for pioneering canned soda in Turkey, Bixi gained regional popularity before being banned in Turkey in the late 1960s. The ban was reportedly due to monopolistic pressure from Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Bixi’s founder eventually left the industry and sold the brand to investors in Türkiye, where it continued to exist into the 1990s. In 2025, Bixi made a surprising comeback—long after Dixi vanished from the U.S. market in 1989.
Bahar Colarom, launched in the late 1950s by Bahar Soda, was short-lived. The company was targeted with sabotage: concentrate ratios were altered, and flies were found in bottles. Widely seen as politically motivated, this campaign destroyed its reputation.
Ferah Cola, which took over Bahar’s facilities, faced a similar fate. In 1967, its Turkish-sounding name made it a target during intercommunal violence, and three employees were shot. The company rebranded as Star Cola in an attempt to depoliticize its image, but like many businesses, it collapsed after the island’s 1974 partition.
Super Cola, based in Famagusta, was founded by a former Bel Cola partner and is still produced today. Locals nicknamed it “Crow Juice”, referencing the crow as Famagusta’s city symbol—an emblem of identity in a deeply divided place.
Mogol, produced by M.O.L. (Mustafa Osman, Limassol), became known for quietly including a dash of Cypriot brandy (Anglia) in its sodas. When discovered, bottles were relabeled with the term “beered”, and the brand gradually shifted toward cider-like drinks.
Fikret Gazozlari also operated during this formative period, though little is documented.
After the island’s de facto partition in 1974, only Bel Cola and Super Cola remained. The rest were swept away by war, migration, and economic collapse. It’s a familiar pattern in Cypriot history—whole communities and industries uprooted almost overnight.
In 1984, Coca-Cola and Pepsi established local production in Cyprus. Their takeover was swift and strategic: unfair competition, bribery, and exclusive distribution deals pushed most remaining local producers out. Coca-Cola’s early use of preform PET bottles, which drastically reduced production costs, further cemented its dominance. Within a few years, Cyprus’s once-diverse landscape of independent cola makers had all but disappeared.
Other possible cola producers, such as Tansa, Senfa, and Roje, are remembered by name, but little else is known. Like much of the island’s modern history, Cyprus’s cola legacy is fractured—but the fragments still fizz with meaning.
Sources: Turkish Cypriot entrepreneur behind iconic brand Bixi Cola, Ramiz Manyera has died (t-vine.com, April 7, 2023). Bottled Bubbly: The Fascinating History of Cyprus Soft Drinks (LinkedIn, January 21, 2025).
