We’ve all enjoyed the sweet, vibrant taste of grape-flavored drinks, candies, and gum, but have you ever stopped to wonder: why doesn’t it actually taste like grapes? Despite being synonymous with the purple fruit, grape flavor in many of our favorite treats doesn’t resemble the real thing at all! That sweet, sugary taste we all associate with “grape” comes from methyl anthranilate—a synthetic compound that has zero interest in actually tasting like grapes. It was invented in the early 1900s, and instead of being inspired by fruit, it was just created in a lab. So when you’re sipping on that grape soda or munching on grape candy, just know you’re not actually tasting fruit—you’re tasting… science!

Want to learn more? Uncover the bizarre history behind this iconic flavor and how it came to dominate the world of sweets and drinks in the latest video from the Weird History Food channel!