What happens to the cocaine used to make Coca-Cola?

This was done in part because the desired flavor can be extracted from the coca leaves, removing the cocaine and leaving the drug aside as a byproduct. read more

To this day, Coca-Cola needs coca leaves to make its drinks; as a Coke exec told the New York Times, “[i]ngredients from the coca leaf are used, but there is no cocaine in it and it is all tightly overseen by regulatory authorities.” In fact, the United States (and most other nations) expressly prohibits the sale and trade of coca leaves. read more

To this day, Coca-Cola needs coca leaves to make its drinks; as a Coke exec told the New York Times, "[i]ngredients from the coca leaf are used, but there is no cocaine in it and it is all tightly overseen by regulatory authorities." In fact, the United States (and most other nations) expressly prohibits the sale and trade of coca leaves. read more

In response, a pharmacist named John Pemberton created a faux wine, mixing together fruit flavors with extracts from kola nuts (caffeine) and coca leaves (cocaine). He dispensed it via soda fountains—at the time, carbonated water was believed to have medicinal benefit—and with that, Coca-Cola was born. read more