Was Coca-Cola once made with cocaine? Uncover the fascinating history of the world’s most iconic soda and its surprising early ingredients.
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Did Coca-Cola ever contain cocaine? Elon Musk’s viral tweet reignited curiosity about the soda’s secret past. Let’s uncover the truth!
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In 1885, John Pemberton, a pharmacist, created Coca-Cola as a ‘brain tonic’ with unexpected ingredients.
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The original Coca-Cola contained coca leaves (source of cocaine) and kola nuts (rich in caffeine) for an energizing boost.
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In the early days, a glass of Coca-Cola contained about nine milligrams of cocaine! But was it dangerous?
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In the 19th century, cocaine was a common ingredient in medicines and tonics, even used by doctors as an anesthetic.
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By 1903, growing concerns about addiction led Coca-Cola to modify its formula, using ‘spent’ coca leaves instead.
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By 1929, Coca-Cola fully removed all traces of cocaine, replacing it with a non-narcotic coca leaf extract.
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Today, Coca-Cola’s coca leaves come from Peru and Bolivia, processed by the Stepan Company in New Jersey.
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Elon Musk jokingly tweeted about ‘putting the cocaine back in Coca-Cola.’ Was it just a playful remark or something more?
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Today, the only ‘high’ from Coca-Cola comes from its caffeine content. A fascinating history, but thankfully, no cocaine!
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