What ingredient was taken out of Coca-Cola?
Coca leaves were used in Coca-Cola’s preparation; the small amount of cocaine they contained – along with caffeine originally sourced from kola nuts – provided the drink’s tonic quality. In 1903, cocaine was removed, leaving caffeine as the sole stimulant ingredient, and all medicinal claims were dropped. Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylon coca) which is native to South America. Cocaine can be snorted through the nose, rubbed into gums, injected into the bloodstream, or smoked.These products became illegal in most countries outside of South America in the early 20th century, after the addictive nature of cocaine was widely recognized.