Is it an added ingredient or a by-product of the other ingredients? Why is it added? taste? stability? why is it not in sprit or rootbeer?
In: Chemistry
Early soda’s like Coca-cola were intended to be medicinal. You would drink it as a tonic to make yourself feel better when sick or low in energy, similar to how energy drinks like Red Bull are marketed today.
The first concoction contained many essential oils, Kola nut (which is the source of the caffeine) and Cocaine which was legal at the time. (although the amount of cocaine in Coke was quite small)
Coca-cola no longer contains cocaine for obvious reasons, but coca leaves are still used to flavor Coke. Coca-cola is the only company in the US with a permit to import coca leaves, and the cocaine that is made as a by-product is used by the medical industry.
The caffeine in Sodas today is added both for its distinctive bitter flavor and because of its stimulant qualities. The sugar + caffeine mix in most sodas gives you energy and wakes you up.
Pepsi was invented as a rival cola to Coke so it had a number of similar ingredients including the caffeine.
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