Okay, only people on my email list (if you aren't on, you should sign up!) will understand why I am posting this, but curious about the origins of Coke? This article in The Atlantic tells you everything you wanted to know... Fascinating article. This one is interesting also.
From Wikipedia:
The company produces concentrate, which is then sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers throughout the world. The bottlers, who hold territorially exclusive contracts with the company, produce finished product in cans and bottles from the concentrate in combination with filtered water and sweeteners. The bottlers then sell, distribute and merchandise Coca-Cola to retail stores and vending machines. The Coca-Cola Company also sells concentrate for soda fountains to major restaurants and food service distributors.
The Coca-Cola Company has, on occasion, introduced other cola drinks under the Coke brand name. The most common of these isDiet Coke, with others including Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Diet Coke Caffeine-Free, Coca-Cola Cherry, Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola Vanilla, and special versions with lemon, lime, or coffee. In 2013, Coke products could be found in over 200 countries worldwide, with consumers downing more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings each day.[2]
+sara marsh
You asked about Coke syrup. My Dad had a drugstore and I worked for him over 50 years ago. People would come in and ask for Coke syrup for vomiting. I think they just sipped on it to prevent vomiting. Later they came out with a liquid called Emitrol. It was the ingredient in the Coke syrup that worked on nausea.
Kevin
Ah, I remember Emitrol, thanks for the info, Sara!
Mary Johnson
Also, when Coke first came out it had cocaine in it.