That, and because Coca-Cola is the only private company that's allowed to import coca leaves into America, which gives the soda its unique flavor. There's a process where the cocaine is extracted from the leaves, and shipped out to be used by the medical industry (as a topical anesthetic, or for research).
Most made the switch pretty quickly because of the drastic cost savings. Initially Coca-Cola allowed a 50% corn syrup substitution and by about 6 months before the introduction of New Coke, nearly every major bottler of Coca-Cola was using 100% high fructose corn syrup, rather than sugar or a mixture of the two.
If you’re trying to watch your calorie intake, root beer is the better choice. When it comes to caffeine, Coke is the clear winner. A 12-ounce can of Coke has 34 milligrams of caffeine, while a 12-ounce can of root beer has just 0.5 milligrams of caffeine. If you’re looking for a soda that will give you a caffeine boost, Coke is the way to go. Cheerwine Known as the “ nectar of North Carolina ,” locals can’t get enough of this super carbonated, cherry flavored soda. Photo Credit: Shutterstock 365 Everyday Value Cola Participants in The Huffington Post’s blind taste test loved the sugary taste of Whole Foods brand soda even more than Coca-Cola classic. Photo Credit: Shutterstock. . 65 333 18 385 372 220 122 196 378