Cola
 A glass of cola served with ice cubes | |
| Type | Soft drink |
|---|---|
| Origin | Georgia, U.S. |
| Introduced | 1885 |
| Color | Caramel (with some exceptions) |
| Flavor | Sweet, kola nut, citrus, cinnamon and vanilla |
Cola is a carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus oils, and other flavorings (typically including sugar or artificial sweeteners). The name, however, comes from the kola nut (Cola acuminata), which imbues the beverage with the stimulant caffeine (though other sources of caffeine are generally used in modern formulations). A stimulating soda using kola appeared circa 1880 in the United States.
Cola became popular worldwide after the success of Coca-Cola, a trademarked brand and symbol of American capitalism which has been imitated by other manufacturers. In 1886, American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton finetuned his recipe for a soft drink; it also contained unspent coca leaf extract, and therefore cocaine. His non-alcoholic recipe was directly inspired by the coca wine of pharmacist Angelo Mariani, created in 1863. Local prohibition laws forced him to adapt his recent creation, French Wine Coca.
Most modern colas have a dark caramel color and are normally sweetened with sugar, high-fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. There are numerous different brands, with Coca-Cola and Pepsi being the most popular. These two colas have been competitors since the 1890s, a rivalry that has intensified since the 1980s.