I always detected what I think are traces of cherry in the flavor too.

Anyways I doubt that they use cocaine as an ingredient these days but they most likely did when it was first invented. Cocaine was easily obtainable back in the 1800's and I believe that you could even buy it in pharmacies. Like I've said before back in those days they didn't have laws to regulate what people could buy or what went into consumer products like they do now.

It's interesting that it used to have cocaine. I wonder if people actually noticed anything drinking the old cocaine Coke? It had caffeine, like it does today, maybe drinking trace cocaine didn't really amount to anything. Couldn't tell ya. ::big grin::

Well...I guess whether or not it's a flavour derived, or the actual addition of the kola nut/extract itself I am not entirely sure.

Without seeing the actual ingredients and process - There's just this flavour that most "classic" Colas have, like the ones that say stuff like "original" or "traditional", and also some of the cheaper brands (some, not all.) all seem to share a certain flavour.
To me, this is what I've come to associate with the flavour of Cola.

Both of the "big two" are fairly devoid of this flavour, whatever it may be.

Ok, I got ya, I know what you mean. I've tried about 10-15 colas, the big brands and cheap ones. There is a "cola" taste.

What's really funny to me is, now, after all these years, because of this thread, I'm only now discoving that "cola" taste I thought was specifically from the kola/cola nut was not... it's really some combo of vanilla, cinnamon, caffeine, nutmeg, citrus, carmel and cornsurup. Cola is the Long Island Ice Tea of the softdrink world. ::big grin::

A while ago I found a few companies that sold I think more natural sodas. I guess with pure sugar or without the stuff in popular stuff like Coke and Pepsi. I wish I could remember the names of the companies but they make natural creme sodas, colas, and stuff like that.

Turns out I guess it is true as it's on wiki as well.

Strange as when I recall the taste of coke vs pepsi, I would remember those flavors in pepsi more than coke. Because coke was just too strong. Maybe I needed to try the shake trick.