The Coca Cola Story

From Whatheck.net:

John Stith Pemberton (1831.) was a graduated pharmacist and druggist, chemicals, herbal medicines, cosmetic products and even a perfume seller in the early stage of his life (Sweet Southern Bouquet was Pemberton's most famous perfume). As a herbal expert and morphine addict, he began working on a headache relieving beverage called coca and cola, based on Kola nut and Coca plant. The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains caffeine and Coca is a plant best known for the stimulant drug cocaine, that is chemically extracted from its new fresh leaf tips. On May 8th 1886. Pemberton finished his experiment. He chilled the beverage, drank it and surprised himself with a pleasant taste of a drink. Mixed it with carbonated water, tried it again - whoa, bingo! The taste of a drink was surprisingly good. Unfortunately he failed in his mission, but who cares, he succeeded in making a highly addictive drink! So he decided to sell it as a fountain drink, as an alternative for root beer and ginger ale. Sadly, Mr Pemberton had to sell the business in 1891. to Asa G. Candler for only $2,300.

Read the full story here: The Evolution of Coca Cola