<P> Cola is a sweetened, carbonated soft drink, made from ingredients that contain caffeine from the kola nut and non-cocaine derivatives from coca leaves, flavored with vanilla and other ingredients . Most colas now use other flavoring (and caffeinating) ingredients with a similar taste . Colas became popular worldwide after pharmacist John Pemberton invented Coca - Cola in 1886 . His non-alcoholic recipe was inspired by the coca wine of pharmacist Angelo Mariani, created in 1863 . </P> <P> Modern colas usually contain caramel color, caffeine, and sweeteners such as sugar or high - fructose corn syrup . They now come in numerous different brands . Among them, the most popular are Coca - Cola and Pepsi - Cola . These two cola companies have been rivaling each other since the 1980s . </P> <P> The primary modern flavoring ingredients in a cola drink are sugar, citrus oils (from oranges, limes, or lemon fruit peel), cinnamon, vanilla, and an acidic flavorant . Manufacturers of cola drinks add trace ingredients to create distinctively different tastes for each brand . Trace flavorings may include nutmeg and a wide variety of ingredients, but the base flavorings that most people identify with a cola taste remain vanilla and cinnamon . Acidity is often provided by phosphoric acid, sometimes accompanied by citric or other isolated acids . Coca - Cola's recipe is maintained as a corporate trade secret . </P> <P> A variety of different sweeteners may be added to cola, often partly dependent on local agricultural policy . High - fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is predominantly used in the United States and Canada due to the lower cost of government - subsidized corn . In Europe, however, HFCS is subject to production quotas designed to encourage the production of sugar; sugar is thus typically used to sweeten sodas . In addition, stevia or an artificial sweetener may be used; "sugar - free" or "diet" colas typically contain artificial sweeteners only . </P>

What type of acid is in coca cola