Colombian Indians create soda from coca

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/base/business-53/1134539365293010.xml&storylist=business

12/14/2005, 6:40 a.m. ET
By SERGIO DE LEON
The Associated Press

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A new soft drink made in Colombia may not be cola, but it's definitely coca. A Nasa Indian company in southern Colombia has created a golden, carbonated drink made from coca leaf extract, and they plan to market it as an alternative to Coca-Cola.

Coca Sek goes on sale this week in parts of Colombia, but its makers say they probably won't be able to export to the U.S. or most other countries because of rules blocking the entry of raw coca, the plant from which cocaine is refined.

"Six years ago we took on the job of trying to re-establish the good name of the coca leaf, which is a plant with enormous medicinal properties," said David Curtidor, a Nasa who heads the community company that produces the drink in the tiny southwestern town of Calderas.

The soda looks like apple cider, has a tea-like fragrance and tastes vaguely like a cross between 7-Up and ginger ale. The physical effect of drinking it — even after several bottles — is minimal...

[Ezlivin]

1. But will Eric Clapton sing about it?

Hell, we've got Mountain Dew and Red Bull on the shelves.

What's one more energy drink?

[Bacchus39]

2. good, I'll have to try it when I'm there next month

n/t

[Toots]

3. Can you snort it?

:+

[Mugsy]

4. I can se it now: "Coca Colo"

:)

[meganmonkey]

5. Well, that is how Coca-Cola got it's name originally

AFAIK :shrug:

[Algorem]

6. I think Saturday Night Live had a thing about the Great Depression being

caused by coca being taken out of Coca Cola-it went from the Roaring '20's with the fast popular jazz and flappers and everybody dancing to everyone all poverty-stricken in breadlines with like "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" or something playing in the background after they took the coca out of coca-cola