Cola
''In botany and slang, colas are the flowers of the cannabis plant.A cola is a sweet carbonated drink, usually with caramel flavoring and mostly containing caffeine. The flavor of the drink comes from a mixture of vanilla, cinnamon, and citrus flavorings. The name comes from the kola nutss that were originally used as the source of caffeine.
The drink may also be caffeine-free, and although some people (perhaps with a touch of irony) disagree on calling such a drink a cola, neither the cola companies themselves nor the vast majority of cola drinkers would make such a distinction. Cola drinks are generally sweetened with corn syrup, but may be sweetened with sugar or an artificial sweetener.
Major brands of cola include Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Royal Crown, and various local producers. Jolt Cola also has a dedicated cult following, as it has more caffeine than any other cola (or any other carbonated drink, for that matter). Inca Kola is a major South American brand.
In 2002 a new brand, Mecca Cola, aimed at Muslim customers (with the slogan Think Muslim, Drink Muslim), was launched in France by Tawfik Mathlouthi. The product became available in the UK in 2003. Some of the profits are directed to the Palestinian cause, and to domestic charities. [Source: Channel 4 News, 8 Jan 03] A similar product with a similar concept, Qibla Cola, was launched in 2003 in the UK.