What ingredient was missing from the first beverage mentioned in Q#76099 that makes it quite different from today's version?

Verbonica

Coca Cola used to have traces of cocaine in it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine Feb 20 07, 12:12 AM

queproblema

That's true, but not the answer to my question. Feb 20 07, 12:22 AM

Verbonica

Oops, sorry I hadn't read the question correctly - and hadn't seen the original question. Now - let's try another answer: Hops weren't used in beer until the 11th century, but beer has been known since ancient Egypt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops Feb 20 07, 1:02 AM

queproblema

Excellent, Verbonica! Tom Standage says Scottish and Newcastle Breweries recreated a thousand bottles of an Egyptian beer without hops that was fruity, sweet, golden, and slighty cloudy. This is the best I can find on the internet: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3469/is_33_53/ai_90992027 You can also click on a link to the right called "Reaching the past..." "The only reward you get for providing an answer is the knowledge you may gain by looking it up, or the satisfaction of helping someone else find an answer to their question." (Posting Rules) I was going to offer a silver-plated aluminum can, but maybe you would prefer simply the knowledge you gained. Hope you don't feel "bilked!" (See #75831.) Feb 20 07, 2:00 AM

star_gazer

Another possibility is that diet sodas use to have saccharine as their sweetner now they have NutraSweet. Feb 20 07, 6:46 AM