NationStates Jolt Archive

At work the other day my co worker started telling me that cocaine came from the same plant chocolate comes from. I said he had no idea what he’s talking about, so he bet me $50 that they both come from the same plant.

When I further investigated after work I proved myself correct because

Cocaine comes from the Erythroxylon coca plant

And

Chocolate comes from the Theobroma cacao tree

I found many articles saying that cocaine comes from the same plant as chocolate, but they were either dated April first (April fools) or essays written and posted by high school students.

So if the bet was "$50 that cocaine and chocolate come from the same plant" and I bet $50 that cocaine and chocolate come from different plants"

Than there should be no doubt that I won, and the $50 is mine.

If you have any information I’m missing out on let me know.

he probably mixed up "cocoa" and "cacao"

Cocaine is an alkaloid extracted from the coca (Erythroxylon Coca) plant. Contrary to common belief, it is not produced from the cacao plant that gives us chocolate (Theobroma Cacao).

he probably mixed up "cocoa" and "cacao"
Which would be easy to do, since cocoa comes from the cacao tree. Coca is something else again though.

Which would be easy to do, since cocoa comes from the cacao tree. Coca is something else again though.
See... Even I can mix them up :eek:

They both make you feel good.

http://images6.fotki.com/v83/photos/2/28241/1034315/sm69-vi.gif

Over 300 substances have been identified in chocolate. Some of these, including caffeine and theobromine (another, less powerful stimulant) could actually cause dependency effects.

Chocolate contains 'phenylethylamine', a substance related to a family of stimulants called amphetamines.

Anandamide is produced naturally by the brain, and is found in chocolate; the same ones in THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis. The anandamide in chocolate might therefore contribute to the feeling of well-being reported by “chocoholics” -though you would have to eat well over 30 kilos of chocolate to experience effects comparable to one dose of cannabis.

Caffeine effects: http://images6.fotki.com/v82/photos/2/28241/1034315/040-vi.gif

If you want a great book about Cocaine, read:
'Cocaine' by Dominic Streatfeild. It details the history of the plant, as well as the drug. Great book.
Also "Killing Pablo" by Mark Bowen is a cracking good read. All about the life and death of Pablo Escobar - one of the biggest Cocaine manufacturers in South America.

And if you want a great chocolate hit, try Valrhona or L'Artisan bars ...

No, chocolate isn't from the same plant. Coca-Cola on the other hand....well, not anymore ;)

Well, cacao is from beans, and the cocoa plant has no beans what I can see... By the way, what kind of chocolate does this co-worker eat?:P

Just call up a Columbian Drug baron and ask what plants they use. I used to have the number of one, but I lost it many years ago. So you’ll have to find your own. Or at least that’s what He told me to tell people. He had a hot daughter but it didn’t work out.

Then call up a Chocolate Baron and ask them for the plant that they use.

Cocaine comes from the Erythroxylon coca plant

And

Chocolate comes from the Theobroma cacao tree

A couple of years ago I came across this interesting note in the CIA world factbook -

"Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter."

I was just left with visions of the CIA having to clear up shame-facedly after one of their agents instigated a raid on a chocolate plantation...

but the other question is from where the coca on the coca-cola go.
the chocalate's plant?the cocain plant? something else?

Coca (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca)-Cola (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kola_nut)

(Originally)

Just call up a Columbian Drug baron and ask what plants they use. I used to have the number of one, but I lost it many years ago. So you’ll have to find your own. Or at least that’s what He told me to tell people. He had a hot daughter but it didn’t work out.

Then call up a Chocolate Baron and ask them for the plant that they use.
Oh, you don't wanna mess with those chocolate barons, or even talk to one. They're all psychopaths who'd kill you as soon as look at you. I know, I've got the concrete boots to prove it (and they liked me!). ;)

They should've given you chocolate boots.

That'd be sweet.

Literally.

Chocolate and Cocaine come from different plants.

The plant that chocolate comes from is: Theobroma cacao

source for this: http://www.cocoapro.com/cnhy/world_choc/wc203.jsp

The plant that cocaine comes from is: Erythroxylon coca

source for this: http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/questions/4/biology/meddrugs/30.html

As can be clearly understood, if they are of a different genus and species then they aren't of the same plant.

As a follow up, how did you spend your $50?

Hopefully on chocolate boots.

Man, the more I think of the idea, the better it gets........

but the other question is from where the coca on the coca-cola go.
the chocalate's plant?the cocain plant? something else?
Originally Coca-Cola did indeed have (very) small traces of Cocaine in it (but not since the 1920's I think). It uses the leaves of the coca plant as one of it's ingredients, for flavouring. Nowadays they use a technique to extract the Cocaine before using what's left as flavouring.
In fact, if you remember during the '80's when they produced the new Coke which was an absolute disaster - the reason why was because they made it without the Coca leaves flavouring. They soon reverted back to using Coca leaves for their 'Classic' Coke.

Hopefully on chocolate boots.

Man, the more I think of the idea, the better it gets........
I'd certainly be happy to walk a mile in your boots.

Hopefully on chocolate boots.

Man, the more I think of the idea, the better it gets........
I think chocolate boots would rock, just so long as you don't have your feet in them, if they were to stay pristine and foot-crud free then they'd be awesome. Kinda like chocolate bunnies.