One of the oldest and most potent natural stimulants, the leaves of the coca plant are the source from which cocaine is synthesized. In the late 19th century, Corsican pharmacist Angelo Mariani (1838-1914) became hugely successful through the creation of Vin Mariani, a coca-based tonic wine. As Aymon de Lestrange explains here, Mariani's effective advertising methods shaped many future ad campaigns, while his recipe and packaging were later appropriated by Coca-Cola. Exploring the botany of coca, De Lestrange traces its long, colorful history and how it became incorrectly identified with illegal cocaine.