Other flavors such as root beer and ginger ale contain flavorings made from herbs and spices. There are also some artificial or man-made flavorings used in soft drinks. Nature does not produce enough of some flavors to satisfy world demand. Also, some natural flavors are limited geographically and seasonally. Colors Many people don't realize how important color is to taste perception.
Color affects our psychological impression of food.
If you don' believe it, try eating a familiar food in the dark. The colors used in foods and beverages come from both natural and synthetic sources. Caffeine Caffeine is a substance that occurs naturally in more than 60 plants including coffee beans, tea leaves, kola nuts and coca beans. In some cases, small amounts of caffeine are added to soft drinks as part of the flavor profile. The amount of caffeine in a soft drink is only a fraction of that found in an equal amount of coffee or tea.