Cocaine or 3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester. The free base of cocaine are colorless, bitter tasting crystals. This drug is referred to as "crack". The hydrochloride of cocaine, also bitter tasting crystals, commonly referred to as "snow", is typically consumed by way of sniffing it up the nose. Cocaine is the main alkaloid of the coca plant. Cocaine has been around in Europe since the 1750s.