Voices from Catland is the personal site of Kenn Wilson, sometimes known as Kenn Christ, of San Francisco, California.
I was reminded recently that the Coca-cola sold in Mexico is different from that sold in the US in that it’s still sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). By all reports, the Mexican variety tastes much better than the domestic version. I’m not a Coke drinker normally (or any soda, really) but I was curious to try it to see.
It took a little looking around but I finally found that the taqueria just around the corner from my house sells Coke imported from Mexico, so I picked up a couple bottles. Add a can of domestic Coke and I’m ready for a taste test.
The taste difference is really quite remarkable. I was expecting a slight difference maybe, but nothing on this order. The Mexican Coke is much better, by a huge margin. It’s lighter, cleaner, and doesn’t have that lingering aftertaste that I can only describe as “chemically” that the American Coke has. Sarai’s findings are the same, and in fact she used the word “chemical” just as I was thinking it. I’d hesitate to call anything containing this much refined sugar “healthy”, but it’s a damn sight less unhealthy than HFCS, so you’ve got that benefit as well as the better taste.
To eliminate any bias, Sarai took the test blind. I tasted them just after she did, and before she voiced her opinion.
Mexican Coke is also sold in much cooler bottles
The remainder of the Coke, after the taste test, was combined with some Cuban rum I have in order to make Cubas Libres.
Like I said, I’m not a Coke drinker normally, but I occasionally keep it on hand when having people over for drinks. From this point on, this is the only kind I’ll buy. I hear that Costco sells Mexican Coke by the case. I don’t have a Costco membership but I know people who do.
For those without access to a Costco, there’s also the option of stocking up on Passover Coke, the HFCS-free Coca-cola that’s sold around April due to corn not being kosher for Passover. Look for the yellow caps on the bottles.
HFCS-free 7-up or Sprite is proving to be more elusive. It seems to exist, but I’m having trouble finding any concrete information about it. This is the other soda I keep on hand for cocktails and would like to find a cane sugar substitute for it as well.
Incoming Links
Comments
Bob
June 26, 2008
I am a big fan of Mexican Coca-Cola. I definitely think that it tastes different.
A more fair taste test, however, would have been to compare Mexican Coca-Cola with a bottle of U.S. bottled Coke instead of Coke in a can.
Kenn
June 26, 2008
Does Coke from a bottle taste different from Coke in a can? I had that can left over from a party a while back but never drink it myself so I have no idea.
Something to say?
<a href=""> <b> <blockquote> <code> <em> <i> <ol> <li> <strike> <strong> <ul>