It's the Real Thing ...

[shel]

Ahhhh ... this afternoon I grabbed a burrito for lunch at a new Mexican café in the area. As I was ordering I saw that this place carried Mexican Coke - made with real sugar. It's been ages since I've had a real soda pop. so I bought a frosty cold bottle. WOW! What a difference compared to that crap made with HFCS. Mm-mm-mm-mm-MMM!

I shouldn't be ingesting so much sugar, but I'm going back tomorrow to buy a few bottles to take home and drink in a frosty glass mug. The mugs are in the freezer now. Having the soda at home means I can just drink a little every day rather than feeling compelled to knock back an entire 12-oz bottle at one sitting.

Has anyone else had the pleasure of drinking such a Coke?

A friend of mine told me that she saw several sodas in her market that were made with real sugar, and she had the same reaction I did. And, coincidentally, I saw a root bear and another two sodas made with sugar at the local Trader Joe's. Are real sugar sweetened soft drinks making a comeback?

Shel

[shroomgirl]

the Latino grocery stores have cane sugar sodas. you have to be careful not every coke in a btl is cane sugar....or so I've been told by people that should know.

[BevReview Steve]

shel, you inspired me!

I just posted a little overview and review on Mexican Coke.

I first got to taste what the "real" real thing tasted last a few years ago when I got a sampling of Kosher for Passover Coke... fell in love ever since. Mexican Coke is right up there.. as well as easier to find year-round!

[BevReview Steve]

Originally Posted by shel

I saw a root bear and another two sodas made with sugar at the local Trader Joe's. Are real sugar sweetened soft drinks making a comeback?

You probably saw Boylan Bottleworks Root Beer, and probably some of the other Boylan's flavors, like Black Cherry or Ginger Ale. I know I first was exposed to these thanks to Trader Joes.

I think you are starting to see more and more drinks swinging the cane sugar direction. From the perspective of a smaller company, it's a differentiator. That's why Jones Soda did it earlier this year. These beverages are also sold at a higher pricepoint, categorizing them as "gourmet sodas", so they can get away with it.

There are rumors that Pepsi and Coke will have their own higher-priced sodas with cane sugar. (Names that have been flying around the 'net include "Pepsi Natural", "Pepsi Raw", "Sierra Mist Essence"). I think if you see these eventually, it will be just to provide the big cola makers another revenue stream in the gourmet soda market, not to change the core beverages.

Another reason why I think the use of cane sugar has increased is the recent studies linking high fructose corn syrup to not-very-pleasant things. So there is a reactionary move there. (Similar to how everyone got on the Atkins bandwagon, prompting the creation of Coke C2 and Pepsi Edge, both which failed pretty quickly).

[shel]

Originally Posted by BevReview Steve

You probably saw Boylan Bottleworks Root Beer, and probably some of the other Boylan's flavors, like Black Cherry or Ginger Ale. I know I first was exposed to these thanks to Trader Joes.

In all honesty, I'm not much of a soda drinker, and I find most sodas that I've tried too sweet and cloying. However, it's nice to know that there are more choices for those who enjoy these drinks. I checked TJ's and found that they carried a root beer (which looks like I may want to try a bottle) the Boylan Black Cherry (I had a sip of a friend's yesterday, pretty good - I love cherries!), Reeds ginger ale.

Shel

[Ramon]

I haven't had much soda in my life, but I find it interesting the difference the sugar makes. I can see why, but it caught me off guard because the amount I drink is so little. Reading this thread makes me want to try some real soda, possible a type of root beer. Thanks for the info!

[Luc_H]

Hey Shel,

Check this out!

Place to buy Pure Cane Sugar Pepsi? Dr Pepper? - Los Angeles Area - Chowhound


By the way, I heard rumours that 7-up will be made with cane sugar and natural citrus oils to become a 100% natural beverage....
Ramon, do you know if that is true?

Luc H

[shel]

Hi Luc, I live 400+ miles to the north of L.A., so the info isn't of much use to me. Plus I don't drink that stuff (soda pop) but rarely - I can count on the fingers of one hand how often I've had some thus far this year. If 7-UP came out with a sugar-based soda, I'd try it just to know about it, just as I did with the Mexican coke..

Shel