Coca-Cola from Mexico at Costco

UMDAD · 10-30-2009, 01:47 PM

I am a cokeaholic. I don't drink coffee. Our local (SE Michigan) Costco is now selling Coca-Cola from Mexico. It isn't cheap, but it is made with cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup.

I drank one this morning and followed it up with a regular, locally canned Coke, the kind made with the corn syrup (ok, so I had a late night yesterday). What a difference! The corn syrup coke tasted, well, syrupy. The cane sugar coke had a "cleaner, purer" taste.

Why do they use high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener? Is it strictly a cost issue?

musicamusica · 10-30-2009, 01:49 PM

Sugared Coke from Mexico is one of my guilty pleasures. I just indulge in one every month. I just get it at one of our Mexican markets, of which there are many in So Cal.
And yes, it is a cost issue. Corn syrup is cheaper in the US.

LongPrime · 10-30-2009, 01:59 PM

Sugar has a tariff and can be had from Cuba cheaper than cost of US production. Corn has a subsidy.

Political issue that has roots in conservation but later morf'd into subsidy to large land owners with powerful political connections.

UMDAD · 10-30-2009, 03:14 PM

I seem to remember reading an article in the New Yorker many years ago that 3-4 exiled Cuban families control the sugar production in South Florida and that they are totally opposed to any normalization of relations with Cuba.

mantori.suzuki · 10-30-2009, 03:23 PM

Another vote here for Mexican Coke. It's the only sugared soda I will touch. I buy it at the Mexican grocery at the bottom of the hill. You know the one.

FWIW, I think corn subsidies are killing us, literally.

SlitheyTove · 10-30-2009, 03:35 PM

musicamusica, have you ever been to Galco's? An entire store dedicated to sugar-sweetened sodas, in glass bottles. And vintage candy. Too much fun.

For those outside of Southern California, they do ship.

Galco's Soda Pop Stop

musicamusica · 10-30-2009, 04:01 PM

LOVE Galco's!!! Thanks for the reminder, I thought I would bring a dozen odd ball sodas for a Halloween party I'm going to (instead of the same old bottle of wine) Love FAygo root beer and Blenheims Hot Hot Ginger Ale.

NYMomof2 · 10-30-2009, 05:35 PM

I am a Cokeaholic, too. I remember when the formula changed. First the change was from Coke (sugar-sweetened) to New Coke (tasted more like Pepsi). New Coke was a failure, so they came out with Coke Classic. I swore it didn't taste the same. It was sweetened with HFCS. I have heard of Mexican Coke, and would love to find some to have as a treat. I try not to drink the stuff too often.

NYMomof2 · 10-30-2009, 05:42 PM

Vernor's Ginger Ale, anyone?

jmmom · 10-31-2009, 01:00 AM

Funny.... I live in Mexico part of the year. I am a Diet Coke (caffeine-free usually) drinker. I don't like the "Coke Light" Mexican version as well as I like the Diet Coke US version. No idea what the formula difference is... guess I need to take a look.