Costco is Selling Mexican Coke!
If you like the Real Thing better made with real sugar and you happen to live near a Costco, you'll be happy to know that they're selling Mexican Coke: $17.99 for a case of 24 twelve ounce bottles, which comes out to 75c each. How'd Costco manage that, you ask? According to SFist, they've "conformed to CA and U.S. rules, such as CRV (the sort-of deposit you pay for the bottle) and "nutrition" labeling, so everything appears to be nice and legal."
Coca-Cola Corporate in Atlanta says there is "no perceptible taste difference" between Mexican Coke made with real sugar and US Coke made with high-fructose corn syrup, but as anyone who's ever had the two can tell you, that's wishful thinking—drinks made with real sugar have a clean sweetness and light mouthfeel to them, while those made with corn syrup have heavy mouthfeel and a cloying sweetness.
Don't believe me? A commenter on Jason Perlow's post on Passover Coke (made in the US with real sugar for the holiday) said he'd brought back real sugar Coke from Nicaragua and did blind taste tests with friends and family: "We used purified ice, cold bottle cokes with Sugar & HFCS and a rinse of purified water between taste. EVERYONE - to a person - can taste a difference and all prefer the sugar! Nearly half of the people were very sceptical, and said it was in our heads. They said “I remember that taste”, and “WOW, that IS better!” [via YumSugar]
Update: Wal-Mart is Selling Mexican Coke Too
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25 Comments:
Welcome to the civilised world, you finally have a choice on your blends of Coke.
Here in the UK I can go into any local store and buy Coke from the UK, France, Germany and further afield. A local kebab shop sells Moroccan coke (with the old style ring pull tops) which all helps to create the correct feel when you're eating your various meats.
My local Costco sells UK and Irish Coke, but of those two I actually much prefer the UK version. The most widely available are the French and German can, which s tend to have a "Drier" taste (and a slight chemical after-taste). French bottles seem to have a slightly higher CO2 content (more fizz) whereas the UK bottles are closer to an average Post-Mix you'd get in a cheap eatery.
Small local shops generally sell the foriegn versions because they can buy them cheaply at wholesale. Costco Irish coke is about 10% cheaper than the "official" Uk version. The imports are so widespread that the UK cans now have a big "MADE IN GB" logo on them, but the arabic "COKE" logo a much bigger draw in my opinion. There are whole armies of people that spend their lives driving to france to load up a van of cans and bottles and then bring them back to the UK to sell on to small traders. They do it to save a few pence per item, but for Coke fanatics like me its a great way to enjoy all the Colas that Europe (and beyond) have to offer.
And to all the people that claim they can't tell them apart - fine, drink which ever is cheapest. I -can- tell them apart. And I can tell pepsi from pepsi max from diet coke from coke from french coke from german diet coke etc etc.
One of the the main differences (in Europe at least) is the local water that the regional bottlers use. If you can't taste the difference between English water and French water then all hope is lost.
Having spent a few weeks in Nevada, Arizona and California recently I can confidently comment that across the board the American Coke products are inferior to their various European namesakes. Do I sound like I take this too seriously? Well I just checked my cupboard and I have 26 difference types of Diet Coke alone! I'm drinking UK today but yesterday it was a 6 pack of 500ml bottles from Barbados... tomorrow I think I'll have some Turkish stuff I bought recently and haven't tried yet.
I hear that most Americans don't even have a passport. The world is a great place and a lot of it has great produce to offer. I'm just glad I live somewhere that has all this available within 10 miles of my house, I feel sorry for people that shop at walmart...
Samw at 12:06PM on 05/04/07
Why does anyone even make it a point to drink sugared, non-"diet" soda anymore, "clean mouthfeel" or not? Sugared soft drinks rot your teeth and make you fat, period - they're even worse for you than fruit juice, and that's saying something. Yes, sometimes there's a craving for the flavor of a Coke, agreed - drink a diet, then - you still get the brown color, sweetness, and the bubbles, all without crapping out your teeth and fattening yourself up. I wouldn't condone this - Americans already drink way, way too much sugared soft drinks without now "boutiquing" the cane sugar variety - beyond the infrequent Pellegrino Limonata/Arranciata, stay away from this stuff. Fat and bad teeth is no way to hurtle thru life, sorry...
Sandro at 12:42PM on 05/04/07
While I do agree that we probably drink too much soda, a lot of the problem is with the current use of high fructose corn syrup. One of its sickly side effects is suppressing the notification to your brain that you are full and should stop eating. Thus, when you're chomping down those irrationally sized portions at McD's and slurping up your 64oz HFCS blend of Coke, you will overeat yourself into obesity rather easily. The worst part is the very common use of HFCS in A LOT of foods, not just soft drinks. Due to the difference in cost, HFCS has been adopted by just about all manufacturers of food in the US. It's horrible.
This Yahoo! answers article does a great job explaining.
SDMark at 12:58PM on 05/04/07
I had Diet Coke in Iceland (there it's called Coke Light), and it was much better than US Diet Coke. Why is that?
MBinDC at 1:23PM on 05/04/07
This is crazy. I was at Costco, here in San Francisco, the other day and I bought a case of this only because I've had experience with "mexican" coke and I remembered it tasted much better. I have to say that the cane sugar tastes much better than the corn syrup. I'll probably go get another case ....
tino at 1:42PM on 05/04/07
Sandro,
In principle I agree we shouldn't drink soda; I would expand that to diet soda. The phosphoric acid leaches calcium from your bones. And a study recently found diet soda drinkers tend to eat more. They hypothesized it was the participant unconsciously making up the calories they saved with the soda.
It is all in moderation. 99% of the time I drink water, which is the best.
But... I occasionally get a craving for Coke, and Diet Coke just won't do. It tastes disgusting. Aspartame tastes bitter, not very sweet, and has a long aftertaste t to me. Sucralose tastes sweet in a strange way with a subtle chemical aftertaste, and gives me stomach pains. Saccharin tastes most similar, but somewhat different, to sugar, but almost no one makes drinks with it anymore.
Drink a can of Coke a week if you like it, brush your teeth after, and don't overeat the rest of the time. Coke isn't evil if you don't abuse it.
colin at 2:27PM on 05/04/07
Remember the "New" Coke formula? It was just a ploy to make American's forget what Coke w/ sugar tasted like before they switched to using corn syrup instead. SOBs.
vwack at 2:30PM on 05/04/07
"Remember the "New" Coke formula?"
That's funny, I haven't heard they specifically did it to cover up the switch to HFCS. I wouldn't put it past them, but I also think that would have been a big risk to take with your brand if you were just doing it for subterfuge.
The official line is, in market research people preferred the sweeter taste of Pepsi to the tarter taste of Coke. So New Coke was intended to taste sweeter and more similar to Pepsi. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke
colin at 2:54PM on 05/04/07
smart - i love coke in bottles - when i go to Jordan - ah'
metroproper.com at 3:30PM on 05/04/07
Sugared soft drinks rot your teeth and make you fat,
While they make mean you add fewer inches to your midsection, diet drinks are no better for your teeth (according to my dentist).
The reason sugar in your mouth causes cavities is that bacteria convert it to acid. This acid dissolves your tooth enamel (the white part on the outside).
Apparently the acid content of Diet sodas is quite a bit higher than their non-diet counterparts, so it doesn't help your dental health to drink diet, as there is now acid in your mouth even if you have no bacteria.
Michael Langford at 7:43PM on 05/04/07
Soda is bad for you, very very much agreed. This seems to be a rare treat for me, though ... Mexican coke in glass bottles!
tino at 8:33PM on 05/04/07
Living in Arizona I am lucky to have easy access to Mexican Coke, all of the local Food City stores carry it. It is sold by the bottle for about $1.25 each. They all have an American ingredients label stuck on the side. A trip across the border yields even better access to HFCS free soda. On my last trip I purchased 6 cases of 9oz bottles of Coke (these were non recycle bottles), my kids love them, I like the fact that they are smaller servings without the HFCS.
Unfortunately I am pre-diabetic, so I must seek out sugar free soda, I only buy those that use sucralose (splenda) it is sugar based and tastes much better. The best that I have found (winner of my family blind taste test, beating out Mexican cane sugar coke and HFCS coke) is the Jones Sugar Free Cola, it is sold in cans only at Target stores. I have been clearing out Target stores in my area regularly as the only keep two half cases on the shelf.
Finally, Boylan suger free cream soda is to die for (available at Trader Joes).
http://www.boylanbottling.com/
http://www.jonessoda.com/
Richard in AZ at 10:24PM on 05/04/07
Samw -
My fiance is British and part of what I find attractive about him is his arrogance and self-assuredness, but in your case, it's over the top and untenable.
Have you read what you typed up there?
We Americans stand accused of every social transgression known to the civilized world, arrogance and rudeness being at the top of the list, so how is it that someone like you can comment on a message board such as this and flaunt your obviously superior attitude and not get called on the carpet?
I had to say something.
I'm non-confrontational, but, your post really raised my ire.
All of this over Coca Cola?
I'm glad we're not discussing politics!
s.ray at 10:29PM on 05/04/07
I love Coke, I drink almost a 12 pack per day, seriously... I'm not fat, I'm actually Skinny... Anyway my all time favorite has to be Faygo Rock and Rye in the glass bottles, hard to get anymore, but you can find it around and even order it online in plastic bottles anyway
Kristofer at 7:00AM on 05/05/07
Diet Coke Drinkers,
I've been reading the discussion on diet coke vs regular coke, and I find it all to be a moot point. The fact of the matter is that research has shown a strong correlation between the consumption of Aspartame, splenda, and other synthetic sugar substitutes, and cancer. Of course it is nearly impossible to prove causation, but the correlation is uncanny. (Just like the strong correlation between birth control pills and breast cancer.)
Personally, who cares if you are thin and have nice teeth if you're going to die at an early age?
KatPJ at 10:40AM on 05/05/07
@s.ray
Agreed.
Also, I'm generally concerned for the health of anyone who has 26 types of soda in their cupboard or drinks 12 bottles a day. Taste is one thing, and if you've got a sweet tooth okay, but how can you feel good consuming so much of a product that has zero nutritional value and bad effects on your diet/teeth besides?
Here's a fun game: swear off sodas for a week or two. Cut other sugary/sugar-substitutey things out of your diet too if you can. You'll likely find your cravings subside a lotover time, and you may feel generally healthier besides. Fun for everyone!
veggiesattva at 4:50PM on 05/06/07
I am going to avoid the Diet Coke/ Coke/ no Coke debate for now, but just say that Coke with real sugar is availabe in the United States directly as well (sans import). Around Passover Kosher stores all over the country will have it because corn syrup is not Kosher for Passover for Ashkenazic Jews. Instead, they make Kosher for Passover Coke which is essentially just Coke made with regular sugar. So for all of you that are committed to drinking Coke with sugar, you have another source.
Rocky at 1:11AM on 05/07/07
I live in New Jersey and have been buying Coke with heceo in Mexico for a few months now. I just started noticing an attached sticker on each bottle saying coke drink made in Mexico. It has a list of ingredients on it, one of them being high fructos corn syrup. Is this a diversion to keep the Coca Cola company off there back or is it truley made with corn syrup?????
johnaltman50 at 11:46AM on 08/31/07
Real Mexican Coke is made with cane sugar. I would change brands based on the corn syrup label. Did anyone else notice the study that shows HFCS makes you eat more :)
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/79/4/537
Ever wonder why it is hard to drink just one U.S. Coke? Crazy. Seems like a great way to sell more soda. This study has been out since 2004. Cane sugar (glucose) and corn syrup (fructose) really are metabolized differently, and the Coke corporation is nuts for lying to us. Further more HFCS drinks not only have lots of calories but also may increase the number of calories you crave vs. just the extra calories in a cane sugar soda. Sounds like a great class action suit. I mean, they have read that study and know that the increased obesity rate coincides with the change from real sugar to HFCS
hsirrapyesdnil at 7:05PM on 09/16/07
Adam-
Based on your post I went and joined Costco--the closest one to me is in Clifton, NJ. I was HUGELY disappointed to find there was NO MEXICAN COCA-COLA. I spoke to the warehouse manager who had no clue what I was talking about, but agreed to do a regional check and found that only the Costco's in Texas carried Coca-Cola de Mexicao. I am enormously disappointed. I see you are in NYC, so what Costco were you referencing? Where did you see Mexican Coca-Cola? And does anyone know where in Northern NJ I can purchase it? (After a visit to Mexico I have become addicted to the stuff. Other than a restaurant here and there a few bottles purchased on the web, I've had to go without. I'd love to buy a case. HELP!!!)
MaryResta at 5:59PM on 12/07/07
MaryResta, they've been selling it at the Costco's in Colorado since early this summer...we are awfully close to Texas, but from the posts above, I am pretty sure they are selling it at more locations. Costco employees are usually very good, but I think the one you worked with didn't give you the complete story. I'd just request it with one of their forms and get your friends to do the same. It just might show up at your local warehouse. Also, in Colorado I've found it at Mexican grocery stores, not sure if you have those in NJ, but it might be worth a try. It is just very spendy outside of Costco.
waterreflecting at 10:37AM on 12/28/07
I'm in washington, and Costco has been selling the Mexican coke since last summer.
I just got 2 cases of it, and filled up the coke machine :)
Hopefully they keep selling it, I don't drink it all the time. I just like having the option :)
cdoyle at 4:58PM on 12/28/07
Even better than Mexican Coke? BERMUDIAN COKE. I'm fortunate enough to be a dual-national and grew up tasting the difference between US and Bermuda coke. Now that I've had a chance to try Mexican coke (I'm in Mexico now), I can tell you Bermudian coke is even crisper, and less harsh than Mexican. In Bermuda, you can also find Sprite made with real sugar. I've even gone so far as to bring back Coke syrup with me and carbonate it with a tabletop carbonator! The people in customs tell me it's not that uncommon to bring a Coke syrup-pack across.
powermd at 8:14PM on 07/07/08
I bought some yesterday in Southern CA and believe me it was priced around the $21, point at our Costco. I tried it and really can't tell the difference. I once had some in Granada and that was a different blend. in fact the person with me never drinks Coke and they had 4 without stopping. surely this is not the same formula.
wouldn't it be nice to buy the Coke blend for lots of countries in a store vs just the Mexican.
OCgal at 6:00PM on 09/17/08
The mexican (non-HFCS) coke is VASTLY better than the cheap American made crap.
In fact, I was recently in London and the McDonalds there is edible, organic and much better tasting. Americans in general seem to like eating Sheisse.
I'm drinking a Mexico coke from a GLASS bottle (Glass doesn't have Bisphenol-A in it like cans.).
Also, recently, in the USA, it was discovered that there is MERCURY in High Fructose Corn Syrup - cheap, bad tasting and TOXIC.
A big fat F**K YOU to Coca Cola in Atlanta, I hope the current CEO and all executives die of prostate cancer for this.
See here for the mercury in US corn syrup:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE50Q5IA20090127
Studies find mercury in much U.S. corn syrup
Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:15pm GMT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Many common foods made using commercial high fructose corn syrup contain mercury as well, researchers reported on Tuesday, while another study suggested the corn syrup itself is contaminated.
In one study, published in the journal Environmental Health, former Food and Drug Administration scientist Renee Dufault and colleagues tested 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup and found detectable mercury in nine of the 20 samples.
Dufault said in a statement that she told the FDA about her findings but the agency did not follow up.
mickrussom at 1:57AM on 01/30/09