I finally have Moxie!

A mere 3 years after declaring my desire to try Moxie in this thread, my desire was finally achieved!

I found this tiny grocery store while on vacation, in the middle of nowhere. Not only did it have Moxie, but it had such soft drinks as “Bubble Up” and a wide variety of Faygo sodas.

Anyway, I tried it at long last.

Interesting. Sort of a fusion of root beer, with cola overtones, and a new, weird taste that was almost completely unlike anise. Perhaps that was the gentian root.

I brought a bottle home as a souvenier. I must try it again.

Any other opinions about Moxie?

I’m curious. Does it only retail in one region? I didn’t know it still existed at all. Do little grocery stores in the middle of nowhere carry unusual products as standard?

[QUOTE=An Gadaí]
I’m curious. Does it only retail in one region? I didn’t know it still existed at all. Do little grocery stores in the middle of nowhere carry unusual products as standard?
[/QUOTE]

I understand it’s generally available in parts of New England, but not a lot of other places. Until the other day, I’ve never seen it anywhere. And I generally keep my eyes open for oddball products.

You can never tell what you’ll find in little grocery stores in the middle of nowhere.

[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]
Interesting. Sort of a fusion of root beer, with cola overtones, and a new, weird taste that was almost completely unlike anise. Perhaps that was the gentian root.
[/QUOTE]

Gentian is bitter. Bitter, bitter, bitter, with an overtone of bitter. It’s wonderful, but I’m sort of shocked it’s in a bottled beverage, but of course bar bitters are used all the time, and often contain gentian. I used gentian extract when I quit smoking - after meals, just one drop of gentian got the ol’ gut moving like nicotine used to.

Ever used gentian violet*? That’s the same plant. Bitter.
*aka Andergon, Aniline violet, Axuris, Badil, Basic Violet 3, Brilliant Violet 58, Gentiaverm, Hexamethyl-p-rosaniline chloride, Meroxylan, Meroxyl, Methylrosalinide chloride, Methyl Violet 10BNS, Pyoktanin, Vianin, Viocid, and Viola Crystallina

[QUOTE=WhyNot]
Ever used gentian violet*? That’s the same plant. Bitter.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I’ve used it for oral thrush resistant to the common antifungals. Paint the inside of the mouth with it, and away goes the thrush. Of course the patient is left with a bright purple mouth for a while.

Hmmm… Moxie as a fungicide? Cool!

I love Moxie! Of course, my local soda shop has tons of it…you should have asked. Ditto the Faygo, Bubble-Up, etc. About the only thing they don’t carry is AJ Stephans! :mad:

[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]
Yeah, I’ve used it for oral thrush resistant to the common antifungals. Paint the inside of the mouth with it, and away goes the thrush. Of course the patient is left with a bright purple mouth for a while.

Hmmm… Moxie as a fungicide? Cool!
[/QUOTE]

I’m not sure it contains therapeutic quantities, mind you! Might be closer to the homeopathic end of the scale. :wink:

(You think purple mouth looks funny - try purple nipples! My son and I passed thrush back and forth for quite a while during breastfeeding.)

[QUOTE=An Gadaí]
I’m curious. Does it only retail in one region? I didn’t know it still existed at all. Do little grocery stores in the middle of nowhere carry unusual products as standard?
[/QUOTE]

Here is a list of distributers.

My opinion: Moxie Original Elixer is undrinkable. All other Moxie products are delish. Especially the Orange Cream Soda and the Cherry Cola. Yum.

-FrL-

Under no circumstances are you to try the Moxie Energy drink. It tastes like burning. Other Moxies I can stand, that one is beyond awful.

I ordered a couple bottles several years back from Pop the Soda Shop.

Quite an interesting flavor. I really didn’t care for the first bottle I drank, but then as I got towards the bottom of the bottle, the bitterness didn’t seem as apparent. The second bottle I drank I guess I knew what to expect and it was fairly enjoyable.

I definitely recommend that site if you’re interested in trying soda that isn’t available in your region, though.

[QUOTE=WhyNot]
Gentian is bitter. Bitter, bitter, bitter, with an overtone of bitter. It’s wonderful, but I’m sort of shocked it’s in a bottled beverage, but of course bar bitters are used all the time, and often contain gentian.
[/QUOTE]

As a long-time Moxie drinker, I’ve noticed that the characteristic “Moxiness” taste on the back of the tongue (where bitter is sensed) can vary considerably from can to can. I have no explanation for this.

[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan]
Interesting. Sort of a fusion of root beer, with cola overtones, and a new, weird taste that was almost completely unlike anise. Perhaps that was the gentian root.

I brought a bottle home as a souvenier. I must try it again.

Any other opinions about Moxie?
[/QUOTE]

I’ve had it twice. The second time was just to see if I acquired a taste for it (I didn’t).

I thought it had the aroma of rubber cement and tasted like carbonated Vick’s Vapor Rub.

(BTW, does Vick’s Vapor Rub have gentian root in it?)

[QUOTE=NDP]
(BTW, does Vick’s Vapor Rub have gentian root in it?)
[/QUOTE]

Nope. Several other plant based products, but no gentian.

Moxie is made in maine. it is indeed a regional thing-and most of its devotees are over 65. The stuff tasest absolutely AWFUL-bitter, must, and with an awfulk aftertaste. I can’t imagine anybody liking the stuff-it is probably an acquired taset. my teenage daughter opened a can once, and threw it away-she though it was a “normal” soda drink that had gone bad.
MOXIE-awful, awful stuff!, Not even Dr. Brown’s celery soda (weird stuff) tastes as bad! :eek:

The Canadian variety leaves the best taste in my mouth.

[QUOTE=ralph124c]
Moxie is made in maine.
[/QUOTE]

Nitpickery of the day: Moxie did origniate here, but the brand is currently owned by the Monarch Company of Atlanta, Georgia.

Next time you’re in Cleveland, consider dining at this fine restaurant - I’ve just been once, but it’s great: http://www.moxietherestaurant.com/main.html

Moxie is my soft drink of choice, and has been for many years. The bitter, medicinal taste is indeed due to gentian.

And it *is *an acquired taste.