# Mexican Coke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [July 31, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642 "2015-07-31T12:29:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/21 "2015-07-31T15:45:27Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > The big thing for me is the glass bottles, not the sweetener. Chilled glass bottles are so much better than cans, plastic, even fountain. Agree. Not just the product, but the packaging. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/22 "2015-07-31T15:55:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Now _Colombian_ coke; I can tell the difference. Damn you!! I had that exact post in mind as soon as I read the OP. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/23 "2015-07-31T16:07:07Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Iā€™ve been drinking Mexican Coke from CostCo for years and have had no misadventures yet. The advice when traveling in Mexico is to drink the bottled or canned beverage of your choice (water, soda, beer) but with _no ice_. The _no ice_ is the kicker. I once spent a week sailing at Todos Santos, drinking nothing but beer and bottled water and I was fine. Ate street tacos or cooked for myself all trip. But on the way home we stopped at Rosarita Beach for breakfast and I forgot to tell them not to put ice in my Bloody Mary. Spent the next 72 hours in the bathroom. I think Mexican Coke is better, but mainly for the bottles. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/24 "2015-07-31T17:17:43Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Now _Colombian_ coke; I can tell the difference. Where do I get me some of _that_? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/25 "2015-07-31T17:59:38Z")
According to this: [The Food Lab, Drinks Edition: Is Mexican Coke Better?](http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/09/the-food-lab-drinks-edition-is-mexican-coke-better-than-regular-coke-coke-taste-test-coke-vs-mexican-coke.html) If you donā€™t know which youā€™re drinking (Mexican vs. American coke) youā€™ll likely prefer American coke. If you know before you drink which is which then youā€™ll likely prefer Mexican coke. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/26 "2015-07-31T18:14:54Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Where do I get me some of _that_? Tell Eddie kayaker sent you for the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/27 "2015-07-31T18:17:09Z")
When Sierra Mist changed to its ā€œnaturalsā€ product, it tasted like crap. It was without hfcs ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/28 "2015-07-31T19:16:30Z")
The first time I tried coke, the drink, in Mexico I noticed the difference. Very nice flavour. So when ever Iā€™m in Mexico, I always pick up a 6-pack for the duration. But beer and good tequila are my go to drinks. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/29 "2015-07-31T19:16:30Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > When Sierra Mist changed to its ā€œnaturalsā€ product, **it tasted like crap**. It was without hfcs \ One data point for the other side ā€“ I love Sierra Mist with cane sugar. With HFCS, it was kind of nondescript against Sprite & 7-Up. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/30 "2015-07-31T19:27:04Z")
[The Master said](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/384/is-it-true-coca-cola-once-contained-cocaine): > [@](#): > > Cokeā€™s taste has certainly altered over the years. The most radical (and to serious Coke aficionados, most upsetting) change came in 1980, when Coke, in an effort to control costs, permitted its bottlers to substitute high-fructose corn sweetener for the beet and cane sugar once used in the product. The result was that Cokeā€™s previously crisp and bracing taste was sadly blunted. So basically, Mexican Coke = pre-1980 US Coke. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/31 "2015-07-31T19:55:32Z")
> [@Richey84](#): > > Iā€™d never heard of it until I moved to Los Angeles. Itā€™s ubiquitous here though and I think it tastes better. I couldā€™ve sworn that they were discontinuing it though, and switching everything over to HFCS. I read a story some months back that said the Coca Cola was switching to HCFS for their Mexican domestic (sold in Mexico) product, but that they would continue to use sugar for ā€˜Mexican Cokeā€™ that is intended for US sale. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/32 "2015-07-31T20:02:56Z")
> [@syncrolecyne](#): > > A large reason water is unsafe in many homes and in many smaller establishments in Mexico is the use of water delivery to rooftop cisterns for places that lack water mains. The water gets too contaminated for drinking in these containers. The bottled water industry is huge as a result. > > I doubt if Coca Cola bottlers in Mexico have cisterns on their roof. How? Most of the contaminants in water that can make you sick come from human waste and such, how would water get contaminated sitting in a tank? More likely the water is contaminated before reaching the tank. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/33 "2015-07-31T20:11:52Z")
I can tell the difference, and blindfolded. Mexican Coke, made with cane sugar, tastes just like it did when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/34 "2015-07-31T20:40:48Z")
We get it here in Phoenix. I prefer Mexican Cokes, but Iā€™ve never done a blind taste test to actually confirm I can tell the difference. Thereā€™s something about drinking it out of a bottle that makes the pause more refreshing. Trouble is, theyā€™re more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/35 "2015-07-31T20:41:48Z")
The difference between HFCS and real sugar is very noticable for me. The HFCS has a twang to it that is unmistakable and sticks; the sugar is sweeter and smoother while the taste leaves the mouth faster. The first time I had coke with real sugar I had a :eek: moment in shock at how much better it tasted and felt in the mouth. The pepsi with real sugar is also quite noticable compared to the HFCS ones. And with real sugar the sweetness in Pepsi actually becomes a bit much if itā€™s the only soda I have to choose from. To be fair, a soda is the one thing I will probably never give up and I drink one can every day, so telling the difference is easy for me. As an aside, I actually think that Dr Pepper violates the fountain \> glass bottle \> aluminum can \> plastic bottle heirarchyā€¦and that itā€™s actually fountain \> plastic bottle \> glass bottle \> aluminum can. Dr Pepper in a plastic bottle is alarmingly better than it should be. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/36 "2015-07-31T21:17:12Z")
I too can taste the difference. I donā€™t drink soda pop that often anymore but when I do, its Mexican Coke. And yes, its more expensive. Also, it comes in 355ml bottles. A U.S. Coke I found in our pantry comes in a 500ml bottle. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/37 "2015-07-31T21:30:08Z")
> [@grude](#): > > How? Most of the contaminants in water that can make you sick come from human waste and such, how would water get contaminated sitting in a tank? > > More likely the water is contaminated before reaching the tank. Birds can have salmonella in their feces; are the tanks open on top? There was a story about a hotel/apartment where a womanā€™s body was found in a rooftop cistern. Anyone? ETA: Cheers! [http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/us/california-water-tank-corpse-suit/](http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/us/california-water-tank-corpse-suit/) ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/38 "2015-07-31T23:42:14Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I prefer Mexican Cokes, but Iā€™ve never done a blind taste test to actually confirm I can tell the difference. Thereā€™s something about drinking it out of a bottle that makes the pause more refreshing. In the blind test I linked above they found that half of the tasters always prefered one over the other, regardless of what they drank it out of (the surprise being that most of those preferred American Coke over Mexican). The other half, however, almost always preferred whichever one they drank from a bottle instead of a can. The second test they did involved serving all in the same way but for half the testers telling them the truth first about which was American and which was Mexican. Those testers almost universally preferred the Mexican Coke. The other half of the testers were lied to about which was which, those people also almost universally preferred the Mexican Coke. They concluded that if Coke wanted to produce the highest rated product they would serve HFCS Coke from glass bottles that they told people were from Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/39 "2015-08-01T02:22:10Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > In the blind test I linked above they found that half of the tasters always prefered one over the other, regardless of what they drank it out of (the surprise being that most of those preferred American Coke over Mexican). The other half, however, almost always preferred whichever one they drank from a bottle instead of a can. > > The second test they did involved serving all in the same way but for half the testers telling them the truth first about which was American and which was Mexican. Those testers almost universally preferred the Mexican Coke. **The other half of the testers were lied to about which was which, those people also almost universally preferred the Mexican Coke**. > > They concluded that if Coke wanted to produce the highest rated product they would serve HFCS Coke from glass bottles that they told people were from Mexico. Regarding the part I bolded, above: They picked the actual Mexican coke (which they were told was American), or they picked the one they were told was Mexican coke (but was actually American)? I prefer Pepsi over coke and Mountain Dew over either, but: I prefer ā€œreal sugarā€ versions, but I donā€™t know if itā€™s selective perception or an actual preference. I keep meaning to do blind tests with the wife but havenā€™t yet. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642/40 "2015-08-01T04:17:07Z")
Interesting side note: some Jews who donā€™t eat corn during [Passover](http://time.com/3769657/coke-passover-kosher/), drink Mexican Coke during that time because itā€™s sweetened with sugar instead of corn syrup. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-coke/726642.md?page=3)