# Nostalgic American Beverages? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 21, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350 "2021-03-21T16:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/101 "2021-03-25T00:43:04Z")
Stop it you, two! You’re making me turn all shades of red. 😊 ---
**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:** [March 25, 2021, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/102 "2021-03-25T01:05:48Z")
It’s not us, it’s the Moxie! 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/103 "2021-03-25T16:06:39Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Wow, that was very entertaining! I’d have liked a Danny Thomas spit-take but ya can’t have everything. Maybe you can post an update when you’ve had it chilled or over ice. I tried it chilled, and some of the sweetness is a bit more muted, but my overall impression isn’t any different. I did some more research, and it has the same amount of sugar as Coca-Cola (37g per 12 oz serving), although it is lower than some root beers. The mock Moxie syrup recipes I’ve found in Google books from the early 1900s seem to be a combination of two or three basic ingredients: sarsparilla and gentian syrups, and then another recipe adds wintergreen syrup to this (I do think all three sounds about right to me. We know gentian is definite, because it’s listed as an ingredient.) So the description of it as root beer + gentian is right. I steeped myself a gentian tea with the bark I had in my filing cabinet, and added that generously to the Moxie, and then it became more the drink I was expecting. I still needed to cut it a bit with sparkling water, because I like my drinks on the less sweet side. Of course, if anybody made a soft drink marketed to my general tastes, I’d probably be the only customer. 🙂 Maybe my bitter taste receptors are dead or something, but I really don’t understand why this drink is so polarizing. It seems like if you like root beer, you’d probably like this. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/104 "2021-03-25T16:09:57Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I really don’t understand why this drink is so polarizing. That would be an interesting topic for a thread, namely, “Why are some foods so polarizing?” The queen of them, of course, is the evil, nasty, herb-from-hell _cilantro_. Don’t want to hijack here… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/105 "2021-03-25T16:15:40Z")
With cilantro, I believe we’ve had a few threads. Some component of it is genetic, and some is psychological. I taste the soapiness, but got over it after repeated exposures and now I eat it with abandon. It still has a soapiness to me, but my brain doesn’t parse it as “soap” anymore. With Moxie, it could be a taste thing as well. I am not a supertaster, and supertasters do have an increased sensitivity towards bitter flavors, as I understand it, but all the descriptions of Moxie’s bitterness seem to be generally accepted, so I don’t think it’s just supertasters. The other possibility is that Coke did buy Moxie a few years ago, and someone upthread (or maybe it was on another forum) said they swear Moxie tastes different now. Maybe Coke has dialed down the gentian syrup? I would need long-time Mainers who have a memory of the Moxie of their childhoods to current Moxie to chime in. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/106 "2021-03-26T04:34:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I steeped myself a gentian tea with the bark I had in my filing cabinet, That must be some filing cabinet! I’m just imagining what goes in each drawer. I’ll bet you have an entire drawer just for all the paprikas. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2021, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/107 "2021-03-26T06:12:52Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Yay! Someone got my lame joke. Go have a Pearl’s Jam sandwich > [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Remember Jolt? Remember? How could you? We used to have an annual “Bacardi and Jolt” party. The T-shirts were Epic. The catch-phrase was _Party till they shoot you down_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/108 "2021-03-26T06:43:31Z")
**Pulykamell** , thanks for the taste test. I tried Moxie once, when I was in New Hampshire, back in the eighties. I had seen Mad Magazine’s unobtrusive ads for it, and it was in a store where it was sold, so why not try it? It was … different, shall we say, from anything I had ever tasted. Not unpleasant, but not something I’d buy again. Still, I enjoyed your review of it, and thanks again for doing your taste test. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/109 "2021-03-26T18:57:40Z")
That sounds truly bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/110 "2021-03-26T22:20:01Z")
I tried some Cheerwine in NC because a friend said it was awesome. Meh, it was ok. > **[Cheerwine Soft Drink – Uniquely Southern Since 1917](https://cheerwine.com/)** > > Cheerwine has a unique & fizzy wild cherry taste. Made in Salisbury, North Carolina for over a century–this soft drink is an icon of Southern food and culture. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/111 "2021-03-27T02:03:28Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > That must be some filing cabinet! I’m just imagining what goes in each drawer. I’ll bet you have an entire drawer just for all the paprikas. No, you silly goose. Paprikas go in the sock drawer! The reason I had gentian root (and black cohosh root) in my under-desk filing cabinet is that I’ve been playing around with it, making teas and flavoring bubbly water with it and, for some reason, my office is where it ended up making its home. > [@Spoons](#): > > It was … different, shall we say, from anything I had ever tasted. Not unpleasant, but not something I’d buy again. Still, I enjoyed your review of it, and thanks again for doing your taste test. See, for me, it’s clearly a “root beer.” If you didn’t tell me what it was, I’d ID it as maybe some artisinal root beer or something. And, as I said, my wife who knows nothing about this drink immediately said root beer. And she’s no foodie (whereas I have been accused of being one.) So it’s not like a drink without a reference point. That said, I do wonder if it really has changed since Coca Cola bought it, and maybe now it’s not as aggressively unique as it was before. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/112 "2021-03-27T18:24:31Z")
I know Shasta still exists in some form or other (usually seen in 2 liter bottles at Dollar Tree) but does anybody remember the dozen or so flavors in 12 oz steel cans during the '70s? It was the cheapest can of soda you could buy back then and continued to be sold in steel cans long after most other sodas and beers went to aluminum. We always had several variety cases of the stuff in our camper when I was a kid. There was never enough cola and root beer flavor and way too much black cherry and cream soda. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/113 "2021-03-27T18:31:02Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I know Shasta still exists in some form or other (usually seen in 2 liter bottles at Dollar Tree) but does anybody remember the dozen or so flavors in 12 oz steel cans during the '70s? Black cherry was my fave, I think. Wikipedia lists the current lineup of 34: - Apple - Black Cherry - Diet Black Cherry - California Dreamin’ (orange creamsicle) - Club Soda - [Cola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cola) - Diet Cola - Cherry Cola - [Creme Soda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream_Soda) - Diet Creme Soda - Dr. Shasta (similar to [Dr. Pepper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Pepper)) - Diet Dr. Shasta - Fiesta Punch \* [Ginger Ale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Ale) - Diet Ginger Ale - Grape - Diet Grape - Kiwi Strawberry - Mountain Rush (similar [Mountain Dew](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Dew)) - Orange - Diet Orange - Pineapple - Raspberry Creme (raspberry-vanilla) - Root Beer - Diet Root Beer \* Strawberry - Diet Strawberry - Tiki Punch - Tonic Water - Twist (lemon-lime) - Diet Twist - Very Cherry Twist - Zazz (grapefruit) - Diet Grapefruit > **[Shasta (soft drink)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shasta_(soft_drink))** > > Shasta Beverages is an American soft drink manufacturer that markets a value-priced soft drink line with a wide variety of soda flavors, as well as a few drink mixers, under the brand name Shasta. The company name is derived from Mount Shasta in northern California and the associated Shasta Springs. > Shasta began as The Shasta Mineral Springs Company at the base of Mt. Shasta, California, in 1889. In 1928, the name was changed to The Shasta Water Company. It produced bottled mineral water from Sh... ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/114 "2021-03-28T06:55:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The mock Moxie syrup recipes I’ve found in Google books from the early 1900s seem to be a combination of two or three basic ingredients: sarsparilla and gentian syrups, and then another recipe adds wintergreen syrup to this (I do think all three sounds about right to me. We know gentian is definite, because it’s listed as an ingredient.) So the description of it as root beer + gentian is right. I was not aware of gentian syrup, and looking at the Wikipedia page for [Gentiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentiana#:~:text=Gentiana%20lutea%20is%20used%20to,common%20beverage%20flavouring%20for%20bitters.), there’s some research for me to do. I like Aperol, but generally don’t bother buying a bottle for home, as it’s easy enough to get an Aperol spritz in the restaurants (when they are open). I’m sure I’ve seen Suze in the store, so I’ll pick up a bottle of that to try. And if I have the opportunity to try Moxie, I will. Thanks for the unboxing video! ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/115 "2021-03-28T07:11:20Z")
oddly their shasta lemon lime twist tastes more like ginger ale then their actual ginger ale does ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/116 "2021-03-28T07:31:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > How far from the NY metro area does Dr. Brown’s sodas get? I believe that Target carries a few of the varieties, such as cream soda, almost everywhere. You can sometimes get Cel-Ray in the kosher section of mainstream grocery stores in Atlanta, so I’m guessing that is similar elsewhere. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/117 "2021-03-28T13:46:29Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > I believe that Target carries a few of the varieties, such as cream soda, almost everywhere. You can sometimes get Cel-Ray in the kosher section of mainstream grocery stores in Atlanta, so I’m guessing that is similar elsewhere.- Dr, Brown’s is pretty easy to find here in South Texas. I just saw some yesterday in my local supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/118 "2021-03-28T14:51:21Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The Jolt slogan was “real sugar and twice the caffeine!” I worked at an ad agency, and one of our writers had written that line! Back when he was younger, Jolt had a contest to come up with a slogan. Everyone else submitted cutesy “Wake Up And Smell The Fun!” kind of fluff. But our Li’l Timmy thought “Let’s just tell people what’s in it.” … > [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > I tried some Cheerwine in NC because a friend said it was awesome. Meh, it was ok. Some areas of the country are really enamored of their red sodas. I went to college with people (MI and OH) who would talk about “skipping class and getting a redpop”. I think one brand even named theirs “Redpop”. Oh, and they drank Red Cream Soda as well. Any cherry-ish soda gets celebrity treatment in my friend’s area of the Carolinas. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/119 "2021-03-28T15:16:12Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I worked at an ad agency, and one of our writers had written that line! > > Back when he was younger, Jolt had a contest to come up with a slogan. Everyone else submitted cutesy “Wake Up And Smell The Fun!” kind of fluff. But our Li’l Timmy thought “Let’s just tell people what’s in it.” Brilliant! Take that, [Don Draper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxtZpFl3pPM)! > [@digs](#): > > Some areas of the country are really enamored of their red sodas. > > I went to college with people (MI and OH) who would talk about “skipping class and getting a redpop”. I think one brand even named theirs “Redpop”. Oh, and they drank Red Cream Soda as well. > > Any cherry-ish soda gets celebrity treatment in my friend’s area of the Carolinas.- Around here, it’s [Big Red with barbacoa](https://s.hdnux.com/photos/61/22/06/12919230/20/rawImage.jpg) (which BTW is _NOT_ exactly “barbecue” as you know it). Our local grocery chain HEB will package Big Red, a couple of avocados, and a package of flour tortillas together as a promotion. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350/120 "2021-03-28T19:17:57Z")
Wasn’t the slogan “all the sugar and twice the caffeine”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nostalgic-american-beverages/938350.md?page=7)