Mexican Coke facts for kids
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Bottle of imported Mexican Coca-Cola
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| Owner | The Coca-Cola Company |
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| Introduced | 1921 |
Mexican Coca-Cola, often called Mexican Coke, is a special version of Coca-Cola that comes from Mexico. It's imported into the United States. People sometimes call it "Mexicoke" or "Glass Coca-Cola" (Coca Cola de Vidrio in Spanish) because it often comes in glass bottles.
The main difference is how it's sweetened. Mexican Coke uses cane sugar (also called white sugar). Most Coca-Cola sold in the U.S. since the 1980s uses high-fructose corn syrup instead. Some people say Mexican Coke tastes better because of this. However, other taste tests have found no real difference in flavor.
It's important not to confuse Mexican Coke with the regular Coca-Cola sold inside Mexico. Since 2017, the version sold in Mexico might contain an artificial sweetener called sucralose. This means it has less sugar than the Mexican Coke exported to the U.S.
Contents
The Story of Mexican Coke
The Coca-Cola Company started bottling its drinks in Mexico around 1921. This happened with companies like Grupo Tampico and Grupo ARMA. Today, FEMSA is the biggest Coca-Cola bottler in Mexico and much of Latin America.
Why the Sweetener Change?
In the U.S. food industry, high-fructose corn syrup became a cheaper way to sweeten drinks. This was because of rules about sugar production and taxes on imported sugar. Also, the U.S. government supported corn farming.
Coca-Cola and other soda companies continued to use sugar in other countries. But in the U.S., they started switching to high-fructose corn syrup in 1980. By 1984, most U.S. Coca-Cola used corn syrup.
How Mexican Coke Came to the U.S.
The Coca-Cola Company first brought Mexican Coke to the U.S. for Mexican immigrants. These people had grown up drinking the sugar-sweetened version.
At first, you could only find Mexican Coke in stores that served Latino customers. But many other people started to like it too. By 2009, big stores like Costco, Sam's Club, and Kroger began selling it. Now, you can easily find it in grocery stores all over the United States.
In 2012, a scientific study looked at Mexican Coke. It found that it didn't contain only cane sugar. It also had fructose and glucose, similar to drinks with high-fructose corn syrup, but in different amounts.
In 2013, a Mexican Coca-Cola bottler said it might stop using cane sugar. This was to follow new food labeling laws in Mexico. But they later said this change would not affect the bottles sent to the U.S. as "Coca-Cola Nostalgia" products. These are the ones people know as Mexican Coke.
Does Mexican Coke Taste Different?
People have different opinions about the taste. Some tasters in one study said Mexican Coke had a "more complex flavor." They noticed a "spicy and herbal note," or hints of root beer or sarsaparilla candy.
However, other tests had different results. In a double-blind test (where no one knows which drink is which), some people preferred American Coca-Cola. Other tests, including some by Coca-Cola itself, found no real difference in flavor.
The Glass Bottle
Mexican Coca-Cola often comes in a thick glass bottle. These bottles are usually 355 ml (about 12 fluid ounces) or 500 ml (about 17 fluid ounces). Many people think these glass bottles look "more elegant" and have a "pleasingly nostalgic shape." This is different from the plastic bottles often used for American Coca-Cola.
Years ago, Coca-Cola in the U.S. was widely sold in glass bottles. But in the late 1980s, most bottlers switched to plastic.
When Mexican Coke is exported to the U.S., a paper sticker is usually put on each bottle. This sticker has the nutrition facts label, ingredients, and contact information. This is to meet U.S. food labeling rules.
Adding to the old-fashioned feel, the glass bottle of Mexican Coca-Cola does not have a twist-off cap. You need a bottle opener, just like in the old days!
Similar Drinks Around the World
New Zealand's Coca-Cola
Something similar happens in New Zealand. There, you can find Coca-Cola bottled locally, which uses cane sugar. You can also find Coca-Cola imported from the United States, which uses high-fructose corn syrup.
Kosher for Pesach Coke
A special version of Coca-Cola is bottled in Israel for the Jewish holiday of Pesach. During this holiday, Jewish dietary law says that no grains or grain products can be eaten. So, the corn syrup in the regular recipe is replaced with cane sugar.
This special "Kosher for Pesach" Coke looks different. It has a yellow bottle cap, and the packaging is written in both Hebrew and English. It's exported to other countries and can often be found in American kosher supermarkets around Passover time.
See also
- Pepsi-Cola Made with Real Sugar, a line of Pepsi products flavored with cane sugar
