Here’s Why Mexican co*ke Tastes Better Than American co*ke (2024)

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Soda fans swear that Mexican co*ke tastes better, and is even bubblier than American co*ke. Turns out, there's some evidence to back it up.

Coca-Cola conundrum

If you’re a soda aficionado, you’ve probably tried most of the sweet and bubbly drinks out there. This means you probably agree with most soda fans that Mexican co*ke tastes better than American co*ke. While it used to be found only in certain stores, bodegas, or areas with large numbers of Mexican-Americans, the popularity of co*ke that is hecho en México (made in Mexico) has risen in recent years to the point where it is now sold in some Costco stores. No, it’s not the Coca-Cola with a yellow cap, but south-of-the-border co*ke is instantly recognizable nonetheless: It’s always sold in a tall, slim glass bottle, while American co*ke is usually sold in squat plastic bottles or aluminum cans. Mexican co*ke can probably still do all the things American co*ke can do, but there’s no doubt in most people’s minds that it doesn’t taste the same. Both drinks are made by the same company, so why the difference in flavor?

Why does Mexican co*ke taste better than American co*ke?

Both of these sodas are made and manufactured by Coca-Cola, a huge international company, but just like the packaging, the ingredient list varies slightly from country to country. Most people who prefer Mexican co*ke to American co*ke talk about the former having a cleaner taste, which might come down to the packaging. Plastic and metal can affect the taste of soda, but glass does not, and may even help to maintain a fresher flavor for longer. Some soda fans even say that Mexican co*ke is bubblier and more effervescent.

However, there is a real, measurable difference between co*ke from the two countries, and it’s listed on the label: The sweetener. American co*ke is made with high-fructose corn syrup, while Mexican co*ke is made with cane sugar. You won’t believe the secret ingredient you can add to your co*ke to make it taste even better, too.

Sugar is as sugar does

Advocates for Mexican co*ke swear that the kind made with cane sugar has a more real and less chemical-ey taste, but the two sources of sugar aren’t so different. Cane sugar is made from sugar cane, while high-fructose corn syrup, which has a reputation for being unhealthy but is found in most processed foods in the United States, is made from corn. Both sugars are comprised of glucose and fructose, although as the name suggests, the latter is slightly higher in fructose. To your body, they’re broken down and used in pretty much the same way. Glucose is essential for the brain to function, and fructose is converted to glucose. To your taste buds, cane sugar might be nicer, which gives Mexican co*ke an edge in the flavor competition. Whichever country’s co*ke you prefer, be sure to drink it in moderation, as sweetened beverages can be a significant source of added calories in the diet. Now, find out the best regional soda from every stateand the difference between co*ke Zero and Diet co*ke.

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Here’s Why Mexican co*ke Tastes Better Than American co*ke (2024)

FAQs

Is Mexican co*ke better than US co*ke? ›

THE ANSWER. No, Mexican co*ke is not healthier than its American counterpart.

Why does co*ke taste so good with Mexican food? ›

Sugar is as sugar does

To your body, they're broken down and used in pretty much the same way. Glucose is essential for the brain to function, and fructose is converted to glucose. To your taste buds, cane sugar might be nicer, which gives Mexican co*ke an edge in the flavor competition.

Why does Mexico like co*ke so much? ›

Why such a large consumption? With a growing population, safe drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce in a town where some neighbourhoods have running water just a few times a week. So, many residents drink co*ke produced by a local bottling plant.

Do Mexicans prefer co*ke or Pepsi? ›

Coca-Cola is the most popular soft drink company in Mexico. Although Coca-Cola is popular across Latin America, it is especially so in Mexico.

What does Mexican co*ke have that American co*ke doesn t? ›

Mexican Coca-Cola is sweetened with white sugar instead of the high-fructose corn syrup used in the U.S. since the early 1980s. Some people say that Mexican Coca-Cola tastes better, and other blind tasting tests have found that people can't tell the difference.

Why does Mexico use real sugar in co*ke? ›

In 1997, the Mexican government passed a levy on high-fructose corn syrup in an attempt to keep the demand—and thus the price—for Mexican sugar higher. The U.S. deemed this an unfair infringement on trade and went to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to make its case, and the WTO decided in favor of the U.S.

Why does Mexican co*ke taste better than American co*ke? ›

Many Coca-Cola fans believe that Mexican co*ke tastes more “natural” than its American cousin. This difference in taste is due to the fact that American-made co*ke switched over to using high fructose corn syrup as a sweetening agent in 1980. Mexican co*ke continued using cane sugar to sweeten its version.

Why doesn t American co*ke use cane sugar? ›

With corn subsidized by the government, its sugary syrup became a more affordable option for the beverage company.” So: corn subsidies begat cheap corn, which in turn lead to a corn-derived sweetener cheaper than sugar.

Is Mexican Coca-Cola healthy? ›

There really is no measurable health difference between USA and Mexican-made Coca-Cola. Both are unhealthy. Some perceive Mexican co*ke to be better because it is made using cane sugar rather than HFCS and it comes in glass bottles rather than metal cans or plastic bottles.

What is co*ke called in Mexico? ›

It is called Coca Cola de Vidrio (Glass Coca Cola, Coca Cola in a glass bottle) or simply Mexico*ke. It has a different taste, because cane sugar is used to make it. In the United States, high-fructose corn syrup is used.

What country drinks the most co*ke? ›

With average daily consumption of 2.2 liters of Coca-Cola, Chiapas leads the world. Nobody in the world drinks more Coca-Cola and other sugary drinks than the residents of Chiapas, Mexico's southernmost and poorest state.

What soda has the most sugar? ›

Dubbed nectar of the gods by its many fans, Mountain Dew takes the crown for the soda with the most grams of sugar, according to Business Insider.

Does Japan prefer co*ke or Pepsi? ›

EBINA, Japan — Coca-Cola has been the No. 1 beverage maker in Japan for half a century, but it's not thanks to the popularity of co*ke. Instead, the American soft-drink brand has adapted to the quirky ways this society quenches its thirst.

Why does McDonald's co*ke taste better? ›

While most fast food restaurants have their Coca-Cola syrup delivered to them in plastic bags, McDonald's gets their syrup specially delivered in stainless steel tanks. The special tanks keep the syrup fresh and protect it from light, temperature, air, and anything else that might take away from its delicious flavor.

Is co*ke in glass bottles different? ›

Whether you drink it from a can or a bottle, Coca‑Cola is always the same. It's the same recipe, the same ingredients and the same manufacturing process every time.

Is Mexican co*ke actually different? ›

Mexican co*ke contains: Carbonated water, sugar, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, caffeine. American co*ke contains: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, caffeine.

Is Mexican co*ke the best? ›

Though some believe Mexican Coca-Cola is better because it tastes fresher or has more carbonation than co*ke from the United States, that isn't actually what makes the two different, according to Reader's Digest. Die-hard Mexican co*ke fans who go out of their way to find those glass bottles are not imagining things.

Is there caffeine in Mexican co*ke? ›

All the way from Mexico comes the iconic taste of classic Coca‑Cola® made with natural flavours and cane sugar for your enjoyment.
...
Nutrition Facts.
Nutritional Composition% Daily value per serving% Daily value per container
Caffeine 34 mg34 mg UninformedUninformed
7 more rows

Is there a co*ke with real sugar? ›

Coca-Cola Life is sweetened with cane sugar and stevia leaf extract. Contains 35% fewer calories than leading colas.

When did co*ke stop using real sugar? ›

In 1984, a bomb went off in the food industry that forever changed the course of consumption: Coca Cola and Pepsi stopped using sugar in soft drinks, replacing it with high fructose corn syrup.

Why did co*ke change to no sugar? ›

The new co*ke Zero Sugar recipe aimed to create a taste as close to Coca-Cola classic as possible, the company said.

What Cola tastes most like co*ke? ›

Virgil's Zero Sugar Cola ($5.99 for 6 cans)

There's a slight, familiar “Diet co*ke-like” taste to this one, but it doesn't linger. If you're looking for something that tastes almost like regular cola without the sugar, Virgil's is a good option.

What country does co*ke taste the best in? ›

According to the company, the Skopje Brewery has the highest production standards for Coca Cola, meaning that out of everyone in the world, Macedonians drink the tastiest co*ke products. So if you are one of the 2.07 million lucky Macedonians, then congrats! You are privy to the best produced co*ke in the world!

What happens if you pour sugar in co*ke? ›

When you added sugar or salt to soda, the CO2 in each cup latched onto the tiny bumps on the sugar or salt grains. Those tiny bumps, called nucleation sites, give the CO2 something to hold onto in the soda as it forms bubbles and escapes.

Does Mexican co*ke still use cane sugar 2022? ›

So, the true, measurable difference between Mexican co*ke and American co*ke can be found on the label. American co*ke is made with high-fructose corn syrup and Mexican co*ke is crafted with cane sugar.

Why is US co*ke made with corn syrup? ›

Farm subsidies encouraging farmers to produce as much corn as possible resulted in excess supply and thus falling prices. Manufacturers stood to save money by switching to corn-based ingredients. In 1980, Coca-Cola began using HFCS in its beverages, and by the mid 80s most other soft drink companies had followed suit.

Why did Costco stop selling Mexican co*ke? ›

in its stores, due to a pricing dispute between the two companies. The stores will not remove Coca-Cola from the shelves, but does not plan to restock until the issue is resolved.

Do Mexicans drink a lot of soda? ›

It should come as no surprise that Mexicans, like those of us north of the border, drink a lot of soda. Most gringos have at the very least heard of Mexican co*ke, which is widely available in this country, but there's more to the sweet fizzy beverages from our neighbors to the south.

When did Coca-Cola stop using glass bottles? ›

In 2012, we saw the last ever returnable glass Coca-Cola bottle pass away into beverage history. Soft drinks and glass bottles used to be great friends in the early days of the industry, as the glass bottles were able to endure the pressure of carbonation.

Is co*ke Zero sold in Mexico? ›

Sodium cyclamate, which is legal in more than 50 countries, was replaced in co*ke Zero in Mexico with a combination of two other artificial sweeteners, aspartame and acesulfame K.

How much sugar is in Mexican co*ke? ›

Details. Per 1 Bottle Serving: 150 calories; 0 g sat fat (0% DV), 85 mg sodium (3% DV), 39 g sugars. Caffeine Content: 34 mg/12 fl oz.

Which country does not drink co*ke? ›

There are two countries where you won't find the carbonated drink in stores – at least officially. Due to ongoing trade embargoes and sanctions, there are currently no legal avenues to buy Coca-Cola in Cuba and North Korea.

What are the top 3 sodas in America? ›

Most Popular Soda
  • Coca Cola.
  • Dr. Pepper.
  • Fanta.
  • Diet co*ke.
  • Pepsi.
  • Sprite.
  • 7-Up.
  • Mountain Dew.
25 Aug 2022

What soda has no sugar? ›

Check out these options, including sugar-free soda: Diet co*ke. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. DASANI.

What candy has the most sugar? ›

Which Halloween candy has the most sugar? Your top 10 ranked
  • Tootsie Pops: 10 grams of sugar per pop. ...
  • Snickers Minis: 18 grams of sugar for four pieces. ...
  • Hershey's Kisses: 18 grams of sugar for seven pieces. ...
  • Hot Tamales: 18 grams of sugar for 16 pieces. ...
  • Milk Chocolate M&Ms: 18.4 grams of sugar for 28 pieces.
31 Oct 2022

Why is Coca-Cola White in Japan? ›

Coca-Cola Clear is a colorless variant of the soft drink Coca-Cola. Without the normal caramel ingredient, Coca-Cola Clear has none of the typical dark co*ke color. The drink is lemon-flavored to compensate for the removed caramel. It was developed at Coca-Cola Asia Pacific and launched locally in Japan in June 2018.

Does America like co*ke or Pepsi more? ›

According to industry statistics compiled by Beverage Digest, co*ke owns 17 percent of the American market for carbonated soft drinks. The next most popular choice is Diet co*ke with 9.4 percent. Pepsi languishes in third place at 8.9 percent.

Why does Coca-Cola taste different in Italy? ›

In the U.S. it's a bright, artificial orange color with an overly sweet, chemical taste. In Italy, it's actually made with orange juice. It's fresher and more natural tasting--imagine orange juice and seltzer.

Which is better co*ke or Pepsi? ›

When sampled blindly, the majority of our Test Kitchen team preferred Pepsi. In our test, Pepsi got more votes thanks to how darn refreshing this soft drink is. It's sweet, of course, but it's also got a little something extra. Pepsi has a slight citrusy tang that makes it taste crisp and delicious.

What happens when you stop drinking co*ke? ›

And by lowering your sugar and calorie intake, you lower your risk for weight gain and other metabolic issues like high blood pressure — metabolic changes that can make it harder to burn fat and lose weight.

What brand of ketchup does McDonalds use? ›

McDonald's actually makes its own ketchup.

Why does canned co*ke taste better? ›

This is because of the reason that the can is made out of aluminum and has a polymer lining, which could absorb some flavor. On the other hand, in case of bottled soda, the taste is altered because of the acetaldehyde in the plastic.

Why does Pepsi taste better in a can? ›

The aluminum cans have a polymer lining that can absorb some of the soda's flavors, food chemist Sarah Risch tells Popular Science, potentially making the taste milder.

Why are glass co*ke bottles green? ›

The reason for the original co*ke bottle's green hue has nothing to do with product planning. Apparently, the coloration was simply the result of minerals present in sand from Putnam County. According to John Baughman's historical Putnam County volume, "Our Past, Their Present," the Root Glass Co.

Why does co*ke from restaurants taste better? ›

Multiple reasons exist for the better taste. First, fountain sodas get made right in the machine instead of getting delivered to restaurants. At a restaurant, the mixing process occurs in the machines themselves. Some places use more syrup than others to flavor the drinks.

Why is co*ke so good with pizza? ›

Advertising campaigns have likely played a role in this relationship, but folks are apt to order cola with their slice due to its mild acidity that helps cut through the richness of cheese. And, although most are not conscious of the flavor profile, cola has hints of citrus, cinnamon, and vanilla.

What is a Mexican co*ke called? ›

It is called Coca Cola de Vidrio (Glass Coca Cola, Coca Cola in a glass bottle) or simply Mexico*ke. It has a different taste, because cane sugar is used to make it. In the United States, high-fructose corn syrup is used.

What's the difference between regular co*ke and Mexican co*ke? ›

It all comes down to how the two sodas are sweetened. American co*ke uses high-fructose corn syrup, according to Reader's Digest. Mexican Coca-Cola uses cane sugar. According to the Food Network, cane sugar is less processed than high-fructose corn syrup.

What does McDonald's put in their co*ke? ›

Does McDonald's have different co*ke? McDonald's gets the same syrup delivered for their fountain machines that all restaurants get. There is no difference in the formula, and McDonald's doesn't add any special ingredients.

Why does McDonald's co*ke taste so good? ›

While most fast food restaurants have their Coca-Cola syrup delivered to them in plastic bags, McDonald's gets their syrup specially delivered in stainless steel tanks. The special tanks keep the syrup fresh and protect it from light, temperature, air, and anything else that might take away from its delicious flavor.

Why is McDonald's soda so good? ›

While most restaurants have their soda syrup delivered to them in plastic bags, McDonald's Coca-Cola syrup is stored in stainless steel tanks. This preserves the syrup's flavor and protects it from temperature, light, and air, all things that can degrade the flavor quickly. The stuff in the bags doesn't stand a chance.

What does soaking meat in co*ke do? ›

Soda acts as great tenderizer—you could get a tender cut of meat grill-ready in less than a half-hour. Cola-tenderizing for 24 hours yields a meat dish that practically melts, like this Atlanta brisket. Try braising with cola, like you would with wine.

What happens if you put a steak in Coca-Cola? ›

In theory, pouring pure co*ke over a steak or pork shoulder will cause the proteins to denature and tenderize; however, it likely won't taste very good without a flavorful supporting cast.

What is co*ke's weakness? ›

Coca-Cola Weaknesses – Internal Strategic Factors

Aggressive competition with Pepsi – Pepsi is the biggest rival of Coca-Cola. Had it not been Pepsi, Coca-Cola would have been the clear market leader in the beverage. Product diversification – Coca-Cola has low product diversification.

Why does America use corn syrup instead of sugar? ›

It's Cheaper

High fructose corn syrup is actually cheaper than granulated sugar in America. The government pays subsidies to farmers for corn. Many products made with this ingredient are going to be more affordable than foods made with whole, natural ingredients. Fast food is also a cheap option.

How can you tell if co*ke is Mexican? ›

Mexican co*ke contains: Carbonated water, sugar, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, caffeine. American co*ke contains: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, caffeine.

Is soda with cane sugar better for you? ›

However, though raw cane sugar is often marketed as a healthy alternative to regular sugar, there's no real difference between them. In fact, both are identical in terms of chemical composition and made up of sucrose, a molecule formed by units of simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose (3).

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