1 post tagged “cane”

I recently transported five kilos of Coke across international boundaries.

I was forced into this trade by the Coca-Cola company, who, in the mid-80's, pulled a fast one on the American consumer - or, more accurately, a slow one.  They introduced a horrendously bad product called "New Coke" which, now with the benefit of hindsight, was purposely bad, so that they could then switch "back" to "Coke Classic" a few months later.  Only thing is, "back" is not entirely accurate, because what they switched to wasn't the same thing as what they had been producing before.

They had substituted high fructose corn syrup for cane sugar.  This change went largely unnoticed by the American consumer, because they were just glad to be rid of New Coke.  The company claims even today that most people can't tell the difference.  This says something about either the company (they are complete liars) or the American consumer (they can't tell piss from 1961 Chateau Latour).

I drink more Coke in the couple of weeks that I am outside of the United States than I do during the rest of the year in the country.  There's a reason for this, and the reason is quite simple:  taste.  I suppose I should be thankful that Coke tastes so bad in the States, because I'd be a fat lazy slob if I drank as much Coke in country as I do out of the country.

My understanding is that the only country in the world where Coke is produced with HFCS is the United States.  But I'm not completely sure of that and there doesn't seem to be a good Internet resource on this, so I've decided to start a little journal here.  Below I have begun a list of locales where I have been able to find sugar cane Coke, and when I verified this fact.  My goal is to grow the list as my travels allow.  Feel free to add your experience to the comments.

The format is as follows:
Country of Bottler - Date Last Verified - Location of Last Sighting

Japan - 30 Nov 2008 - Narita Airport convenience store
Mexico - Oct 2008 - 99 Ranch Market, Lynnwood, WA, USA
Singapore - 30 Nov 2008 - United Airlines flight from TPE to NRT
Taiwan - Nov 2008 - various 7 Eleven stores in Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan