Whats so special about cokes formula?

[skeptic2]

I used to work in a plant that made syrup for soft drinks and knew one of the flavor chemists. She told me that there were about 30 different formulas for orange pop and that she could taste a sample and identify which formula it was. Likewise with about 50 different formulas for root beer.

She also told me that many years ago Coca Cola wanted a presence in the south pacific but it wasn't economical to ship their product there. They authorized this plant to copy Coke's flavor as best they could and sell it there under Coke's name paying royalties to Coke. She said the flavor they used was a mixture of almond and cashew.

 

[leroyjenkens]

What Dave said.

Then we have a paradox. Come to find out, I say soda, and therefore say that because that's what I say, it must be the official name for it. I really am that important.

 

[turbo]

In Maine, if you call soda "pop", people will look at you funny. My cousins from CT would get odd looks when they asked for "tonic"

To the OP, there is probably nothing really secret about the Coke formula thanks to analytical equipment. Ever wonder how cheap and pretty accurate knock-offs of expensive perfumes get to the market? Chromatographs and mass-spectrometers can make it easy to analyze a bit of the stuff and pretty much nail the ingredients - even inactive ones that may be there for "filler" or perhaps to slow the degradation of a scent once it is applied.

 

[DaveC426913]

Then we have a paradox. Come to find out, I say soda, and therefore say that because that's what I say, it must be the official name for it. I really am that important.

No paradox. You see, we are also in charge of who is in charge.

 

[DaveC426913]

[URL]http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/popvssodamap.gif[/URL]
http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/308-the-pop-vs-soda-map/
I looooove this site. It is one of my favourite sites on the web.

 

[DaveC426913]

http://tastyresearch.com/2006/10/05/pop-vs-soda-vs-coke/

 

[TubbaBlubba]

You foreigners and your fancy words. It's "läsk". Or "dricka".

 

[xxChrisxx]

A requirement of Coke should be that it's served ice cold, in a glass bottle.

 

[skeptic2]

In Spanish cola means tail and asking for a little cola in Mexico can have strong sexual connotations.

 

[DaveC426913]

A requirement of Coke should be that it's served ice cold, in a glass bottle.

Seconded on both counts. You da man.

 

[Evo]

That map isn't very accurate, from my personal experience (having lived and worked in 9 states). They have the entire states of Kansas wrong and Missouri wrong. If it is a "coke flavoured" drink, it's coke, things like Dr Pepper, Orange Crush, etc.. would be a soft drink. It was the same in Philadelphia, not sure about the rest of the state, but I dated a guy from Wilkes Barre and he said soda. My cousins that lived in a teeny tiny town in rural Illinois said pop.

I said soda because the two options were soda and pop. In reality I say "soft drink", and this is the most common term I have heard.

 

[DaveC426913]

That map isn't very accurate

Well the legend is broken into percentages. So even the dark-reddest of counties only 4 in 5 people might say "Coke".

 

[Evo]

Well the legend is broken into percentages. So even the dark-reddest of counties only 4 in 5 people might say "Coke".

It shows, for example the state of Kansas as blue, in reality it should be red/yellow.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Yes, that county where it claims 30% of the population uses the word pop... we have an example of someone using the word coke! Clearly wrong

 

[leroyjenkens]

It shows, for example the state of Kansas as blue, in reality it should be red/yellow.

I don't think you can vouch for an entire state on what they call soda.

 

[Evo]

I don't think you can vouch for an entire state on what they call soda.

Of course not, but based on living in Kansas and knowing lots of people from all over Kansas, I know what people call things. The word "pop" would stick out as it's not something I'm used to hearing. The only person I've known (aside from my cousins) that used "pop" was from Minnesota.

 

[Ouabache]

Please don't paraphrase, or you will miss the whole point.

So if I may paraphrase

As you are also seeing on that demographic map, pop is a pervasive term for soda, across the midwest, north central and northwestern states. A couple of additional interesting terms I've heard are 'sack' for a paper bag and 'buggy' for a shopping cart. You can find these and other regional word usage, in the Dictionary of Regional American English

 

[Evo]

We could do a Poll!

 

[turbo]

I'll represent Maine! If you call any kind of soda "pop" here, you are immediately marked as a flat-lander. Even worse, if you called soda "tonic" you would be branded as a hoity-toity flatlander from Boston, Hartford, or maybe Providence. Definitely not the kind of people respectable Mainiacs would willingly associate with.

 

[leroyjenkens]

Of course not, but based on living in Kansas and knowing lots of people from all over Kansas, I know what people call things. The word "pop" would stick out as it's not something I'm used to hearing. The only person I've known (aside from my cousins) that used "pop" was from Minnesota.

Those people you know may be from the no data zones. You may also be talking with the other 70-20% of those who don't say pop. Or you may not realize that you've never heard them generally refer to a carbonated drink and they may in fact say pop.

 

[Evo]

Those people you know may be from the no data zones. You may also be talking with the other 70-20% of those who don't say pop. Or you may not realize that you've never heard them generally refer to a carbonated drink and they may in fact say pop.

Or they could all be from Minnesota and are lying about their origins.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Please don't paraphrase, or you will miss the whole point.

It was a joke. Look up some Dos Equis commercials on youtube

 

[Astronuc]

I use the term beer, preferably stouts or porters, or ale.

The other stuff is just carbonated water (or mild solution of carbonic acid) with sugar and artificial sweetners.

Root beer or real ginger beer (not wimpy ginger ale) are acceptable.

I didn't find the word 'seltzer' mentioned yet in this thread.

 

[TubbaBlubba]

Or they could all be from Minnesota and are lying about their origins.

Or maybe you have a hearing disability that prevents you from hearing "pop" unless it's with a Minnesota accent, and your brain automatically puts "soda" in place based on context, manipulating your memory of the event!

 

[Evo]

Or maybe you have a hearing disability that prevents you from hearing "pop" unless it's with a Minnesota accent, and your brain automatically puts "soda" in place based on context, manipulating your memory of the event!

Now I am beginning to fear that everyone I know is actually a Minnesotian... POLKA!

 

[Astronuc]

Now I am beginning to fear that everyone I know is actually a Minnesotian... POLKA!

Mostly Norwegian bachelor farmers.

 

[Evo]

Mostly Norwegian bachelor farmers.

They have a huge Swedish population.

 

[SonyAD]

Coke gives me awful heartburn. Like Carlsberg. I've lived for years on end on nothing but Pepsi without ill effects.

I wouldn't force the pig filth that Coke is on my worst enemies.

 

[Evo]

Coke gives me awful heartburn. Like Carlsberg. I've lived for years on end on nothing but Pepsi without ill effects.

I wouldn't force the pig filth that Coke is on my worst enemies.

Sounds like the commercial hype has really gotten to you. Who really has such feelings about a soft drink?

 

[nismaratwork]

I'm on Astronuc's side here, I'll take Otter Creek's Stovepipe Porter over soft-drinks any day. The exceptions might be a really excellent root-beer or ginger ale.