We were watching a show last night that had been pre-recorded, called The Food That Built America. This particular episode was called Cola Wars and told the tale of the decades long competition between Coke and Pepsi.
Perfect topic - pop, soda, soft drinks, whatever you happen to call it.
I was a heavy kid, let's just get that out of the way. This was due to the fact that nothing was restricted. I was able to eat any quantity of food I wished, drink whatever I desired, and nobody took me aside and told me not to. There was always junk food in the house, and I spent a great deal of time at "the farm" where there was always a try of Chelsea buns and pie and maple syrup and pop. Cases and cases of pop. Alas, I cannot go back in time and change those facts, but it does mean I have a lot of memories of pop.
I spent a bit part of my youth trying not to cut my fingers on these. Do you remember these openings in pop cans?
But nothing tasted better than an ice cold coke in a glass bottle from the cooler at Kitchings Marketeria.
Do any of you remember Pop Shoppe Pop? You could get all kinds of hideous flavours like grape or cream soda and then you could return the bottles. It was actually very environmentally friendly - before its time.
If I could vote for the worst flavours of pop, I would nominate Dr. Pepper and anything cherry flavoured. I'm pretty sure Dr. Pepper was developed by tossing together the dregs from the bottoms of the vats of other pops, perhaps cola, cream soda, and something cherry.
A friend of mine used to drink this stuff. Ughhh, it could also have been nominated for worst pop.
I grew up in the 70's when diet pop became all the rage. I can almost conjure up the taste of Tab in my mind!
My father bravely gave up alcohol when I was in my early teen years. He replaced one vice with another and drank a great deal of pop. He described it as black pop, orange pop, red pop, or white pop (cola, orange soda, cream soda, or something like Sprite or 7-Up).
Thankfully I do not drink much pop these days. I am not good with caffeine besides my one cup of coffee in the morning. But if I could indulge, I would say I enjoy Coca Cola (ice cold, please), Diet Pepsi (far superior to Diet Coke), or every once in a while, rootbeer (again, must be ice cold). I'm not big on gingerale, or any similar "white pop". The only foods that I think go perfectly with some type of cola are burgers and pizza, but even then I don't always (again - the caffeine, and yes, the sugar content, but then, what the heck, I'm eating burgers and pizza!).
Now let's proceed with the discussion topics.
1. Did you drink much pop as a child, or were you raised in a far more health conscious family than mine?
2. Do you have a favourite pop now?
3. Are there certain foods that just seem to require a nice cold soda for you?
4. What would you nominate for worst flavour of soda pop?
Please join in the discussion, and welcome to any new contributors out there!
I didn't drink pop as a child, no coca cola in my childhood. I don't believe it existed. We had orange squash that was something that never actually tasted like orange and was an orange concentrate that came in a bottle and you poured about half an inch in a glass and mixed it with water. I didn't really drink it. I preferred water. Water was taken with meals. I still drink water with my meals. I drink orange Fanta in the cinema and if I am abroad in order to avoid local water. I don't know enough about pop drinks to be able to nominate a worst flavour although I don't like coke that everybody else seems to like.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of orange squash, but was never sure what it was.
DeleteVery little to no fizzy/sugary drinks in our household - more a budgetary thing than a health one. We weren't all that cash rich and lived largely off what our land produced supplemented by a few 'trades' - eggs for bread etc. We did have beer (Dad brewed beer for years) so a cold beer (ale style) would be my preference with 'fast food' or on really hot days. When I moved to UK I encountered IRN Brew -that's pretty weird 'pop'. The weirdest name had to be dandelion and burdock, but it actually doesn't taste too bad. I'm with Rachel in my opinion of cola drinks.
ReplyDeletePS - Tigger says your cat on the shed roof looks just like it's doing what used to be his favourite pasttime.
ReplyDeleteThat is a picture of our beloved Samson (R.I.P.) on top of the chicken coop a few years ago.
DeleteSpent a lot of my childhood sitting in the car outside a pub with my brother drinking Coca Cola and eating cheese and onion crisps while my parents were inside. Then I graduated to Bacardi and Coke and Black Russians as a young adult. I blame the coke for my tooth decay. Never touch the stuff nowadays.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting memory! Oh, ugg, Black Russians - best not to conjure up that memory for me!
DeleteI grew up in South Florida, so it was referred to as coke or soda. I was raised by wolves, so yes, we did have soda in the house, but my Brother and I drank it so fast and then we had to wait until Mama wolf went shopping again. ;)
ReplyDeleteI loved Tab when I was a teenager and I think Dr. Pepper is the WORST!
I finally gave up soda in my mid 30's. At that time I was enjoying one or two diet cokes a day and like you, I'm very sensitive to caffeine, so only a few cups of Joe in the morning.
What a fun post.
Raised by wolves, haha.
DeleteI don't drink much soda, but I prefer them to be cold. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteAnything cold - even ice cold water!
DeleteNow I only drink water or seltzer (fizzy water!) but it has to be on ice. When I was younger we only had soda when we had a party and Pepsi or 7 Up were my favorites. I can't stand the taste of soda anymore and I quit alcohol quite a while back.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty boring!?!
Not boring at all - probably better off!
DeleteWe love that show! We recently watched the McDonald's vs Burger King, and Pizza Hut vs. Domino's. 1. We had pop, and could drink it but not at dinner. It was there, but not really a thing. 2.I don't drink pop except at the movies! Then it is Dr. Pepper or Cherry Coke! LOVE! I also drink Raspberry Ginger Ale at home on special occasions. 3.Hmmmm. Popcorn. 4. Mountain Dew! Yuck. Anything Lemon Lime!
ReplyDeleteYes, we watched those other episodes as well. I think Cherry Coke is too much like bad cough syrup (sorry!).
DeleteI grew up in Ohio and pop was only a treat. I really liked grape Nehi and ginger ale was always given when I was sick. I used to have the occasional Coke, root beer or ginger ale
ReplyDeleteNow no soda and no caffeine so just herbal teas and water.
I agree that Dr. Pepper is the worst,tasting like bad cough syrup.
When you mention grape Nehi, I think of Radar on M.A.S.H.
DeleteWe did not get pop very often when I was a child. I recall, when the fair was in town, I'd get a orange pop (it had a name that I can't remember). It was favorite until I had to have the gestational diabetes test with my first child. That took care of my enjoyment of orange pop forever.
ReplyDeleteMy current is Sprite. I used to drink Coca Cola but I find it gives me severe heartburn. Our dollar store carries these wee cans of various pop flavors so I get my fix with one of those cans. Sadly, I prefer my soda with potato chips...not a healthy choice. Though I do agree, it goes well with burger and fries.
I've never tasted either Tab or Dr. Pepper so have no opinion on their taste. The worst tasting pop I've ever had was some sickly sweet stuff we tasted at the Coca Cola store in Las Vegas. We did one of those sampler trays - many of which I hope I never taste again.
Take care, stay well!
Oh, I know what you're talking about with that horrible orange stuff you have to drink after fasting for a certain amount of hours. Awful.
DeleteWe only got soda as a treat. There was never any kept in the house. I also never kept any in the house when they boys were growing up. My favorite is coke.
ReplyDeleteI certainly was less permissive with my own children than my parents were with me.
DeletePop was only a treat growing up - Christmas or holidays so I’ve never been a big pop drinker so now
ReplyDeleteI’ll only have the occasional Diet Coke.
I could never choke down those pop shoppe pops, even loaded with rum ;)
I'd pass on it if it had rum in it.
DeleteMy dad was the manager of a supermarket and the salesmen loved to use us 5 kids as guinea pigs for new products so we did get pop - and often new flavours to try before they hit the store shelves - but - I don't remember getting a full can to myself - it was poured into a glass and shred between 2 or 3 of us.
ReplyDeleteI've never liked coke/pepsi - but as a kid did like orange pop and cream soda! I also really liked Fresca before they changed to formula and started making it with aspartame. I only discovered years later that I was allergic to aspartame and many artificial dyes that were used so I was probably reacting to that rather than the actual taste.
These days I only drink pop occasionally - maybe a gingerale or a tonic water. I prefer things with a more herbal than sweet taste. But I would have to say that I'd probably have a pop with a burger or some pizza - preferably eaten outdoors on a patio somewhere
As for worst taste - Tab - Grape - and I just don't like Sprite or 7Up but again, I think it's because it's too sweet for me.
Now I did get to visit the Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta a few years ago and that was quite fascinating. Had to remember not to say that I didn't really like coke at the end of the tour when offered as much as I'd like to drink!
Husband likes tonic water. He says he's keeping himself from getting malaria.
DeleteDon't remember drinking any pop on a regular basis as a child... but do remember drinking coke and eating bar-b-que potatoes chips a lot in high school. Nowadays I keep Coke (regular not diet) in bottles around - but I tend to sip on it and a bottle in the refrig can last me a week. Don't like Pepsi at all... and probably consider Dr. Pepper the worst. But I will say that root bear floats aren't bad. And yes, hamburgers and pizza seem to require coke to go with them.
ReplyDeleteRoot beer floats! Now I'm wanting one.
DeleteOh dear, I must defend Dr. Pepper. I love it. I love Coke the most. I was an extremely thin child, and food was tightly controlled, but we did each get a bottle of Coke on Saturday and Sunday nights. I think the worse flavors of soda are the ones that were very popular among the hipster group recently, the Jones sodas that were "turkey and gravy" flavor and similar bizarre flavors.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a soda that tasted like turkey and gravy. Does anybody actually buy it?
DeleteHaving been brought up during the second world war in England I can honestly say I don;t remember ever drinking pop. I have rarely drunk it since and am I the only person in the world who has never had a cola?
ReplyDeleteI doubt it. You're probably better off without it!
DeleteOh, you're getting me where I live! I love carbonation. Therefore, I'm rather wild about certain kinds of pop. Especially Tab. They stopped making Tab last March or April -- now you can get it online for $20/12 pack on Amazon. (Don't hate me, but I just ordered some.) I still have a few cans someone gave me for Christmas. I save it for special occasions, like the days I got my vaccine and the day I was "free" after two weeks. I have a Tab t-shirt I sleep in and a long-sleeved one, too. I have regretfully switched allegiance to Coke Zero and Diet 7-Up (which peps up orange and cranberry juice together, my fave treat!) After my afib diagnosis I had to cut caffeine (hence the 7-up, just 16 oz. a day) -- and that made it about 80 percent. I've been drinking Tab since it came out. Sad day, but CokeZero is pretty fine. I was elated to find caffeine free Diet Coke so now I'm happy! And I like fizzy water too -- especially La Croix lemon (or even plain.)
ReplyDeleteWe had some pop as a kid -- more when the diet pops came out without sugar. Then it was more OK. I think Dr. Pepper anything is the worst. (I never knew Tab made so many flavors!)
Yes, sometimes I buy caffeine free, sugar free cola. I don't like "fizzy water". I think it tastes a bit swampy.
Delete1. Did you drink much pop as a child, or were you raised in a far more health conscious family than mine? way too much Towne Club
ReplyDelete2. Do you have a favourite pop now? Vernors
3. Are there certain foods that just seem to require a nice cold soda for you? none
4. What would you nominate for worst flavour of soda pop? Tamarind
Tamarind flavour? I'm not even sure what that is! I'll have to look it up.
DeleteIt is very popular in Mexico; I never seen it until I moved to AZ.
DeleteI can't remember ever having pop at home when growing up. But we were allowed to order some when we ate out which was seldom. We went to a family style eating/bar that had the best B-B-Q pork sandwiches and I always ordered grape pop. In the summer we sometimes went to an A&W drive-in with car hops and A&W root beer was wonderful in those big, frosty glass mugs. I remember tasting and liking Orange Crush. Also liked Dr. Pepper! I sipped someone else's Mountain Dew once and thought I'd been poisoned. Rarely drink any pop now because carbonation of any kind goes straight to my belly and I bloat up like a balloon. Uncomfortable and no fun at all. But this post recalling everyone's experience in the past and present with soda or pop was fun!
ReplyDeleteIt is fun hearing everyone's experiences and preferences. I remember we had a few of those big glass A and W mugs when I was a kid (I'm guessing an older brother absconded with them).
DeleteNo, never had pop as a child but I seem to remember Irn Bru as a treat. I didn't really like it. Drank rum and coke briefly as a young adult (no idea if it was diet or regular) but now I never have pop as I don't like the carbonation.
ReplyDeleteIrn Bru? Another one to look up.
DeleteMy parents used to buy that Pop Shop stuff. I still buy the lemon lime in the summer time at Giant Tiger. Maybe, three bottles per summer. Dr. Pepper makes me gag, as do most diet pops.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they still make it!
DeletePop was for special occasions when I was growing up. Our beverages were Koolaid or milk.
ReplyDeleteI remember Pop Shoppe as well. Here you had to take the bottles back to the seller. The other places would not accept them
God bless.
I think that was the way it was done as well. Koolaid was a pretty constant in the summer time. My mom used to make Koolaid popsicles.
DeleteHey, am I too late again? :) I grew up in the 50's. Mama would buy one of those wooden crates of small cokes in the glass bottles. But then we switched to pepsi in the bottles. There were three of us kids. After lunch, we would each put a pepsi in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator until it was almost frozen and when the lid was popped off you had to be ready to drink fast. It was delicious with a bowl of popcorn while we watched American Bandstand on TV at 4:00. Dan and I only drink Pepsi now but very little. We buy the tiny cans. Pizza must be served with Pepsi! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteNo, not too late! You would have really had to watch those frozen bottles!
DeleteNo pop, coke, pepsi in my childhood household. My mother was very strict about food and drink. As a result, none of these drinks appeal to me to this day. A good homemade lemonade on a hot summer day and hot cocoa during the winter was always the drink of choice during childhood and to this day. I suspect I am the exception to the norm!
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, there are a lot of comments here with people saying that they did not have pop when they were children, or only rarely for special occasions. I wonder if children today can say the same thing? Mmmm, hot cocoa is lovely.
DeleteI'm the party pooper, here. Somewhere in my teenage years I read that refined sugar caused ulcers and pop was a demon contributor. It didn't get me off refined sugar for a few more years, but it did get me off pop.
ReplyDeleteThere was no pop in my childhood or in the childhood of my children. My oldest daughter does not serve it, her children do no drink it. My youngest daughter went to college and binged on sugar and pop. She became grossly obese and has been dealing with it all her life. Her children left home addicted to sugar. I believe most of them still are.
PS--sugar is addicting. It's the high!
Interesting contrast between two sisters.
DeleteLike Rachel we had squash which you added water to. When in my teens I tried fizzy drinks I soon found that I didn't like the fizz and never have since. If I had to have it ginger ale would be my choice but as I like green tea and ginger tea is my favourite that is probably not surprising. My drinks of choice are one coffee per day then green teas, water and red wine in the evening.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if squash was anything like Ribena. That's something we used to buy for our children that you added a little to water.
DeleteIt is just the same but comes in lots of flavours such as orange, lemon, pineapple and tropical fruit and others.
DeleteI don’t drink pop except at Christmas. There’s nothing quite like a big glass of ice cold coke to go with a turkey sandwich!
ReplyDeleteWe were having a discussion of pepsi and coke yesterday. Apparently there is something going on here where you can be sent unmarked pepsi and coke and you evaluate them. My grandson is going to investigate.
ReplyDeleteWe were brought up to drink milk. I don't remember pop at all. Now my grandchildren drink water. They don't really like fizzy drinks.
Of course I go back to the fifties in the Mississippi delta. My uncle had a small store and kept the soft drinks (not pop down south) in a water bath cooler. You are right about the drinks in bottles - nothing now days taste as good. I remember Upper-10, RC Cola, Orange Crush, Nehi, Yoohoo, and of course Coke and Pepsi Cola.
ReplyDeleteMost drinks were six ounce and large drinks were ten ounce.
How does that say about today with 16 and 32 ounce drinks?
the Ol'Buzzard
Good questions. We drank water at all meals with the exception of tacos and pizza. We drank tons of coke. We thought we were going to die when coke changed their formula. We held onto a case. The UPS driver offered dad $100 for it and a week later coke announced they were going back to the original formula. Now I can only drink root beer, because I can't handle the caffeine. Ice cold root beer in a glass that has been in the freezer so it frosts with a hamburger.
ReplyDeleteVernor's gingerale - the best! We couldn't buy it here in Toronto but when we visited my grandmother in the summer, in the little town of Comber near Windsor, you could. We were barely out of the car and my dad would send us to the store for Vernor's ginger ale. At Christmas, I like the Cranberry gingerale because it looks pretty and festive. Never liked rootbeer but adored A&W butgers.
ReplyDeleteWe had very limited access to pop as kids. My mother was a stickler for healthy food - although there was Spam... The one exception was root beer, which was always part of a root beer float. It had to be ice cold, or I couldn't drink it. I did have a fling with Diet Dr. Pepper, but I never drink pop now.
ReplyDeleteI did drink a lot of soft drinks when I was a kid........I stopped drinking them when I left home to start a life of my own. However, once in a while..nothing is better with a hamburger than a cold Coca cola. Thank you for your prayers for our son Zack
ReplyDelete