**1. History and Production:**
– The Coca-Cola Company established its first bottling franchise in Mexico in the early 1920s.
– FEMSA is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Mexico and Latin America.
– High-fructose corn syrup is used in the U.S. due to sugar production quotas.
– U.S. soft drink makers transitioned to high-fructose corn syrup in the 1980s.
– Mexican Coke was initially targeted at Mexican immigrants in the U.S. before gaining broader popularity.
**2. Taste and Ingredients:**
– Mexican Coke is perceived to have a different taste due to the use of cane sugar.
– Taste test results vary, with some noting a complex flavor.
– Ingredients in Mexican Coke include cane sugar and no artificial flavors.
– Some claim Mexican Coke has a smoother finish.
– Double-blind tests have shown preferences for American Coca-Cola.
**3. Packaging and Bottling:**
– Mexican Coca-Cola is sold in elegant glass bottles in varying sizes.
– Exported Mexican Coke bottles include nutrition facts labels.
– The non-twist-off glass bottle adds to the nostalgia factor.
– American Coca-Cola shifted to plastic bottles in the late 1980s.
– Mexican Coke bottles are considered more aesthetically pleasing compared to American Coke plastic bottles.
**4. Global Variations:**
– In New Zealand, Coca-Cola is available with both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
– Kosher for Pesach Coke is bottled in Israel during Pesach with cane sugar.
– Kosher for Pesach Coke is available in the U.S. during Pesach in kosher supermarkets.
– Ingredients in Mexican Coke may vary by region.
– Mexican Coke is perceived as having a superior taste in some regions.
**5. Availability and Cultural Perception:**
– Mexican Coke initially gained popularity in the U.S. due to perceived quality.
– It can be found in specialty stores and online but is not as widely available as regular Coke.
– Demand has led to increased availability in certain markets.
– Some consumers associate Mexican Coke with nostalgia and authenticity.
– Marketing and branding contribute to the perception of Mexican Coke as a premium and trendy beverage choice.
In the United States, Mexican Coca-Cola, or Mexican Coke (Spanish: Coca Cola de Vidrio, English: Glass Coca-Cola, or Coca-Cola in a glass bottle) or, informally, "Mexicoke", refers to Coca-Cola produced in and imported from Mexico. The Mexican formula that is exported into the U.S. is sweetened with white sugar instead of the high-fructose corn syrup used in the American formula since the early 1980s. Some tasters have said that Mexican Coca-Cola tastes better, while other blind tasting tests reported no perceptible differences in flavor.
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_(cropped).jpg) Bottle of imported Mexican Coca-Cola | |
| Product type | Cola |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Country | Mexico |
| Introduced | 1921 |
Mexican Coke should not be confused with the domestic version of Coca-Cola sold in Mexico, which since 2017 may contain the artificial sweetener sucralose, with a can containing one-third less sugar than the export product.