My first americans

[greek_jester]

It's my understanding that the situation is reversed in Europe (Pepsi > Coke there). (a) can anyone confirm this, and (b)am I correct in assuming that it may be due, in part, to the tendency to NOT add ice cubes to drinks there; i.e., they drink them warm? Room-temperature Coke is rather nasty. Room-temp Pepsi is at least tolerable.

To start, I'm a Brit from the South-East of England, so I can only really comment on my general area - I don't have enough experience of Scotland, Wales or Ireland to speak for them.

It's not so much that Pepsi is preferred, it's just that Coke appeared at about the same time as other 'copies' over here, so it never had the grip on the market that Coke has in America. Yes, there are people who prefer one brand or another (I prefer Pepsi myself - not as fizzy or sour as Coke tends to be) but most people will take whatever's on offer.

As to the ice-cube debate - it depends on how pub-savvy you are! You pay per glass filled to the top, & some establishments cut costs by filling your glass with ice then filling in the gaps with coke, so you end up with barely more than a double shot glass of coke. To get the full measure of what you paid for, you have to ask for no ice or get really specific about how much ice is put into your glass (which is hard in a crowded, noisy pub/bar). It's still cold from the tap/bottle, just not ice-cold.

[EricKei]

I just can't drink Mexican Coke at all....it's too sweet.

I would actually like to try it; it's my understanding that it has actual SUGAR in it instead of that High Fructose Corn Syrup garbage. Allegedly, the primary distinction between "Coke Classic" (aka modern Coke) and actual pre-"New Coke" Coke is that the current stuff has HFCS and the original had sugar. They are supposed to be identical in other respects. I know there are some Mexican groceries around here, I gotta at least TRY it sometime ^_^

Just as a side note while we're talking about "sugar substitutes that may or may not be worse for you than actual sugar"...I can't say I care for Splenda, either. It's basically dextrose (close relative of sucrose/table sugar) that has has chlorine merged with it. Apparently "safe" for you, tho...

[Broomjockey]

Allegedly, the primary distinction between "Coke Classic" (aka modern Coke) and actual pre-"New Coke" Coke is that the current stuff has HFCS and the original had sugar.

That and the cocaine.

[Pagan]

I would actually like to try it; it's my understanding that it has actual SUGAR in it instead of that High Fructose Corn Syrup garbage.

Except that HFCS is sweeter than white sugar. I think it's because they use cane sugar instead.

Just as a side note while we're talking about "sugar substitutes that may or may not be worse for you than actual sugar"...

If you can, get yourself a stevia plant. Dry and grind the leaves. They are way sweeter than plain sugar. I'm not sure what else all is in it, but Truvia uses stevia. I had a plant last summer, but it didn't survive the winter and I'm still experimenting with the powder that I've got.

That and the cocaine.

Oh yeah! I had completely forgotten about that.

Now I want some Coke....

[Broomjockey]

Oh yeah! I had completely forgotten about that.

Now I want some Coke....

err... that's what she said?

[Bandit]

I'm still experimenting with the powder that I've got.

That and the cocaine.

Oh yeah! I had completely forgotten about that.

Now I want some Coke....

Put all that together......

B

[EricKei]

That and the cocaine.

Heh. OK OK, maybe not ORIGINAL original Coke ^_^

Pagan - I'd not heard of it, I'll check it out. I normally use Sugar in the Raw (turbinado sugar) at home. I find that it's not as sweet as the white stuff, but it does the job. As for (non-processed) cane sugar, if I'm desperate enough, I can just drive out to the boonies and pick some canes of it myself