Sunday, April 5, 2009

It's Kosher Coke Time!

It's Spring, and that means lamb on sale and Kosher Coke, two things the Frugal Maven loves! If you are not familiar with Kosher Coke, it's Coke that is made using sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Coke with sugar is not in and of itself kosher, but keeping kosher during Passover means imbibing no HFCS so part of the production run is made this way. This is all second hand information, incidentally, as I am not Jewish but a poorly represented Baptist who is worshipping at St. New York Times this morning.
Most grocery stores will carry at least some of this product and occasionally it will be advertised as such, at least during most of April. We have friends who stock up for half the year when it becomes available. It tastes like I remember it tasting back when I was a kid before the 80's came and Coke ruined their recipe in favor of the almighty dollar and worshipping at the altar of Monsanto and Con Agra. Not helpful to you, I know, but that's the only way I can describe it.
If you decide the non-HFCS is the way to go, there are other avenues to get your fix. If you spend much time in the international foods aisle of your local grocery chain, occasionally you may see a few bottled packs of Coke in with the Hispanic foods. Chances are, these are HFCS free as this is how Coke is sold in Mexico and many groceries will accomodate their Hispanic clientele. Or hit a Mexican grocery. We have about twenty or thirty in our city. Many of them carry Mexican Coke and tons of other stuff you've never seen and won't know you need until you're there.
Additionally, Pepsi is joining the bandwagon and not just for Passover. They have announced that they will be launching Pepsi Throwback and Mountain Dew Throwback, both HFCS-free. I haven't seen these products yet but look forward to giving them a try.
If you feel, as we do here at the Basilica, that less is more and HFCS is one ingredient that needs to get less play in our diet, then vote with your dollars while these products are available. Tell your grocer, drop an email to the manufacturer, tell someone else and help make them more aware of what they are consuming. We are trying to limit manufactured additives as much as possible and really want to save our empty calories for things that truly can't be done without, like Toaster Strudels, one of the great chemical compositions of the 20th century. Funny thing is, I really don't drink soft drinks much at all. I'm an iced tea girl from way back but when I want a Coke I want a real one. Happy Passover, Spring, Easter and all that. Tomorrow-- lard. We're going real old school!

2 comments:

Robynn's Ravings said...

I am so excited about this! Not that we drink much in the way of soft-drinks but when we do, we want the real thing and have been buying Mexican cokes which get expensive. I'm going to watch for this and stock up, like your friends. We try to eschew all things HFCS - unless we stop at Burger King and get FRYPODS!! Wasn't that GROSS?!!

Treehouse Chef said...

I had no idea they made kosher cola. I will be making a trip to the grocery tomorrow and vote with my dollars!!!! Thanks for the great info!

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